I’m really big on personal development whether it be training, conferences, seminars or sticking to the age old two ears and one mouth concept where I sit and sponge from other people.

I do have to admit however that i’ve never been a heavy reader which strangely enough is where I have got most of the concepts and ideas that have influenced and moulded me and continue to change the way I approach day to day challenges as well as how I engage with other people.  Although I don’t read a lot there are 2 books that have always stood out to me and I think it’s time I gave back and shared these titles with everyone.

How to Win Friends and Influence People

This was one of the first books I actually finished and it has to be one of my favourties. By Dale Carnegie How to Win Friends and Influence People was first published in 1936 and was revised in 1981. I highly suggest this book to anyone wanting to learn new ways of managing people’s expectations, improving the way they handle rejection and of course sway people over to your way of thinking.

The major topics covered are:

• Techniques in handling people
• Six ways to make people like you
• Twelve ways to win people to your way of thinking
• How to change people without offending or creating resentment
• Letter that produce results
• And seven ways to making your home life happier

7 Habits of Highly Effective People

This killer self help book was written by Stephen R Covey, I must stress that before you start reading this book you need to approach it with an open mind otherwise you will waste a week of your life. 7 Habits of Highly Effective People first teaches you that even though people may share the same view on something their perspectives can be fundamentally different. Once you have this basic understanding it then moves on to the seven habits. I believe everyone can benefit from this book and I also suggest revisiting it from time to time to brush up on the simple to implement concepts.

The topics covered in 7 Habits of Highly Effective People are:

Independence or self-mastery

• Habit 1: Be Proactive
• Habit 2: Begin with the end in mind
• Habit 3: Put first things first

Interdependence

• Habit 4: Think Win-Win
• Habit 5: Seek first to understand, then to be understood.
• Habit 6: Synergize

Self Renewal

Habit 7: Sharpen the saw

Like with all self help concepts you can’t just implement them once then forget you have to repeat and repeat and repeat until everything becomes second nature. I would love to hear what really stood for you if you have read either of these books and if you have any other titles that you can suggest drop me a message. Today I ordered a couple copies of Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert T Kiyosaki for the team and i’m looking forward to getting stuck in to once it arrives 🙂