5 books I read whenever I need a jumpstart at work

Get the Full StoryPeter Macdiarmid Getty Images

Inc's Nicolas Cole shares his five favorite books for finding more motivation and inspiration at work.

His list includes "Shoe Dog" by the creator of Nike, "The Upstarts" by Brad Stone, and "Tools of Titans" by Tim Ferriss.

They cover tips for negotiating, personal growth, and stories of success that anyone can learn from.

I am a huge advocate for reading.

There are certain lessons you can only extract from a good book—especially one written by someone who has been in your same shoes, and is giving you all the nitty gritty details you want to know about.

That's something YouTube videos can't give you, podcasts can't give you, even hearing that same person speak in front of a huge crowd can't give you. Reading is a deep look at someone's journey. And if you pick up the right book at the right time, it sounds like they're speaking to you and only you.

As the end of 2017 comes to a close, here are some of my favorite books to read whenever I need a jumpstart in motivation. It's impossible not to read a few pages from any of these well-known books and not feel more inspired than ever to bring your next project to life. 1. Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike by Phil Knight

Amazon

Full transparency, I actually just started this book. But I'll tell you that based on what I've read so far, this will be on my "must-read" list for a long time.

"Shoe Dog" is the story of how the iconic brand, Nike, came to be—and an inside look at the entrepreneur behind it all, Phil Knight. It's a case-in-point example of what a scrappy startup looks like in its earliest days, contrasted to the global success the brand has seen since.

2. The Upstarts: How Uber, Airbnb, and the Killer Companies of the New Silicon Valley Are Changing the World by Brad Stone

Amazon

I picked this up on a whim at a bookstore earlier this year, and it ended up becoming one of my favorite entrepreneurship books of all time.

"The Upstarts" is a journalistic narrative on the riveting stories of Uber, Airbnb, and a handful of their closest competitors. How these companies came to be is nothing short of amazing, and "The Upstarts" gives you a close look at the day-to-day challenges that came with these unicorn successes.

3. Tools of Titans: The Tactics, Routines, and Habits of Billionaires, Icons, and World-Class Performers by Tim Ferriss

Amazon

This is not a book you sit down and read straight through. In fact, that's not its intention at all.

"Tools of Titans" is the latest from Tim Ferris, the undisputed leader in self-development, bio-hacking, and personal growth. Think of this as your encyclopedia for what to do, when, from all the most successful people in the world. It's a collection of notes from the figures Ferris has interviewed and learned from, put together in a book for everyday readers to scroll through and take what they will.

It's a book to keep beside on your desk, for you to open and flip to a random page when you feel so inclined.

See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Share: