The books that have shaped me

I recently became an Amazon affiliate – for the second time. Amazon discontinued the program in Colorado just as I was about to receive regular payouts back in 2009. I was bitter. And then I decided that any ethical pathway to money was a good one, so I applied again and here I am, writing a post to you about the books that have shaped my year.

(Yes, the images link to Amazon and they are affiliate links. And yes, I totally stand by all of these books and can personally recommend them.)

Because I do not do this alone. Building an online business requires continual growth – personally and professionally. I’m constantly learning new skills and also working on my mindset. And that’s part of what I love about what I do.

So without further ado, here are the books that have shaped my year.

Playing Big by Tara Mohr

I discovered this book in 2015 and it was THE book I had been craving for years. I wanted a feminine approach to growth that my analytical mind could actually hold onto. Playing Big was that book for me. Tara blends intuition with practicality, and I found myself taking big steps forward into my callings. In fact, the first Digital Product Workshop I hosted in 2015 was a direct result of taking what Tara calls a “leap” and was the first step I took to build Momstyle Your Business.

 

 

Bossypants by Tina Fey and Yes Please by Amy Poehler

Even though these are very different books, they fit into the same category for me. These books were fun to read, and about women who own their lives. They set a great example for what it means to write in your own voice, and go after careers, motherhood, and visibility without compromise. They’ve both inspired me to show up more as me.

 

 

 

 

The Big Leap by Gay Hendrickson

There is a fairly steep hill leading up to our house in Colorado. Until I read The Big Leap, I’d never run up the hill. Ever. I always walked up and rather slowly.

After reading the first chapter of this book, I was out on my run. The words “I am strong” pulsed through my entire body. I started running on the downhill and picked up speed. I decided not to stop and the hill steepened upwards. I just kept thinking “I am strong” and I just kept running. All of a sudden I was at the top and I felt wonderful.

I realized I had set my own inner thermostat about what was possible when it came to my body and running. It was one small example of all the upper limits I’ve set for myself – or what I assumed to be unalterable constraints on my life. Ever since reading this book, I’ve been much more conscious about what limits I set upon myself and realizing those limits has led to the following books below. I’m re-reading it now to dig deeper into my own “zone of genius” and find the best possible work to be doing going forward.

Secrets of a Millionaire Mind by T. Harv Eker

I read this book during the summer of 2016, mostly on the beach at our Michigan lake house. What I learned has changed my life: If you believe any negative qualities about rich people (for me, it was that they are stuck up and snobby), then you will probably never be rich yourself. You will literally sabotage yourself from becoming who you think you want to be, because you believe negative things about who you will be when you achieve those goals.

This book opened up my awareness to just how much mindset work I needed to do if I wanted to continue to up-level our financial picture and lifestyle. And it led me to the next book.

 

 

Get Rich, Lucky Bitch by Denise Duffield-Thomas

I read this book in October of this year, mostly on the beach of North Carolina, where we spent 3 wonderful days scoping out possible locations for our future home on the water. In between August and September, we decided to we wanted to live on the water full time, not only during Michigan summers.

Denise’s book sent me on a path of decluttering, forgiveness, tapping, and getting really clear about what I wanted. It also helped me realize that we could actually afford our dream, and that moving to the ocean was more a matter of logistics than finances.

Seriously, if you haven’t analyzed the price tag for what you really want next, I encourage you to do it. A lot of upgrades are much more affordable than we make them out to be. Often there are other blocks in play, which we can only find once we take the money issues out of it.

(As an aside, the book led me to Denise’s Lucky Bitch Bootcamp, which I can’t recommend highly enough. Not even accounting for the personal growth, I experienced a huge month in November after going through the bootcamp, and December is shaping up to be even bigger.)

Here’s my affiliate link to Denise’s Lucky Bitch Bootcamp

So there you have it! These are the books, and one online program, that have shaped me recently. I am grateful to be more self-aware, confident, and rich (in every sense of the word) person because of my time with each of these authors. And I know there are only better things to come.  I know next year will be full of more learning, more growth, and more books. I can’t wait to see what comes next.

What books have shaped you recently?