by Kirby Hasseman
Let’s start this post with the premise that this is true: If you want to get better and grow, you should read (or listen to) books. If you don’t buy that, then you probably should not read any further. But if you do accept that premise, read on. Over the last few years, I have worked to grow myself by reading hundreds of books. It started as a one time goal, and became a bit of a lifestyle. Have I read bad books? Sure. But for the most part, I am able to pick one or two ideas (or at least reminders) out of almost every business and personal development book. But every once in a while, I come across a book that really gets me. These books often inspire me to change…or simply do more. I love it when I get one of these books…and recently I had a string of several in a row that were fantastic. So if you need some inspiration and motivation, here are 3 that I highly recommend! The 5 Second Rule, by Mel Robbins:go get this book Finish, by Jon Acuff: I really like Jon Acuff. He is a great writer and speaker. So I always enjoy his books. But I really liked his tactical advice on getting to “the gift of done.” Early on in Finish, he talks about where most of us get derailed when working on a new goal. We start on the fitness routine and do well for 5 days, then we miss…and we quit. He reminds us that the secret to success is what you do “the day after perfect.” If you have ever had problems finishing your goals…go get this book. The Motivation Myth, by Jeff Haden: Wow! I was prepared to like this book because I love Jeff Haden’s articles on Inc.com and Linkedin.com. But I was not ready to be fired up like I was. Jeff not only blows up the myth that we need a lightbulb moment or firewalks to be motivated. But he also digs into the way successful people set goals (and then forget them)…and how they create daily activity to build their own motivation. Awesome book. I was able to get an advanced copy…so pre-order this book now…and then read it! These are just a few books that have fired me up in 2017. Run out and get one or more of these to get yourself ready to rock. And never miss an update by signing up for the HMC VIP list here.
by Kirby Hasseman
For the last several years, I have set a goal to read enough to change me. Two years ago I read 50 books. Last year I read 31. This year I have set the goal to read 40 books. Why? Because “in 5 years you will be the same person, except for the people you meet and the books you read. Simply put, it helps me (and you) grow.
So what have I read so far this year? Let’s take a look…and I will include links so you can check them out yourself.
Night School: I know, this is fiction. But somehow, Jack Reacher novels always make me feel like more of a man! I love the novels of Lee Child, so this is often a fun distraction for me.
Deep Work: These rules for success in a distracted world are good reminders. The fact is, I think most of us understand that we get more done when we are focused. But Cal Newport fills the conjecture with studies and facts.
Get Smart: Brian Tracy covers the basics of success principles in this short book. There are not new ground breaking principles here, but awesome reminders about business truth.
Business For Punks: Truth be told, I really liked this one because it was about BrewDog (and I am starting a new brewery). That being said, I enjoyed their irreverent look at how to start a business.
The Fortune Cookie Principle: Often the most profound lessons are the simplest. We each need a compelling brand story to stand out in a crowded marketplace. Bernadette Jiwa teaches us to create one.
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F**k: Sorry for the language, that’s the title. If you are offended by language, I think it goes without saying you should steer clear of this one. If you are not, however, I think this has real and lasting lessons is priorities, business and life. This was one of my favorites of the year (so far).
Delivering Marketing Joy: What? It’s my list! I re-released this new updated version of my book on how to do Promo right. I may be biased, but I think it’s worth a read! 🙂
Contagious: This one is high on my recommended list too. Jonah Berger explains why things catch on (or go viral) and how you can work to make your idea spread as well. This was a really good one.
SCRUM: This one was cool because the Hasseman Marketing team read it together. It’s a great book that explains how to get more done in less time…and I think it lives up to the title. I am anxious to continue to work with the team to implement some of the ideas here.
The Founder’s Mentality: This book is about the inevitable challenges that all business founders run into…and how to overcome them.
The First Two Rules of Leadership: This was one of those books that was a good reminder. You can be a leader and not be a jerk. I am trying. 🙂
Doing Good Better: I was really excited about this book. It was not what I thought it was going to be BUT it was still interesting. It took a very analytical view of doing good in the world. I didn’t agree with everything the author said, but it made me think!
Beautiful Outlaw: One of my team members challenged me to read more “spiritual” books this year because I told the team I wanted to be more intentional in that area of my life. Josh gave me this one and I really enjoyed it. This book talks about the playful personality of Jesus…not something discussed a lot. I have actually quoted it several times since I finished it.
