I have said it before and I will say it a million times,
entrepreneurship and personal growth go hand in hand,
which means if you don't wanna fall behind,
you've gotta expand your mind.
So here is my list of nine unconventional business books
that will take your mindset to the next level.
(light music)
While I am a big believer that education, experience
and thoughtful and consistent habits
are huge drivers of success in, well, anything,
there is something arguably even more important,
and that is your mindset.
I truly believe that if you expand your mindset,
you can make more money, help more people
and make a bigger impact on the planet,
and many of the world's most successful people agree.
Your mind is the single most powerful
and efficient tool you have.
It is estimated that we humans think an average
of 6200 thoughts a day.
6200!
Now here's the thing, some of these thoughts
are good empowering thoughts.
But others are harmful, limiting, self-sabotaging thoughts.
And even though most of them are completely unconscious,
they all a direct impact on your behavior, your resilience,
your happiness and yes, your overall success.
So even though mindset really seems like nothing more
than a trendy topic for coaches, entrepreneurs
and influencers to post about,
it is actually crazy important
if you wanna take your business and life to that next level.
So it goes without saying that you need to do more
than study marketing strategies, learn persuasion techniques
and read regular business books.
If you wanna grow professionally,
you also need to master your mind or risk falling behind.
So today, I'm giving you a sneak peek
into my own mindset tips, and sharing nine unconventional
business books that you need to read ASAP
if you wanna give yourself an undeniable edge.
Hey guys, what's up?
It's Alex coming at you today
with my third video on book recommendations.
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Now, it goes without saying
that there are literally thousands and thousands
of mindset books out there,
and there are some books that just about everybody
has heard of,
like "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People"
by Stephen R Covey,
"How to Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie,
or "Think and Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill.
Now these are the types of books you might see
on another list of best mindset books,
and they are there for good reason.
They are incredible and I highly recommend you read them.
But I don't wanna talk about those books today,
'cause everybody else talks about them.
I wanna give you guys a few recos that I consider to be
hidden gems in the realm of mindset and self development.
Maybe you've heard of some of them, maybe you haven't,
but keep in mind that not every book on this list
will be for everybody.
We all resonate with different messages,
different writing styles and different types of motivation.
So with that in mind, I tried to include a variety
of my personal favorites.
Everything from memoirs to ancient wisdom
to modern practices.
So get out a pen and a notebook,
or open up that Amazon or Audible app
and get ready to expand your library.
Alright, let's dive in.
I have a few hard copies right here
and the rest I have on my Audible app
because I am a huge listener of books.
If you are too, comment below and let me know.
Number one on my list is "The Art of Possibility"
by Rosamund Stone Zander and Benjamin Zander.
So this book was actually recommended to me a few years ago
by my friend and mentor Dr Srikumar Rao
when I took his creativity
and personal life mastery program,
and it is a total game changer.
Co-written by a husband and wife duo,
a conductor of the Boston Philharmonic
and a family therapist,
this book shares an entire different perspective
when it comes to shifting your mindset.
So as the title implies, this book aims to get you
to see the possibility that is hidden in every event,
situation or circumstance,
no matter how bad it may seem on the surface.
But what makes this book different
is that it doesn't just blindly force the,
"Hey, just think positive" down your throat.
It is full of stories and personal anecdotes
from the Zanders that will seriously change
your perspective on life.
And in addition to the stories,
there are 12 practices outlined in this book
to give you a whole different way of thinking
about yourself and the entire world, actually.
All right, so number two on my list
is "Start with Why" by Simon Sinek.
Based on his wildly popular TED Talk,
Simon Sinek's book is all about addressing the importance
of one simple question, why?
This book urges businesses, brands and entrepreneurs
to have a clear and concise why before starting
any new venture or project.
So while Sinek is talking mostly about businesses,
the principles covered in this book are actually
so important to every area of your life.
And when it comes to copywriting, this is pure gold
because it is rooted in the universal fact
that people do not buy the what, they buy the,
say it with me, they buy the why.
Your why becomes the foundation of your brand,
your business and your USP, which is important to identify
whether you're starting your own business
or writing copy for another.
Alright, number three,
"The Four Agreements" by Don Miguel Ruiz.
Based on ancient Toltec wisdom,
this book breaks down the limiting beliefs
that keep so many of us stuck.
Things like negative self-talk, grudges and blame,
and toxic behavior patterns.
Throughout the book, Ruiz breaks down the four agreements,
which are, be impeccable with your word,
don't take anything personally,
do not make assumptions,
and always do your best.
Now, while those might seem a little bit oversimplified
at first glance, this book packs a powerful punch
and contains a bunch of heavy ideas that,
when approached with an open mind,
can be seriously life-changing.
So this was one of the very first books I read
when I got into personal growth and entrepreneurship.
And the next on my list is number four,
"The 5 AM Club" by Robin Sharma.
So if you wanna level up your morning routine
so that you can maximize your productivity
and tap into your ultimate health potential,
this is for you.
This book dives into the neuro-scientific practice
that has been proven to make it easier
to become an early riser.
Yes, even for all you night owls out there.
And aside from the science, this book contains practical
and easy to follow formulas, methods and tactics
to help you not just wake up early,
but seize the morning time for ultimate productivity.
So just imagine if you could wake up easily,
key word there easily, at 5 AM,
dominate all of your work by 9 AM
and then have the rest of the day
to work on your passion projects,
start a new side hustle like copywriting,
spend time with your family or whatever else you want.
