New year, new look.
Did you see the new podcast art?
Let's talk about it. New logo defining the show more completely.
That's my FACE on there now! I feel a bit nekkid putting my face out there for the whole world to see. It's just one more step to not being holding myself back. It took about a year for me to get off my duff and do this.
Also, you may have noticed that's an elephant topping the "I" in Think. The elephant runs in a matriarchal order. Not that I don't appreciate men, I just come from a long line of women taking care of more than their share. I honor those women, and each of us, who lead families, work teams, organizations, and share our influence with the world in that image.
Thank you to my designer, Jason Clement, for helping me put more me into the conversation.
Then you see my name a little structured and maybe a bit mischievous. That's me. I learn more when I'm playful. It's the balance of the structure and the creative that makes me who I am.
You can find out more from Jason Clement at http://jasonclement.com/podcast-covers/
The 5 Best Books for a Breakthrough
This started out as "The end of the year booklist." But this is more than that.
This is the list for you, you smart, ambitious woman, when you are ready for a breakthrough.
But every challenge requires a different kind of breakthrough.
I'm not a fantasy reader. I don't get into to fiction much, because, I have more practical things to take care of.
And that's what my list of books has brought me. Practical solutions. Excellent reads. Lessons and strategies.
I like to implement directly. In fact, I've been told I just run with an idea like a horse out of the gate.
This is the list that helps you crash through that door and stand tall in your place.
Here's my criteria to make it on this list.
1. Every book here I read in 2017. That means it is fresh and current in my mind. The notes, ideas & lessons are applicable today.
2. Every book I read at least twice. Most I listened to the audiobook first, then read the Kindle version. (Our family has a daily commute to school and I listen to books on our drive.)
3. Each book listed comes with a direct recommendation for a particular point, challenge or struggle that a woman faces right now.
Year of Yes, Shonda Rhimes
Year of Yes, by Shonda Rhimes is a powerful read to help you realize that you are not being sensible, safe or living smart...you could easily be living in fear. And not even know it.
Shonda shares her insights on how she decides to stop saying no and for one year, just one year, she will challenge herself to say yes.
A perfect read for the woman that: Is ready to start her new year and step out of her comfort zone. She's not quite sure where this will take her. The leap of faith is what she needs.
Braving the Wilderness, Brene Brown
Brene Brown makes me realize I'm not alone in my challenging thoughts. Braving the Wilderness is as the tagline reads, the "Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone."
If there's one thing we have learned in 2017, it's that people think differently than we do. That should be okay. Using the internet, we can polarize ourselves on issues and create battlefields that hold us back. This book helps us find an understanding and be willing to discuss the issues in peace.
People are hard to hate close up.
"True belonging doesn't require you to change who you are, it requires you to be who you are."
A perfect read for the woman that: Wants to understand the other side. She is ready to have a conversation without judgment. She yearns to be more comfortable standing alone and ready to participate in a bigger conversation.
The Big Leap, Gay Hendricks
This book had been on my list for over a year. One little nudge from Ray Edwards podcast to get me to read it.
Read in the month of November, I've re-read it 3 times now. That's saying a lot for me. The Big Leap takes a deep, deep dive to on how each of us can hold ourselves back. There are many reasons we believe we are unworthy.
A perfect read for the woman that: Achieves in many facets of life, but continues to struggle with one specific area. She is ready to cancel all the self-sabotage holding her back. She seeks opportunity to work in the zone of genius.
Wrecked, Jeff Goins
In our interview with Jon Stolpe, he mentions this book. I devoured this book in a couple days. Wrecked touched my spirit. it is so easy to be involved in your own life, that looking out for other's needs doesn't seem to be the top priority.
Service, compassion, and giving are great topics at the holidays and sometimes missed throughout the year. This book shares poignant moments that touched me deeply.
A perfect read for the woman that: Seeking new insights, tools, and find ways to serve & have more compassion in the daily routine. She is ready to "get over herself," and have a more humanistic view of the world, then put her talents to use in some capacity in that.
The 5 Second Rule, Mel Robbins
This is the book a lot of us need. The 5 Second Rule is the book that helps us overcome that space from, "Yes, I know I need to do this thing..." and "I am doing this thing."
That space is where we can get so stuck. We think about accomplishing that thing. We talk about it. We have a pretty good plan to make it work.
A perfect read for the woman that: Has had the same resolution for the past few years. She knows precisely what has to happen but she just doesn't feel like it. She wants to change, really change, but gets stuck in her head.
What book would you add to the list?