UnShakeable: This book by Tony Robbins works to unlock the keys to financial freedom. I thought it was good. His book Money, Master the Game was not bad…but too long. This one was more consumable.
Headstrong: This one was tough. On the one hand, it was filled with interesting science and started strong. But by the end I felt like he was telling me I could not live in the 3 dimensional world and be healthy. Interesting…but not sure that I want to live my life this way.
Hustle: I really liked this one! This book was written and published in 7 days…to prove it could be done. But that being said, I was inspired by it and found it fun. It also may have provided me an idea for my next book!
Predictable Success: Written by Les McKeown and recommended by Roger Burnett, this was a good book for those starting or trying to grow a business. Les gives a name for the stages of business that we all can identify with.
Originals: This was a good book by Adam Grant. Not only does he make the point that original thinkers are those that change the world (duh), but he gives some great insights on how to keep innovating…no matter what.
Camino Island: If you are heading on vacation anytime soon, or just need a fun and easy read, this is a good one. John Grisham is a GREAT storyteller. I don’t always like the way he ends his books, but I liked this one a lot.
Flow: So I like the concept of this book, but it was a tough read for me. Very text book-like. The gist is that we all try to create a life to live on the beach and do nothing so we can be happy. Studies will tell you that is NOT how happy is done. We are most happy when we are in the middle of a challenge that we are excited about. Boom…
Order to Kill: I was a huge fan of the Mitch Rapp novels by Vince Flynn. When he passed away I was very disappointed. But Kyle Mills has picked up the ball nicely with this one. As a side note, the first book American Assassin is going to be a movie this fall.
5 Questions: This book was actually given to me by the author…on a plane. This short book unpacks the reasons that Faith makes sense. If you have questions about this in your life, check it out.
Radical Candor: This book is about working to be a better leader and a better boss…without being a jerk. The author is very honest about some of her struggles in this and that helps. She also makes the case of why good feedback is so important for everyone.
The ONE Thing: With all of the things we are trying to accomplish every day, The ONE thing reminds us we need to do the most important thing (and only that) first. The counter-intuitive idea is simple. If you want to do more…do less.
At the half way point in the year, that is my list so far. As always, please let me know if you have any books you think I need to read. I am open to it! And if you want a more detailed “review” of any book on the list, let me know.
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by Kirby Hasseman
This is the post where we flex our “hustle muscle.” At Hasseman Marketing, we are in an award winning creator of business content, and we want to make it as easy as possible for you to find it all in one place. So please check out this week’s line up of videos, blogs and podcasts…and feel free to share with anyone you think would enjoy! Weekly Word: Each week, Kirby digs into a word to provide motivation to the masses. This week the word is Desk. What? Just remember, there is no money behind your desk. Check it out here. Delivering Marketing Joy: For over 2 years now, the award winning Delivering Marketing Joy web show has interviewed business leaders, authors, entrepreneurs and marketers. It’s must see business TV! This week Kirby talks to Ben Taylor from BamBams about Content Marketing…and how to do it right. Watch this one now! Welcome Stephanie Ansel: We are so excited to welcome Stephanie Ansel to the team! Stephanie is hitting the ground running with us after 7 years with Barnes. Read more about Stephanie here. Books for 2017: Those who know Kirby know he is a voracious reader. In this post he tells us what he has been reading so far in 2017. Check out his list of books here. unScripted Podcast: For those in the Promo and Marketing world, check out the unScripted podcast with Bill Petrie and Kirby. Each week they riff about topics in and out of the industry. It’s a fun and light podcast and it truly is “unscripted.” Listen here. Jeff’s Pick: It’s become a tradition like no other! Each week Jeff picks a great product in the Promo area that he thinks you should know about. The video is here as Jeff explains his affinity for the Embarcadero Backpack from Origaudio. Want to see pics and pricing? That’s right here. So that’s a quick look at the week of content hustle at Hasseman Marketing. Intrigued? Cool. There are lots of ways to learn more about us. If you want to learn more about working with us, feel free to check out our About Us page or you can simply email us here. If you are a Promo Pro, head here and download our Sales Playbook. If you want to learn more about working with us, feel free to check out our About Us page or you can simply email us here.
