As a dedicated lifelong learner, I am always looking for great new sources of information. Below is a list that my coaches and I put together filled with resources of all kinds. Whether you prefer to read, listen, or watch, there’s something for everyone on this list. Enjoy!
Books We Love
Better Than Before by Gretchen Rubin. This book is all about teaching yourself to make good habits and break bad ones! This bestselling author of The Happiness Project has great tools to help you get more of what you want in your daily life. For those that love hands-on learning, there’s even a day-by-day journal to go with it.
Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself by Dr. Kristin Neff. DLCC Coach Sharon Barbour recommends this book, which is about letting go of self-judgment and learning to be kinder to yourself. According to Dr. Neff’s research, people who are self-compassionate lead “healthier more productive lives”. Who doesn’t want that?
The Velveteen Principles: A Guide to Becoming Real by Toni Raiten-D’Antonio. DLCC Coach Nancy Turngren enjoyed this book which uses lessons from the children’s classic The Velveteen Rabbit to help us get back to our true selves. Embrace who you really are, and grow to understand your strengths, weaknesses, faults and gifts.
Leadershift: The 11 Essential Changes Every Leader Must Embrace by John C. Maxwell. In this book, leadership guru walks us through 11 changes that he made through his own career. He argues that in a world that is constantly changing, effective leaders must always be changing as well. For those that prefer shorter reads, you can find lots of information on leadershifts on his blog.
Lifescale: How to Live a More Creative, Productive, and Happy Life by Brian Solis. I am no stranger to what author Brian Solis calls ‘digital distraction’. This book addresses the fact that we now consume way more than we create, which is causing all kinds of issues. Read this if you want to get back into the driver’s seat of your own life.
Listen Up
Here are a few of our favorite podcasts, all with their descriptions from Stitcher.
The Living Experiment: Rethink Your Choices. Reclaim Your Life. Join Dallas Hartwig and Pilar Gerasimo for this series of smart, rollicking, no-BS conversations about healthy, happy, conscious living plus real-life “experiments” to help you discover the practical shifts that work best for you.
Happier with Gretchen Rubin. Gretchen Rubin is HAPPIER, and she wants you to be happier too. The #1 bestselling author of The Happiness Project and Better Than Before gets more personal than ever as she brings her practical, manageable advice about happiness and good habits to this lively, thought-provoking podcast.
Invisibilia. Unseeable forces control human behavior and shape our ideas, beliefs, and assumptions. Invisibilia: Latin for invisible things, fuses narrative storytelling with science that will make you see your own life differently.
TED Radio Hour. Guy Raz explores the emotions, insights, and discoveries that make us human. The TED Radio Hour is a narrative journey through fascinating ideas, astonishing inventions, fresh approaches to old problems, and new ways to think and create.
TED Talk to Me
TED Talks are one of my favorite things to learn from. Here are few favorites from my team and me, along with their official TED descriptions.
Got a wicked problem? First tell me how you make toast. Tom Wujec
Making toast doesn’t sound very complicated — until someone asks you to draw the process, step by step. Tom Wujec loves asking people and teams to draw how they make toast, because the process reveals unexpected truths about how we can solve our biggest, most complicated problems at work. Learn how to run this exercise yourself, and hear Wujec’s surprising insights from watching thousands of people draw toast.
Three steps to turn everyday get-togethers into transformative gatherings Priya Parker
Why do some gatherings take off and others don’t? Author Priya Parker shares three easy steps to turn your parties, dinners, meetings and holidays into meaningful, transformative gatherings.
There’s more to life than being happy Emily Esfahani Smith
Our culture is obsessed with happiness, but what if there’s a more fulfilling path? Happiness comes and goes, says writer Emily Esfahani Smith, but having meaning in life — serving something beyond yourself and developing the best within you — gives you something to hold onto. Learn more about the difference between being happy and having meaning as Smith offers four pillars of a meaningful life.
My identity is a superpower — not an obstacle America Ferrera
Hollywood needs to stop resisting what the world actually looks like, says actor, director and activist America Ferrera. Tracing the contours of her career, she calls for more authentic representation of different cultures in media — and a shift in how we tell our stories. “Presence creates possibility,” she says. “Who we see thriving in the world teaches us how to see ourselves, how to think about our own value, how to dream about our futures.”
Research Resources
It’s not easy keeping up with the changing times, but my team and I use these websites to help keep us on top of our game.
Harvard Business Review. This has long been one of my go-to resources for accessible research on leadership and organizational development. The website has lots of great content, though you are limited to six articles a month if you don’t subscribe. For me it’s worth the $10/month to be able to read all the interesting things they have to offer.
Gallup. Just like their website says, Gallup “help(s) leaders and organizations solve their most pressing problems.” Who doesn’t want that? You can subscribe to their email list, even choosing which topics you are interested in and how often you want to hear from them. You’ll get lots of great research and insights on today’s workplace.
Greater Good Magazine. This magazine is published by the Greater Good Science Center at UC-Berkeley. It is another super source for reader-friendly research, focused on “creating a meaningful life”. I find lots of good information that I use with my clients here, along with everything from the keys to well-being to parenting advice! I also like all the quizzes you can take. I’m a sucker for a good quiz. They also have an email list, and you can become a member for even more benefits.
Escape Adulthood League. This site is the brainchild of my friends Kim and Jason Kotecki. Their online community is all about remembering that life is supposed to be fun, and helping you take adulthood less seriously. This is definitely an area of my life where I need all the help I can get. Remember, I’m the one that watches TED Talks for fun before bed! The community is free, and you’ll get to connect with others who are looking to bring the fun and creativity of childhood into their adult lives.
Happy Learning!
