Books are a major part of my life and have proven to be extremely motivational for my growth. In this series, I will share some of my favorite titles. These books have led to new projects, ways of thinking, or personal advancement. Today’s list will focus on Career.

• Never Eat Alone
• Extreme Ownership
• The Everyday Hero Manifesto
• How to Win Friends and Influence People
• Shoe Dog

I have worked in the media industry for 18 years. I’ve learned so much about business, people, growth, and navigating all of it to develop a solid career. These 5 books (among others) have helped me along the way in understanding the best practices to hone in on and to never stop improving. 

Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi

I first read this book when I was a young media salesman. As I mentioned in a previous post, networking is one of the most important aspects to any career. Developing strong relationships will not only get you through doors that are not open to everyone, but it will give you insight and perspective on the industry and opportunities available. 

Keith Ferrazzi grew up in a small town in Pennsylvania. He used his networking skills to get accepted to Yale and Harvard Business school as well as become CMO of Deloitte before the age of 30. He went on to become CMO of other top companies before starting his own consulting firm focusing on building relationships and business success.

In this book, Ferrazzi leans into the idea of networking and shows how valuable it can be. Through examples of his own career path as well as some of the greatest networkers to ever live, he proves that fostering relationships can and will have a tremendous impact on any career. He provides loads of helpful tips that I have continued to utilize through the years:

Ping Constantly

Stay connected with people BEFORE you need something from them.

House Party

Ferrazzi believes so deeply in the power of breaking bread with clients that he has them over to his house regularly to enrich the relationship beyond work.

Getting Past Gatekeepers

With just a little extra effort, most receptionists or assistants can be charmed into letting you through to the boss.

Never Miss an Opportunity to Learn

Even if a meeting does not seem to have value to you, you never know what you could learn from other people.

This book had played a major roll in my approach to building any relationship. Cultivating strong connections has led to many job opportunities, successful business transactions, as well as long lasting friendships.

Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin

I remember early in my career making a mistake on a chart that was sent to a large group. Once realized, I sent a note to the team taking responsibility for the error. I let them know I would fix it and not let it happen again.  I got an email on the side from the head of our department thanking me for quickly owning the slip-up. This allowed the group to move on and not waste time on finger pointing. This stuck with me and now years later I see why it was so important to my superior.

Jocko and Leif are former U.S. Navy seals whose task force fought in one of the toughest missions in the Iraq war, securing Ramadi. After departing the SEALs, they started a successful consulting company, teaching top business executives and their teams how to apply effective techniques used in war to triumph in any industry.

Extreme Ownership discusses the battles they fought Iraq and makes a seamless connection with the principles of how leaders need to except any and all responsibility for their team’s failures. Putting egos aside, a leader’s job is to understand all aspects of a mission and make sure the right people are in place. If something goes wrong, it is ultimately on the leader to find out why and make adjustments. 

Aside from having loads of helpful tips, the book also puts everyday worries in perspective when compared to actual life and death decisions made in war. 

The Everyday Hero Manifesto by Robin Sharma

In 1999, Robin Sharma wrote one of my favorite books of all time, The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari. Since that successful first book, he has mentored leaders across business, sports, and entertainment on how to achieve greatness. 

The Everyday Hero Manifesto is a step by step guide to his methods in discovering one’s potential. He takes a deep dive into overcoming your fears and developing the skills needed to break free of a mundane life. With examples of past clients he has helped, Sharma explains how solid daily routines and healthy decisions for the mind and body are key elements to success. 

This book is inspirational, informative, and beautifully written. It made me want to be the best at my job. It also inspired me to continue creating and explore new paths of interest. 

“Develop the guts to play out on the edges of your powers. Because as you visit your limits, those limits will expand.” – Robin Sharma

How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

“You can make more friends in two months by being interested in them, than in two years by making them interested in you.”

I used to work with a woman that was magnetic. Her door was always open, and she made herself available to talk whenever needed. She was a master of questions. Before you even realized it, you would be talking about yourself for 20 min. She had an uncanny ability to dig deep below the surface of a conversation and make people feel comfortable sharing their lives. Needless to say, she was and continues to be very well liked.

Written in 1936, How to Win Friends and Influence People is a study of human interactions and self-development that has stood the test of time. With simple, straightforward, and sometimes obvious (but often not practiced) advice, Carnegie explains how important a person’s approach to people and life can be to their success. 

The book gives tips on how to be more likable, how to shift people’s mindset to your way of thinking, and how to change people without offending them. While these actions may sound deceptive, they are genuinely caring at their foundation. It seems like more than ever, tensions are high in so many conversations these days. Approaching topics with a softer hand and an understanding of the other side is a skill that, if mastered, can be highly rewarding. 

Shoe Dog by Phil Knight

Growing up in the 80s and 90s, I was a huge fan of Nike. I remember drawing countless Nike swooshes on my school notepads trying to make the tips perfectly sharp. Nike was a status symbol and friendships were formed or lost based on the athletic brand you donned. 

In my lifetime, Nike has been somewhere near, if not at, the top of the sports apparel game. The company behind the iconic Michael Jordan Jumpman and Air Force 1 sneakers, became a cultural behemoth over the years and continues to stay competitive in the space almost 60 years since its inception. 

But this book is set before all of that success.  Shoe Dog is the story of Nike’s founder Phil Knight. Following his passion for running, and with a $50 loan from his father, he started a shoe company out of the back of his car. It sounds cliché, but he was actually selling shoes out of the back of his car! 

The story is filled with victories, failures, good luck, bud luck, and everything in between. It is an honest telling of what starting a business from the ground up can be like. The sacrifices made in order to grow, and the glory of never giving up on a dream.

Still Growing

I still have a ton to learn and look forward to that challenge. I hope that these books give you the career guidance that they provided me. Let me know if there are any books that have helped you along your path.