Get Your Career in Gear Reading List 2014

Continuing with the National Preparedness Month and Back To School themes (plus a recent Facebook meme), today I offer how to Get Your Career in Gear Reading List 2014.

50 Self Help ClassicsTom Butler-Bowdon

I admit I wish I’d thought of this. But I didn’t. Tom Butler-Bowdon did and now he’s built a career on reading the entire texts so you don’t have to (other categories include Spiritual, Success, Prosperity…).

I deeply appreciate that Butler-Bowdon prefer to think of this category as “the literature of possibility.” YES.

Bossy PantsTina Fey

Tina and I are friends in my parallel universe.  We have coffee and talk about career and kids and I occasionally mention how much this book has meant to me and how many copies I have sold for her and then Tina is like…Yes, and is the foundation principle of Improv Comedy and it’s guided Tina Fey’s career. You’ll laugh, you probably won’t cry, but you’ll be inspired.

ClassyDerek Blasberg

Everyone should a book of etiquette. I’m a lifelong fan of Emily Post but think Derek Blasberg’s Classy is witty and modern and spot on. Editor at large at Harper’s Bazaar and a front row fixture at fashion shows, he’s a nice, well-mannered, smart, talented and hard-working kid from St. Louis who made it happen. Switch out Philadelphia for St Louis and it sounds a lot like Tina Fey.

Creative VisualizationShakti Gawain

See it to believe it. Then really start to believe it. Then manifest it.

How To Win Friends and Influence PeopleDale Carnegie

Times change but the relevance of this book has not.

Pitch PerfectBill McGowan

Bill is one of my mentors although he’s not aware of it and we’ve never met. This indispenseble book is worth it just for his Facebook anecdote (pages 12-17 in hardback). But read the whole thing – it delivers on its promise.

The Charisma MythOlivia Fox Cabane

Presence, power and warmth. Boom!

Write It Down, Make It HappenHenriette Anne Klauser

Thanks to Heather Clawson of Habitually Chic for writing a blog post about this book a few years ago.

Among the many things I love about this book is that Dr Klauser starts doling out smart, actionable guidance in the introduction, none of this wading through half a book of filler.

By the way, there’s neuroscience behind this. (I love throwing that around like I’m qualified).

People who write it down accomplish more than those who type it.

People who don’t articulate their goals at all aren’t even in the game.