Top 5 Books to Inspire

These five books have spanned many years of reading about self development and are just a few that I could mention. They change position in my personal rankings but most are mainstay. Have a read through my recommendations and let me know if you have any favourites of your own to share?

• Springboard - Womens Development Workbook

This was given to me in 1991 as a textbook to go alongside a training course my workplace signed me up for when I was 17 years old and full of wonder. The physical book got lost along the way in house moves, but curiosity of the experience sent me trawling through Ebay, where I picked up a second hand copy of this handy (if not outdated) workbook.

• The Latte Factor - David Bach

This gives a simplistic overview of finances. It is written from a U.S perspective which references American Pensions, Savings, Stocks & Share terminology. However, it is still worth the read for the common themes of spending and ultimately prioritising your money aspirations in story form.

• Atomic Habits - James Clear

Quotable moments from the book...

"Success is the product of daily habits, not once in a lifetime transformation."

"Goals are about the results you want to achieve. Systems are about the processes that lead to those results."

This book is practical but stuffed full of research papers and statistics to back up the advice and findings that James Clear promotes. There are eye opening chapters about your own behaviours mimicking those you spend the most time with. People who have an obese close friend are 57% more likely to also put on weight to the point of obesity.

If you already know what you want from life and have committed to your goals, then you need to get in a community that reflects the same interests and pursuits in line with your own, to have the best chance of success.

• The 4 hour work week - Tim Ferriss

The thing I found interesting about this book was accessing ideas and info that I wouldn't have ever considered before... such as outsourcing the parts of life which are time consuming for the reader but could be done quicker and more cheaply by an expert in that field. (I haven't commissioned any professional services to help in any of my own commercial ventures yet... but I'd consider it as a real possibility after reading how easy it is to do).

• Personal Branding for Brits - Jennifer Holloway

'A practical guide to blowing your own trumpet.' This is a light read with tips on assessing and analyse who you are and what you want to convey. Looks at body language, values, personal presentation and has an easy to use glossary of links and information.