The 3 best books to read to transform your professional life in 2022
The secrets to success are often found in a well-stocked library. Many of the world’s most famous business leaders, from Bill Gates to Warren Buffett, are proud bibliophiles, citing reading as an important habit for stimulating creativity and expanding your understanding of the world.
Books can also inspire and guide you through difficult times. Emily Liou, Career Happiness Coach at Cultivitae in Gilbert, Ariz., often offers three titles for customers looking to change careers or find happiness in the workplace.
If you’re looking for inspiration or a great weekend read, consider adding Liou’s top recommendations to your list:
“A happy pocket full of money: infinite wealth and abundance here and now”
By David Cameron Gikandi
Before you change your life, you have to change your mindset. In “A Happy Pocket Full of Money,” Gikandi teaches readers how to develop a “wealth consciousness” that prioritizes gratitude, a belief in abundance, and the joy of living.
Liou recommends this read to all of her clients because she believes adopting an abundance mindset can help you carve out a more fulfilling career path aligned with your values. “Step out of our comfort zone, like when looking for a job, can be scary, and we immediately put a lot of pressure on ourselves — which is harmful, not helpful,” she says.
“A Happy Pocket Full of Money” is about “rewiring the invisible scripts we were taught about competition and hard work,” she adds. “Instead, you will learn to tap into your intuition, feel energized and ready for the opportunities that come your way.”
“The start-up of you: adapt to the future, invest in yourself and transform your career”
By Reid Hoffman and Ben Casnocha
LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman and venture capitalist Ben Casnocha offer a radical approach to reinventing yourself: Run your life like a startup.
The pair outlines strategies for taking proactive business risks, developing a competitive edge at work, and improving your networking skills to build a career that’s right for you. Liou says “The Start-up of You” has great job search tips and breaks down the skills you need to thrive in today’s ever-changing workplace.
“Every time I pick up this book, I feel very inspired by all the possibilities and opportunities we can create for ourselves once we have the right tools,” she says.
“Designing Your Life: How to Build a Life Well Lived and Joyful”
By Bill Burnett and Dave Evans
If you’re overwhelmed with all the different directions your life and career could take, or don’t know where to start, this book is for you, says Liou.
Burnett and Evans show readers how to use design thinking to chart a career you’re passionate about by being curious, reassessing your relationship to work, and practicing empathy, among other strategies.
Liou says “Designing Your Life” provides a clear roadmap for getting out of a rut and seeing your career through a “new and hopeful” lens. It is also the only book that its customers constantly rave about.
“No matter where you are in life, it’s important to reflect on where you are and what you want out of life,” she says.
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