536: Celebrating 11 Years: The Most Influential Books of the Read to Lead Podcast

Welcome, welcome, welcome! You’re listening to the Read to Lead Podcast, and I’m your host, Jeff Brown. Today is an incredibly special day because we’re celebrating 11 years of this podcast! 🎉 Over the years, we’ve had the privilege of speaking with some of the brightest minds and discussing some of the most transformative books out there. So, in honor of our 11th anniversary, I thought it would be fitting to look back at 11 of the most influential books I’ve read since starting this journey. Each of these books has left a lasting impact on me and, I hope, on you too. Let’s dive right in, shall we? For a complete list of the books, just scroll down. Click the play button below to listen to the episode Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Our first stop is way back to Episode 28 with Daniel Pink’s “To Sell is Human.” This book completely redefined my understanding of sales. Dan Pink argues that sales isn’t just for salespeople; it’s a fundamental human skill. Whether you’re an accountant, engineer, or manager, you’re in the business of moving others. Pink introduces the new ABCs of selling: Attunement, Buoyancy, and Clarity. Attunement is about understanding and aligning with others’ perspectives. Buoyancy keeps us afloat amidst rejection, and Clarity helps us see solutions more clearly. One of the most surprising insights was that ambiverts, not extroverts, are the best salespeople because they balance listening and assertiveness. Next, let’s talk about Greg McKeown’s “Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less,” from Episode 52. This book is a game-changer for anyone feeling overwhelmed by the demands of modern life. Greg teaches us that by focusing on the vital few instead of the trivial many, we can achieve more meaningful success. He shares a personal story about missing the birth of his daughter due to work commitments, which really drove home the importance of prioritizing what’s truly essential. His three-step process: exploring and evaluating options, eliminating the non-essential, and executing essential tasks effortlessly, has been a blueprint for my own productivity. Episode 68 introduced us to Hal Elrod and “The Miracle Morning.” Hal’s morning routine is designed to set a positive tone for the rest of the day. His lifesavers—Silence, Affirmations, Visualization, Exercise, Reading, and Scribing—are simple yet powerful practices that anyone can integrate into their morning routine. Hal’s personal story of overcoming a near-fatal accident and financial ruin is incredibly inspiring. His message is clear: by starting our day with intention and purpose,