by Kirby Hasseman
“In 5 years you be the same person, except for the people you meet and the books you read.”   You have the ability to get smarter. You have the ability to grow. You are NOT the same person you will be…if you choose to read (or listen to) books. You get to choose.   But what books? I have already given you a list of books that I recommend for people in sales (and we are all in sales).
That got me thinking about the books that I think are foundational. These are the books, that if you haven’t already read, I think you should.
These are the 5 books I want my daughters to read.
Mindset by Carol Dwek: If you have not read this book, start here. In this book Dr. Carol Dwek explains that there are really only two mindsets; fixed and growth. And your Mindset, can unknowingly determine the overall trajectory of your life. This is powerful and is a must read for anyone that wants to get better…at anything.
7 Habits for Highly Effective People: Yes I recommend this book a lot. That’s because I find myself quoting it all the time, and it’s been years since I read it. There are so many foundational principles in it that can help anyone. If you want to improve, then be pro-active, stay in your circle of influence, and sharpen the saw by reading this book! 🙂
The 5 Second Rule: This is a great book to get you un-stuck. It’s a simple principle…but simple does not always mean easy. And if you are going to get this one, I recommend the audiobook because the author Mel Robbins is awesome on it.
The Happiness Equation: I found this one easy to read and a pleasure to learn. Your mind functions better when you feed it “happy.” Author Neil Pasricha explains the “hows” and the “whys” in this great book.
Fan of Happy: Okay, you have to give me this one. It’s a book about personal development that I (quite literally) wrote for my daughters. You can check it out here.Â
So those are just a few “foundational” books on personal development that I think everyone (including my daughters) should read. As always, let me know your favorites! And remember, never miss an update by signing up for our VIP newsletter here!
by Kirby Hasseman
I love to read.  Don’t get me wrong. It’s not because I love the feeling of “curling up with a good book.” That’s fine, I guess. But my personality does not really lend me to a curling up kind of guy. I love it because I feel like reading pushes me. It makes me think. It inspires me to push harder.   But sometimes it’s hard to recommend books because your need depends on your area of interest or need.
So I usually default to some of the books that I have enjoyed lately.
That’s cool…but I thought it might be helpful to break it down via “area of interest.”
So here are 7 sales books that I have loved and have helped me grow.
1. 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: You might be saying “but this is not a sales book.” You would be wrong. It’s a “better human” book. If you follow these principles, you will be a better sales person. Period.
2. The Ultimate Sales Machine: I loved the overall sales process that Chet Holmes outlined in this one. It inspired me. And if you look at the life of selling results (regardless of industry) Chet had the goods.
3. High Trust Selling: This book changed my business. I love the concept of the 80/20 rule of sales that Todd Duncan lines up in this book. For me, this is when I took the “next step” in my sales career and hired an assistant. It was a leap of faith for sure. And I took it because of this book.
4. Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion: If you want to affect people’s behavior, you need to understand their psychology. Why do we do what we do? This book, originally written as an academic text for psychology, has become a sales “must read.”
5. The 10X Rule: If you need a red bull style kick in the pants, Grant Cardone has you covered. I love goals. But Cardone takes it to the next level. I listen to this one and he gets me fired up to attack the day.
6. Fanatical Prospecting: This book was another book that really grabbed me by the collar. It tells you things that (as a salesperson) you might not want to hear…but you need to hear. If you want to have more sales, you need to do Fanatical Prospecting.
7. The Sales Acceleration Formula: This is one that taps in the science of the sale when it comes to the basics of content marketing. From one of the early leaders at Hubspot, this one will make you think of your sales process…and how to turn it on its ear.
This is hardly an exhaustive list. But there are some really good ones here that have inspired me at different times on my sales career! What are your favorite sales books? Let me know! Make sure you never miss an update! Sign up for the VIP newsletter here and we send out a weekly wrap up of everything!
by Kirby Hasseman
The Delivering Marketing Joy Podcast is back! Our goal here is to attack 2018 with a vengeance! The Delivering Marketing Joy Podcast will provide some inspiration, motivation and education to make it happen! Consider this your 10 minute “kick in the pants” to get your week started off right! This week on the podcast I discuss a list I get asked about all of the time…what to read. On this DMJ Podcast I discuss 5 Books that I recommend all of the time. There are a couple of classics…and a few new ones. Listen in and find out what is on my must-read list. Oh…and you can watch on Youtube here as well (subscribe while you are there). Want links to each of these books? We can do that. Here is the short list of books with links to each of them on Amazon. 1. 7 Habits of Highly Effective People 2. E-Myth 3. 5 Second Rule 4. The Motivation Myth 5. Finish There are many more books that really motivate and inspire me. But what are yours? Let us know! Again…you can subscribe to my Youtube channel here. And if you never want to miss an update, make sure to sign up for our VIP newsletter here.
by Kirby Hasseman
Begin with the end in mind. In Stephen Covey’s “7 Habits of Highly Effective People,” this is Habit number 2. Covey tells us to think to our own funeral. He tells us to consider what we hope people will say about the life we lived. Then he reminds us to go live that life…create that legacy. I was reminded of this during the past week as I prepared to give the eulogy at a friend’s funeral. He was my best friend growing up. He was the best man at my wedding. But there I was, preparing to try to speak about his life and his impact on me. It was an honor to have been asked. But wow. For the better part of a week, I struggled with what stories to tell and what words to use. What would he want me to say? What would his family need to hear? Honestly, what would be therapeutic for me to say? But of course there are no special words in a situation like that. What I think brings healing in those moments are to celebrate a life lived. We did that, I think. Eric was very much my brother. I certainly hope we all remember the best in him. But now, as is the case in situations like this, we are expected to move on. So this week, as I come out of the fog of grief (piece by piece), I am reminded of Habit number 2. What do I want people to remember about me? What life do I want to have lived? What legacy do I want to have created? I have thought a lot about that. Now I need to begin with end in mind…and go live that life.
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