As a mum, World Book Day usually means fumbling around looking for ways to make a last minute costume that resembles my daughters favourite Julia Donaldson’s character!
Well, this year (Thursday 5th March btw) World Book Day doesn’t have to be just about the kids. I practically prescribe the following books to my clients because quite frankly, they can change your life. Or at the very least, change your mindset. Which is exactly what you need when you’re changing career. So, while you’re ordering your Where’s Wally costume, I urge you to pop these books in your Amazon Prime basket too.
Playing Big by Tara Mohr
this is a go to guide to help you understand where you might be playing small in your life. Tara uses the format of her coaching programme to take you through subjects including unhooking from praise and criticism, understanding your inner critic and finding your inner mentor. She gives practical advice, based on her research, and journaling exercises to help you take action and move forward.
The Big Leap by Dr Gay Hendricks
This book is all about ‘upper limit problems’ – basically the lies we tell ourselves which keep us stuck. This book is one that totally flipped my perspective. It was so helpful in highlighting how I had been sabotaging my own plans for years, I recommend it to most people I work with. The most useful part for me was in identifying the hidden barriers that we all put in our own way.
The author, Gay Hendricks, identifies these as:
1. Feeling fundamentally flawed – feeling that you are fundamentally flawed in some way
2. Disloyalty and abandonment – believing that if you followed the path you wanted to, you would, in some way, be betraying someone else and would leave other people behind
3. Believing that more success brings a bigger burden – Believing that if you achieved the level of success you want, you would become a bigger burden than you already are
4. The crime of outshining – Not wanting to be what you believe you can because it would make someone else feel or look bad.
If any of those hit home for you, I really recommend taking a look at the book.
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey
Chances are you’ve heard of this book already, and there’s a good reason. It’s sold in its millions and is widely regarded as one of the most influential books ever written. In a nutshell, the book focuses on changing the way we look at ourselves and the world around us. It’s a really good one for when we’re taking a good look at ourselves and understanding what’s important in life. This book will do just that. So, I would recommend this one for the wish list at the very least.
Self-development needs to become a top priority if you are thinking of changing career. Please make time for books which feed your ambition, teach you lessons and help you practically too.
Changing career can be a lonely business. No boss or colleagues to bounce ideas with, to take inspiration from or learn from. A decent book (as well as a career coach!) will help you interpret yourself and the world more positively, boost your growth and help map your life. No one book will transform your life or guarantee success, but I do guarantee that if you invest in just one book a month you WILL see and feel a positive difference.