This one's hard to get as it's privately published, so that you can order it here https://www.btes.com/publications/"Feeling Your Way Along" is simply one of the most impactful books I've experienced when it comes to understanding our emotions and how our subconscious works to protect us and at the same time prevents us from living fully in the moment. It's a textbook, so it's short, to the point, and valuable learning for me. Enjoy!

It is more critical now than ever that we all learn to be more mindful of the different cultures that make up our world. Rhonda Magee beautifully describes how we can all practice understanding each other, regardless of how we identify. Rhonda's book opened my eyes to a better experience of my own socially driven biased views of "how the world is" and has allowed me to be more open and understanding of everyone I meet.

This was a gift from my niece, with who I attended a short meditation retreat with. It has a different reading for each day of the year and is written by the poet Mark Nepo. It is my morning starter literally EVERY morning. I find that it starts my morning routine by getting my “mindset” right and in a positive direction. I’m still in my first year, and it could be a daily read for the rest of my life.

Adyashanti has the philosophy that “simple is better,” and in this book, he writes clearly and simply in a manner that was intriguing to me. This is a quick, easy, nourishing read. Every time I pick this book up and randomly open it to a page, it captivates me again, and I learn something new.

A beginner’s guide to simple meditation and mindfulness. It starts with a story for everyone who believes they are “short of time” or “can’t find” time for themselves. One of the central tenants of Buddhist teachings is having a “Beginner’s Mind”; we should approach everything not believing we already know all the answers. Since starting to study secular Buddhism about seven years ago, I’ve found that this “Beginner’s Mind” thing really makes a difference for me in approaching almost everything. I keep it desk-side and read from it at least weekly. I find it very on point, powerful, and it keeps me focused on my meditation practice.

One of my favorites. It articulates something I’ve always felt better than I’ve ever been able to do myself. My son, Adam, introduced me to Simon by sending me his infamous TED Talk: How Great Leaders Inspire Action. It inspired a positive shift across all of APCO at the time and in my personal life. I had a why, and it is still the same; I couldn’t explain it to others, or even myself, clearly enough to take full action on it. Today, I can because of Simon’s great work.

Now, this one isn’t as light or easy as The Surrender Experiment. It’s easily as powerful or even more powerful, so be prepared to be challenged in many different ways. Singer is direct and factual, and I have no doubt that if you choose to read this book, you will find yourself saying, “man, that sounds exactly like me,” over and over again. If you can stand that hard a look in the mirror, this book will give you a lot to think about and act on—one of my favorites.

Nobody covers the subject of “the voice inside your head” better than Mickey Singer, and no one I’ve read has ever been able to put out a ludicrous idea like “surrender to everything the universe serves up” and watch what happens like Mickey either. Once you get over what feels like him talking about himself a lot, there’s a fantastic message here that helped me get thru some extremely challenging times and come out beautifully by simply “surrendering.”

The first of three AMAZING books in a series by The Arbinger Institute. It’s written as a “Parable,” a simple story with built-in lessons, so it is easy and quick to read. I found so much of myself in this book and so many ways to shift how I acted to how I want to act and be. Life-changing insight, and I’ve now read this three times, along with the other two books listed here: The Anatomy of Peace and The Outward Mindset. Do yourself a favor and read them all ASAP.

The second of three AMAZING books in a series by The Arbinger Institute. It is also a parable bent more towards personal development than business. What I learned shifted how I managed a very challenging situation from what could have been a disaster to a total success where everyone won. I use the lessons of this book and the series daily. I’ve now read this three times, along with the other two books listed here: Leadership and Self Deception & The Outward Mindset. Do yourself a favor and read them all ASAP.

The third of three AMAZING books in a series by The Arbinger Institute. This one is more “technical” in nature, and it ties the three books together very well. It is a perfect trifecta, and all of them are short, to the point, and very easy to read. Priceless and invaluable… do yourself a favor and read them all ASAP.

The incredible follow-up to "It's Not Rocket Science," this book focuses on the individual and what it takes to be "Unstoppable." Applicable equally in business and life, Unstoppable is a must-read for anyone looking to be, as Dave puts it, "In a League of their own." I love this book.