Yeah, that is a dream.
I am still working on that one.
I get up around 6:30 every morning.
What time do you get up?
Comment below and let me know.
Alright, number five on the list
is "You Can't Hurt Me" by David Goggins.
This is a crazy motivational memoir
and for those of you who have not heard of this man,
he is the only one in history to complete elite training
as a NAVY Seal, Army Ranger,
and an Air Force Tactical Air Controller.
He went on to set records in numerous endurance events,
earning him the title of The Fittest Real Man in America
by Outside Magazine.
So in this book, he walks you through his rough life story,
beginning with a nightmare of a childhood
that included poverty, prejudice, and physical abuse.
But through self-discipline, mental toughness and hard work,
Goggins transformed himself, and I quote,
"from a depressed overweight young man"
into a US Armed Forces icon
and one of the world's top endurance athletes.
So throughout the book, Goggins isn't only serving up
tons of motivation and inspiration,
but he also reveals what he calls the 40% rule,
which is that most of us only tap into 40%
of our capabilities.
He also talks about how you can push past pain and fear
to reach your own full potential.
Now, I love this book, but fair warning to all of you,
it is not for the faint of heart.
There are a lot of F-bombs, so you have been warned.
Alright, number six on my list
is "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho.
Okay, so I think this is my favorite book of all time
and it's actually the book that I gift to the most people
because it was first given to me as a gift,
and I seriously think everyone should read this
in their lifetime.
While it is a fiction book, you cannot deny
the powerful life lessons that Coelho shares
in this masterpiece.
So it's about a shepherd boy who embarks on a journey
to attain riches and worldly treasure,
and on his journey, he of course encounters roadblocks
and struggles, but he ultimately discovers
so much more than just treasure.
He learns the importance of listening to his heart,
following his dreams,
and how to follow his own inner guidance system
towards his life purpose and destiny.
So it's a short book, it's easy to read,
and the lessons are timeless.
So if you want an inspiring story
without the boredom of non-fiction,
this is definitely one you wanna consider.
Alright now, number seven on my list
is "Daring Greatly" by Brene Brown.
Another one that is my absolute fave
when it comes to mindset work.
It is not all about chanting positive affirmations
and mapping out a pretty vision board,
although I love doing those things too.
There is a lot of hard work and bravery
that goes into it too.
And the truth is, that part isn't always pretty.
So when it comes to facing those ugly parts of our journey,
Brene Brown is your girl.
For those of you who don't know her,
she is a research professor at the University of Texas
and she has spent the last two decades
studying things like courage, vulnerability,
shame and empathy.
Now, I love Brene Brown.
I love her TED Talks, I love her books,
I love her podcast,
and this one in particular is my favorite.
In it, she talks thoroughly about the power of vulnerability
and how it's not a weakness
like society might have us believe,
but instead an incredible strength.
She explains how vulnerability is at the core
of all of our difficult emotions,
like fear, grief and disappointment,
and how this emotion is also the birthplace
of love, belonging, joy, empathy, innovation and creativity.
In it, she says, and I quote,
"When we shut ourselves off from vulnerability,
we distance ourselves from the experiences
that bring purpose and meaning to our lives."
So this book will really open your eyes
to embracing vulnerability,
and how to harness it to achieve greatness in your life
every single day.
Alright, number eight on my list
is "Start Where You Are" by Chris Gardner.
Alright, is there anyone who hasn't seen
"The Pursuit of Happyness" a million times?
If you haven't, then you definitely should.
This book is a memoir written by Chris Gardner,
who also wrote the book that inspired the Will Smith movie
"The Pursuit of Happyness",
which we all know and love so much.
This book is wildly inspirational
as Chris Gardner walks you through his own life lessons
and teaches you through example how to, yup,
start where you are to get to where you wanna go.
I seriously think this book can transform anyone's mindset
from a place of lack and limitation
to a place of possibility and empowerment.
Gardner really inspires you to take responsibility
for your own dreams, but not in a pushy,
goal-oriented sort of way,
more in a make your dreams come true type of way.
Alright, the last book on my list
is "Atomic Habits" by James Clear.
So I am ending my list with a more practical book
for all of you left-brain people out there.
So much of our mindset revolves around the habits we keep,
both good and bad.
So this is the book you need if you're looking
for specific strategies that will help you
form good habits, break the bad ones
and master the tiny, seemingly unimportant behaviors
that make up our everyday routines.
The book argues that if you can't seem to make
lasting change with your habits,
it's not actually your fault
or your willpower that's to blame.
It's the system you are using.
So one thing he says that I really love is this,
and I quote, "You do not rise to the level of your goals.
You fall to the level of your systems."
So if you're ready to change your habits
and level up your success in life and business,
remember to pay attention to the systems you're using
every single day to make it happen.
Genius, I love it.
Alright, that brings me to the end of this list.
You can grab your copies of these bad boys
at the links below.
Did I miss any of your favorite mindset books?
Drop your favorites in the comments below.
And until next time, I'm Alex.
Ciao for now.
Alright guys, if you enjoyed that video,
make sure to check out the next one from me right here,
and you can click right here to get a free gift.
Hey guys, it's Alex, and in this video,
I'm gonna tell you my five favorite books
you should read if you're teaching yourself
how to be a copywriter.