Want to keep up all the time? Make sure to join our VIP List! Our VIP’s get an email with the latest content…and other special offers as well. Join here.
by Kirby Hasseman
For the last several years, I have set a goal to read enough to change me. Two years ago I read 50 books. Last year I read 31. This year I have set the goal to read 40 books. Why? Because “in 5 years you will be the same person, except for the people you meet and the books you read. Simply put, it helps me (and you) grow. Here are just a few books I have completed so far this year (with links so you can check them out yourself). Deep Work: These rules for success in a distracted world are good reminders. The fact is, I think most of us understand that we get more done when we are focused. But Cal Newport fills the conjecture with studies and facts. Get Smart: Brian Tracy covers the basics of success principles in this short book. There are not new ground breaking principles here, but awesome reminders about business truth. Business For Punks: Truth be told, I really liked this one because it was about BrewDog (and I am starting a new brewery). That being said, I enjoyed their irreverent look at how to start a business.
The Fortune Cookie Principle: Often the most profound lessons are the simplest. We each need a compelling brand story to stand out in a crowded marketplace. Bernadette Jiwa teaches us to create one. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F**k: Sorry for the language, that’s the title. If you are offended by language, I think it goes without saying you should steer clear of this one. If you are not, however, I think this has real and lasting lessons is priorities, business and life. This was one of my favorites of the year (so far). Delivering Marketing Joy: What? It’s my list! As you may know, Delivering Marketing Joy was re-released this year with new material, a look and a new audio book as well. If you want to learn how to create promotional products campaigns that pop, you might want to look at this one. Contagious: This one is high on my recommended list too. Jonah Berger explains why things catch on (or go viral) and how you can work to make your idea spread as well. This was a really good one. SCRUM: I am excited about this one because the Hasseman Marketing team is reading this together. It’s a great book that explains how to get more done in less time…and I think it lives up to the title. I am anxious to continue to work with the team to implement some of the ideas here. Want to keep up all the time? Make sure to join our VIP List! Our VIP’s get an email with the latest content…and other special offers as well. Join here.
by Kirby Hasseman
I have been on a quest to read 50 business and personal development books this year…and the process has been awesome. I have learned a ton (and you might expect) and it has inspired me to use my time wiser, try new things and launch new projects. If you want the complete list of my 2015 books (so far) you can check that out here. But many of my friends have asked me to narrow this list. “If you only had time to read one book, which one would it be?” It’s a fair question, but I thought I might narrow the list differently. So I decided to look through the list and narrow them based on subject matter, so you might be able to select that way. Here goes! Entrepreneurial FinanceProfit First was one of the most impactful books I read all year. If you have a Master’s in economics, this might seem rudimentary. But if you are like me (and most entrepreneurs I know) this represents a new way of thinking that makes more sense to me. We changed the way we do finance in our company based on this book. I could not recommend it more! Business Model ChangeThe Automatic Customer was another thought provoking book for me. It made me think of ways I might create new revenue streams in my own business…and what kind of businesses I might look at next. Mainly, it got me thinking. I love that. Social Media MasteryThe Art of Social Media has a great mixture of basics and advanced techniques that are applicable right away. You get a dose of philosophy but a big helping of tactics in this easy read. The Art of Hustle10X Rule is the ultimate kick in the pants type of book. If you are not creating the kind of success in your life that you want, Grant tells you it’s because you are not taking enough action. I recommend to listen to this one while running, driving, etc. and you will find yourself wanting to work harder. Content MarketingIf you want to be a Content Marketing Jedi, then you need to read Content Inc. I really like the way Joe Pulizzi explains it…and lets you know the end game. He also does a great job of giving you success case studies and reminds you this is a long game process. Sales Process and DesignThe Sales Acceleration Formula is a great reminder that we need to think about sales differently. Mark Roberge designed a process driven sales strategy with Hubspot that made me think differently. Good stuff. I will need to read this one again! Delivering Marketing JoyYes…that is a category! I would be remise if I didn’t put my book on the list, right? If you want to learn how to do Promo right, this is a good one...but consider my bias. 🙂 As you can see, I read a lot of other books too. But hopefully this narrows the field down a bit for you. Let me know if you have other books you know I should read! And that is how we do it. Want to keep up all the time? Make sure to join our VIP List! Our VIP’s get an email with the latest content…and other special offers as well. Join here.
