Top Books for Success and High Performance

I’m often asked about my favorite books. It was hard to just pick a top ten so I created categories of my favorite books.

Which do you need today?

• Success

• Leadership

• Entrepreneurship

• Marketing

• Relationships

How Will You Measure Your Life by Clayton Christensen

I remember

the first time I listened to this book on audio. It touched my soul as if the author was talking directly to me. He wasn’t just talking about success, he was talking about fulfillment, contribution and how to show up like the woman and world contributor I want to be. This is my number one favorite success read. Others have come and go from that coveted #1 spot, but this one has stayed here for the longest amount of time. I own it in paperback and audio, reference it often and it’s a required read for all of my Executive Coaching clients. Have you read this one, yet?

Find this great book on Amazon.

The Game Of Life And How To Play It by Florence Shinn

Florence Shinn has to be the mother of manifesting and positive thinking. This book was originally published in 1925. You read that right, it’s about to be 100 years old. I first read this on an app called “Self-Help Classics” but I finally bought a paperback (it has multiple cover copies, get the one that notes that it’s the “complete” or “unabridged” edition). Her approach to positive thinking is both practical and magnetic. Her stories are endearing and hopeful. She weaves in talk of God and she has my heart. I read this one at least once a year and I love it every time. It’s a quick an easy read and I’ve gifted it many times!

Find this great book on Amazon.

Make It Happen Blueprint by Michelle McCullough

Call it shamless self-promotion, but if you can’t be proud enough of your own book to include it on the success and high performance list, should you even have written it? All joking aside, what people say they love most about this book is that at the end of each chapter, there is an action list that takes the practices from ideas to action. This book was written to help people Make It Happen, and it leads you through how to practice at the success you desire. This book is also available to order through your favorite bookstore (or contact me for bulk orders). Happy Reading!

Find this great book on Amazon.

The Success Principles Workbook by Jack Canfield

When I first read this book in 2005 my success geeking heart was thrilled to find another book to put next to my well-worn copy of 7 Habits for Highly Effective People. What I love about Canfield’s Success Principles is that each section is a bite-sized success nugget you can read and ponder in one sitting. For YEARS it had a solid place on my nightstand and I would read one chapter during my power up and power down routine. The first time I read it I did all of the tasks he invited and I have a journal with all of those assignments that I look back on both endearingly and with a little bit of “oh, isn’t that cute”. All joking aside, it was while reading this book that I committed to owning my own coaching practice and going after my dreams of being a full time speaker. The name DreamBoard Media, came out of all of those assignments. Sometimes I feel like Jack Canfield is a close friend of mine. I’ve met him but he wouldn’t know me from a stranger on the street. I feel like we’re tight because I really dived into his book and continue to use it as a reference - we lovingly call it the Success Bible.

Find this great book on Amazon.

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey

It may be later on this list, but that doesn’t mean that it’s pushed down in priority. (Aside from #1 above, the rest are listed in no particular order.) This one is a classic. Covey is an icon in the success world and from him I learned about the difference between being busy and being effective. I got my first Franklin/Covey day planner when I was 12 years old, so Covey gave me the high vibe verbiage I use to this day. He reshaped the way I looked at productivity and relationships. I still use many of his key principles in everyday conversation (and try to instill them in my kids without them knowing what I’m doing). “Begin with the end in mind.” “Seek first to understand, then to be understood” …and more. To this day, these are SOLID life principles and I compare every high performance and success book to this one.

Find this great book on Amazon.

The Promise to the One by Jason Hewlett

Just thinking about this book is getting me a little teary. I’ve been a fan of Hewlett’s for a good, long time. A friend through the local chapter of the National Speakers Association, Jason has taught me about priorities and how to build this business and to keep my values at the same time. I always knew I liked his writing. I’ve been an avid fan of his weekly newsletter for a long time (and that is saying a lot). Truthfully, this was the first book I read deep into the pandemic in 2020. As you can tell I LOVE personal development books, but when everything hit in March of 2020, I just wanted to read for escape so I read more fiction books in 2020 than all the other years combined. When Jason did his book launch I committed to reading it so I could help support, and what ultimately happened was The Promise To The One got me out of my 2020 funk and got me back on track. I also LOVED his digital workbook that is a companion (free for anyone who buys the book). Those activities awakened me to the power I have and why I care about the work I do in this world.

Find this great book on Amazon.

The Universe Has Your Back by Gabrielle Bernstein

If you have goals and dreams, this book is like a warm hug. Deeply rooted in our connection to the Universe (in my case, God), I loved both the ways Gabby helps people focus on what’s most important AND I loved creating the mental space to believe that you CAN do what you want. To see how to crush fear and live on faith. I also loved the many meditations and additional resources she shares in this book. You won’t regret having this in your library. I also own this in hardback and on audio. I like listening in the car on busy days and I like reading and highlighting the physical copy.

Find this great book on Amazon.

The Four Spiritual Laws of Prosperity by Edwene Gaines

Speaking of warm hugs, I would also put this book in the category of soul comfort. It’s written so beautifully that I often imagined we were having one on one conversations. The concept of abundance has a soft place in my heart ever since I went through Sarah Breathach’s Simple Abundance book. This book is a little quicker to digest and has deep laws that when practiced don’t just change your life, but change your mind and the way you think. I own both versions of this book as well, but highly recommend the audio - it’s both igniting and soothing at the same time.

Find this great book on Amazon.

Start With Why by Simon Sinek

This book is a foundational principle that I believe at my core, “If your why is strong enough, you’ll figure out the how.” Interestingly, we all know that our why matters, and even when we feel like we’ve figured it out we’re constantly battling the thoughts in our head that say, “Are you sure?” I don’t re-read this book as frequently as the others, but I often come back to it’s principles time and time again for both myself and my clients.

Find this great book on Amazon.

The Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes

Every speaker needs to listen to this book on audio. Every high performer needs to listen to this book on audio. While I don’t share the same fears as the author, the way she approaches some of the heavy things in a simple and deep-breath sort of way is encouraging. She helped me feel more confident in who I am and have more guts to share that with the world - and for that, I’ll be forever grateful.

I own this book on audible and I’m convinced listening to the author read this book is 10x better than reading it. (I’m sure reading it is fine, but her storytelling from her own mouth is engaging!)

Find this great book on Amazon.

*FYI, this book is R rated for a chapter that uses the F word. I had to skip it. If you have conservative ears it may be hard to read or listen. However, I listened to the audible and found the author to be perhaps the best storyteller I have ever heard. Also, her principles will have you saying YES!

The Law of Divine Compensation by Marianne Williamson

Who doesn’t want more money? Even if we never voice it, we all think about it. This book teaches you how to think about money in new ways. Deeper ways. And how to make peace with it whether you currently have a little or a lot. This book taught me how to value my offerings and price them accordingly. It also taught me one line that I say ALL THE TIME, “If you choose not to believe, that is your choice. If you choose to believe, that is your miracle.” Believe my friends! Your thoughts are the only things holding you back from what you really want, and the way Marianne connects God to all of it is so powerful and liberating.

Find this great book on Amazon.