what I’m currently reading
I wasn’t always a big reader. In fact, it was kind of something that I fell out of after… I was no longer required to read for classes in high school and college? Let’s call it 2007, which is when I graduated college.
I very slowly got back into reading business development books here and there with the start of my first business in 2012. Very, very slowly. And it was definitely forced. Then I woke up at the start of 2018, a year and a half after first getting incredibly sick with my 9 month long headache that lead to my diagnosis of Lyme disease, toxic black mold poisoning, breast implant illness, and more, and decided that was going to be the year that everything changed. I made a goal for myself that I would read 1 book a month, and I even added this and my full “goals list” to my email signature, asking for recommendations. Let me tell you, this was an amazing conversation starter and way to connect with people I had never met before. 10/10 recommend.
To achieve this goal I knew I had to do something different, so the first change was that I changed my self-talk. My previous self-talk told me repeatedly that I wasn’t a reader, that I didn’t have time to read, and that I wasn’t an auditory learner, therefore Audible wouldn’t work for me. Once I changed that self-talk to say I was a reader, I had all the time I needed to read, and that I was able to learn through listening, everything changed.
That year I read 18 books through a combination of picking up and reading actual books, and also listening to audiobooks on Audible.
I have since kept this trend going, and typically set out to read at least 12 books each year, keeping my primary focus on business and self-development, with a little bit of “mindless entertainment” as I call my personal choices of books before bed. (I’ve learned I cannot read any business or self-development before bed, otherwise I’ll be up for hours with plans for new businesses, products, offerings, and all of the things to solve the world's problems, hence my need and love for some pre-bed mindless entertainment)
I took a much needed mental break from all the self-development in 2022, filling in my long drives and down time with music instead of books (or podcasts), and it was everything my brain and nervous system needed from me at the time.
But since then? We back.
I have this *thing* where I can’t read one book at once. This *thing* might be my ADHD, but we’re going to focus on that as a major positive right now, because it means I have MANY books to share for “what I’m currently reading” (and also what’s next on my list).
Currently I am picking up and holding a real book and reading:
Think and Grow Rich: The 21st Century Edition, Napoleon Hill
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen Covey
A Life of Excellence, Richard E. Simmons III
I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell, Tucker Max
Each of these are actually re-reads for me, as I love reading books more than once to gain as much information as I can from them
Separately I am listening to:
Becoming Supernatural, Dr. Joe Dispenza
Emotional Intelligence, Daniel Goleman
And next up on my list includes:
The Power of Now, Eckhart Tolle (admittedly I started this one on Audible, but it’s been a rough listen and I have struggled to get to the halfway point, so I bought a hardcover and plan to read instead of listen, as the messaging is powerful and I feel called to finish it).
Saving Grace, Debbie Babitt (I met this author at the gym and was excited to purchase my first book from her after having the opportunity to speak with her)
Want to check out my full bookshelf of recommendations and favorite reads? Check out my Amazon storefront!