Another priceless offering from Randy Schwanz, this book teaches you how to get off the "referral train" and into valuable "Red Hot Introductions." I don't agree with 100% of it, but I do execute on about 90% of this since reading the book, and it's been the catalyst to raising over $10m in capital for a small real estate fund in less than a year. Another short, expensive book worth its weight in gold, plus some. They have an Amazon Store Front, and that's the best place to get it.

The Wedge is the most expensive "Sales" book ever and worth 10x its price. I've given it to 100+ people as it is how we should offer our products to the market... by not Selling but instead creating value that fits the needs of people. This book is short, and you will want to read it several times to get how it will apply to you. This process most impacted our growth at APCO and is doing the same at Roots Real Estate Investment Community.

Tim is direct and abrasive, and impactful. He has trained World Class athletes like Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and Dwyane Wade, and I believe he learned as much, or more, from studying them as he taught them about what it takes to keep your body and mind in shape to compete at the highest level. If you are offended by language, pass on this... if you can read through the machismo to grasp some great content, you will enjoy it.

Covey's iconic book is as impactful and valuable today as it ever was. It's easy to read and yet very deep in content. Check out some of his videos in the video section of this website... he was a gift to anyone looking to understand the qualities needed to be successful in business and life. He did not measure success in the form of dollars. He was focused on the qualities of humanity, and if you read him or watch him speak, you will see what I mean.

One of my favorite "Simon" concepts… there's a big difference between finite and infinite games. Understanding that difference and applying the appropriate format in the right places is the difference between short-term thinking and long-term success. I heard Simon talk about this concept about four years ago, well before he had written the book, and it rang so true with me that it became a mainstay in all of my conversations around building a business.

I met Patrick at a CBT News event in Atlanta and had the pleasure of doing his introduction. He is a gracious and humble man with a fantastic sense of how teams should work together. This book is a MUST read for every company, starting at the C Level and up thru the entire organization. If "lack of trust" is the number one dysfunction of most teams, it's also the number one factor to team success. Short, fun, and to the point.

At a lunch meeting with my friend and customer Vince Sheehy sometime around 2012 or 2013, he asked me if I had read this book. I hadn't, but I downloaded it that day and read it for the first time. I reread it as soon as I finished it, and it was clear to me that this was a book that thoroughly outlined a process I felt could change how we operated at APCO/EasyCare. We were good, but we wanted to be great, and what was missing was a proper system that kept our ever-growing team aware of and focused on what was most important. Traction and the EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) it perfectly lays out have been the catalyst to our significant growth over the past eight years. It sounds simple, and it is. But, it is not "Easy." What it does is make everyone in the organization more accountable for their commitments and create teams that get results. I've helped two other companies implement Traction since I stepped down at APCO, and both are executing at extremely high levels.

This is a fantastic short version of Traction meant to help employees in a "Traction" company better understand the process's language, intention, and objectives. Frankly, we were doing well on Traction, and as soon as we asked every one of our 567 employees to read and comment on this short, easy-to-digest book, we took off. It's also a good intro to the entire Traction process, so if you want to read it first, have at it.

Amazon Description: "In 1975, Ray Dalio founded an investment firm, Bridgewater Associates, out of his two-bedroom apartment in New York City. Forty years later, Bridgewater has made more money for its clients than any other hedge fund in history and grown into the fifth most important private company in the United States, according to Fortune magazine. Dalio himself has been named in Time magazine's list of the 100 most influential people in the world. Along the way, Dalio discovered a set of unique principles that have led to Bridgewater's exceptionally effective culture, which he describes as "an idea meritocracy that strives to achieve meaningful work and meaningful relationships through radical transparency." It is these principles, and not anything special about Dalio—who grew up an ordinary kid in a middle-class Long Island neighborhood—that he believes are the reason behind his success."My thoughts: Amazing piece of work that requires dedication and discipline to finish. I learned the terms "Radical Transparency" and "Radical Honesty" from this book, and they have served me well. I loved this book, despite it being a challenging read. You have to want it to read it, and if you make it through, you will cherish it.

As the title implies, we must first learn to lead ourselves if we are to lead. Based on the concept of using solitude and quiet meditation to understand ourselves and our opportunities better, Lead Yourself First uses historical references to some great people to get its point across. This book is a short, impactful book that is well worth reading in one's quest for continuous improvement and growth.

