the 5 lists of 5 books (Career building & Personal branding list)

This is the list of the 5 career building books, in this list I share 5 books that will help in career building and personal branding.

The list is unorthodox list and will cover different topics like human behavior, habits, business mantras and how to overcome difficulties and limitations I hope you enjoy reading it

1-      So good they cannot ignore your by Cal Newport

 

This book is the best book I have read to destroy the myth that says “follow your passion”. Yes we do hear a lot of the successful people, thought leaders; enterpurners and CEOs repeat this myth over and over again like a mantra.

Yet here is the question did they practice what they preach?
Did Steve jobs for example follow his passion?

This book answers those two profound questions and gives multiple reasons why we should follow our skills not our passion. It’s a wonderful start and a must read.

2-      The obstacle is the way by Ryan Holiday

I am very much envious of the writer Ryan Holiday and I think you might share that envy with me. He is literary living my dream the guy has his own marketing consultant company and he was able to write 3 very successful books and as he said “Gets to read for a living”. In his wonderful book the obstacles is the way the writer Ryan tells you all about his successful journey how did he got there and what was the obstacles in his way and most importantly how did they become the way for him.

3-      The power of habit  by Charles Duhigg

Understanding the human patterns of behavior through cognitive studies will crack the code of mankind and will be a breakthrough in evolutionary terms.

Such books and studies will proved a deeper understanding that will ease communication as well as explaining individualistic and collective behaviors. The writer goes through teams, organizations and personal attitudes.  As books and studies about cognitive studies or human behavior is highly recommended “the power of habit” has some unique features and insights to it some example are:

A-The book covers a diversified fields (business, organizational, addictive behaviors and going to the gym ….etc).

B-The book have a specific system that is implied and explained consistently through the chapters and the stories of the book.

C-The approach of cracking down the code of habit is unique and authentic.

D- The methodology that explains the mechanism of habits is beneficial is both

Building and replacing behaviors.

The book is interesting, creatively written and overall a very good read.

4-      Mindset by Carol Dweck

There are 2 kinds of people in this world those who hold the gun and those…… I am sorry I think that’s from the movie not the book.

The book actually about 2 kinds of mindsets the growth mindset and the fixed mind set, those two mind sets are not meant to stereotype or to categorize only two groups of people .

The writer actually aims to clarify two mind sets that cause or enforce a human reaction and human behavior in specific situations. For example I could have a fixed mind set when I am under stress which really affects my performance and the quality of the outcome of my work. Yet I could have a growth mindset when it comes to technical learning and leveraging my technical ability.

The book guiding the reader into discovering both mind sets how do they react in a varies and diverse situations and what’s the outcome of those situation

5-      Stand out by Dorie Clark

After these long journeys of reading what is needed is some good example of those who did build their own careers and did achieve positive personal brand and are telling us a success stories that we love to hear.

This book is based on interviews done with giants like Seth Godin, David Allen, and Daniel Pink. Clark shows how to break through stand out and build a successful personal brand. What I love the most about these stories is the fact that this isn’t not just real stories of real people; it’s a success story of everyone named in the book including the writer herself. So what will be your story?

This marks the end of my list for the 5 career building books please let me know what you think and share your thoughts with me on the topic
Written by :Fouad  Ahmed

Twitter:@fouad_khafaga

Hotmail: Fouad_khafaga@hotmail.co.uk

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