Hadeed started a cleaning service at the University of Florida while still a student there and turned it into a phenomenon by using it as a business venture and as an opportunity to help college students generate income while in school. She tells a great story about "screwing up" and learning from it to building a very successful business with an incredible culture. Hadeed shows how much closer we can get to perfection by continuously making progress.

Of course, “leaders eat last.” Ask any true leader, and they will get that this is evident from the start. Reading this book by Simon reinforced my thinking that we must take care of the people we lead first and foremost, and the rest will take care of itself.

This book is all about being real, direct, and truthful with the people we lead. It's a quick read and well worth it, especially for someone who's committed to "Radical Transparency" as a leadership trait.

Dave is easy to understand! There are no hidden agendas, no obtuse meaning, and no BS. Everything he writes or speaks and every podcast he publishes gets to the point quickly and carries a punch. This is one of the top business books I’ve ever read, and it provides a clear and concise roadmap to efficiency, accountability, and success. From this book and being with Dave at a presentation he did to a group of 100 New York/New Jersey car dealers, I began to understand the value of making sure we have our “Mindset” right daily. Here, I first started doing a “morning routine” and establishing a set of “affirmations” that truly shifted how I executed my life going forward.

I read this and watched one of his talks, and it truly made a huge difference in how I approached things going forward. For years I had been sure that I was a great "multi-tasker," and Greg McKeown quickly got me to see the problem with this. I wasn't focusing on anything, and so many things weren't getting done. "Essentialism" is a must for everyone in life and business. Do yourself a favor and check this one out... read it, watch it, or both.

Thich Nhat Hahn has been my greatest teacher in Buddhist theory, and he's given me a simple way to understand the precepts without needing to dig into any religious aspects. Although he passed away in 2022 in his 90s, he was the most progressive thinker in the discipline, always believing that Buddhism is not about becoming a Buddhist but about using the concepts and teachings to be better whatever you choose to be. I have learned much from him, and this short, impactful book was one of my first exposures to him. I've been drawn back to it many times to re-read and learn more. It is a beautiful piece of work.

This is a book about recovery, and most will consider it one about alcohol or drug recovery... but we are all in recovery from either mental or physical stress. Noah created a Buddhist-driven recovery network that works; I love this book. In 'Dharma Punks,' he views the entire subject from a unique perspective. It's quick and impactful, and there are great meditation learnings in the last 20% of the book.

OK, not for everyone, and I’m into the Buddhist philosophy, but I continue to read some of the classic books that instruct on “proper meditation” in the old school sense. Although I love to meditate in all kinds of different formats (walking, laying down, sitting, doing daily things), I want to understand the proven mechanics of “zazen” or “sitting,” and this book is the best for that. It is considered by many the best book in English that has ever been written on Zen Buddhism. It is an instruction manual and is suitable for beginners or well-practiced individuals.OK, not for everyone, and I’m into the Buddhist philosophy, but I continue to read some of the classic books that instruct on “proper meditation” in the old school sense. Although I love to meditate in all kinds of different formats (walking, laying down, sitting, doing daily things), I want to understand the proven mechanics of “zazen” or “sitting,” and this book is the best for that. It is considered by many the best book in English that has ever been written on Zen Buddhism. It is an instruction manual and is suitable for beginners or well-practiced individuals.

Recommended by a friend, I’ve always been interested in the great philosophers but never really read much by them. This one is also a “daily” reader and is even shorter than the Book of Awakening. I’ve started reading these each day in my morning routine since they take about 30 seconds to a minute, and I find them super interesting. Learn something new every day!

I read this book while simultaneously listing to a podcast that Elkhart and Oprah did going through the book chapter by chapter. I got a lot out of it. I also found this summary online that I think is perfect: "A New Earth" makes the case that humanity must either evolve into a new ego-free, enlightened state or face possible extinction. Eckart Tolle, the author, introduces and explains some powerful and potentially life-changing concepts (mixed with some BS interpretation of life and events.)." There's hardly ever a book I read that I agree with everything in it because I believe we take what fits and leave the rest, but this was a great read overall.

OK, we all know this, and yet we let our ego get in the way of everything... literally everything. I love this book because of Ryan's direct, stoic approach to the damage allowing our ego to run our lives can create.

Every great leader and super successful CEO has a strong morning routine that they follow. There are many ways to create one that will work for you... the key is to create one. Dave Anderson already had me well into my "morning mindset routine" when a friend introduced me to this book. I saw Dani one morning at work and noticed a distinct difference in him. He was always a happy, positive person, and now he was energized, had lost weight, and I could see he was really "on fire." I asked what he'd been doing, and he said he had read "Miracle Morning" a few months earlier, and it had really changed his life. I read it, loved it... took a few new concepts from it, and got an energy recharge. Great read.

This is a great book for skeptics who want some science behind things. Robert Wright is a Ph.D. – Psychologist and self-proclaimed skeptic to anything that can’t be proven scientifically. While this one sounds like it might be boring, it is anything but that. Wright is witty and brilliant, and he ties excellent stories of his journey into scientific facts that link to his overall conclusions. This book gets a 10 out of 10 from me.

Elkhart has a unique way of discussing that “all we have is this moment.” Millions of people have read this book, and it continues to be an essential read in its field. I found it only after (actually from) reading “A New Earth,” another of his books, and I’ve discovered that Tolle’s approach, logic, and authenticity speak nicely to me.

Tara is one of my favorite Dharma Teachers. She focuses on "self-care" and opening up to our true feelings, connecting with them and letting them pass thru us rather than holding them in and suffering. She teaches self-compassion and how to experience what we feel and be open to the moment. This is a compelling book for anyone who is constantly beating themselves up, for those whose "voice in their head" is driving them to believe they are not worthy.

Simply a beautifully written piece done on Audible that dives into having an outward mindset and genuine compassion for those around us. A couple of hours of joyful listening.

Never a genuine "Stones" fan, but this was recommended to me. It is a fascinating dive into what it was like in the early blues/rock and roll world of the Stones. Richards is an insane drug-abusing rocker, and then find that he is an incredible musician and songwriter. I did the same with this as with Bruce Springsteen's book... read parts and then listened to the music it discussed. Along the way, I became a huge Stones and Keith Richard fan.

I've always respected Bono's deep engagement in the issues of human beings across the globe, specifically in Africa. Although not a huge fan of U2's music, I kept hearing about how active Bono was. I didn't realize just how amazing a human being he truly is. He reads this book himself, and the story is fascinating and empowering. It encourages us all to do more. To see more of what is happening in the world and be willing to take action. We don't all have a platform like he does, yet we all have space to contribute more to the betterment of our world. This is one of, if not the most, entertaining and enlightening books I've ever listened to... and listen to it. Bono reads it himself, and he is a master. Suddenly, I love the music.

Yeah, I know Will slapped Chris Rock... We all have our days, right? Another book to listen to as the Author reads; it is entertaining and eye-opening to learn how incredible Will Smith's drive and talent are. It seems boastful at times, but that was fine since this guy backed it up as the highest-paid entertainer in the world for about a decade. Great listen... Lots of fun.

I've always been a Bruce fan, but this book shifted the fan to fanatic. DON'T READ IT... Listen to it. Bruce reads the book, gives insight into his youth, things that drove him and still drive him today, and tells an incredible story. When Bruce talked about an album and why he wrote it, I stopped listening to the book and went to the entire album. What a treat! Starting with "Greetings from Asbury Park," I understood Bruce, his music, and his incredible talent.

Another fantastic book read by the author... a MUST LISTEN, not read book that will teach and entertain. Mathew reads this himself and is hysterical, more profound than you think, and brilliant. Not one person I've talked to about this book didn't love it, and it's only about 6 hours long. Don't miss it. Full of insight into the life and amusing stories of one of the best actors ever.

I'm still reading this (I have been for six months). I love it and spread it out between other stuff I want to finish. This is the story of power and sexual abuse in Hollywood... it is a "True Crime," non-fiction research book that is blowing my mind. What we, as a society, allow to happen under our noses never ceases to amaze or trouble me.

Just a fun, fantastic read by someone I felt had a tremendous spirit. He was a non-judgmental experimenter who traveled the world experiencing what others never dreamed of. I read it shortly after he committed suicide, as I wanted to understand better "why." I'm not sure it helped me understand why, but I loved the book and loved who he was.