Part of the reason I started “Caffeinated California” was to share my journey into my current position in life. It’s not that impressive, but I have gradually been improving in many areas.
In 2018, I began my journey to California. As much as I can draw inspiration from my environment, I also took this opportunity to reevaluate my interests and improve my skills. Part of the challenge was finding motivation. So, I turned to self-help content to gain some inspiration. I listened to podcasts and watched YouTube videos, but the biggest sources of inspiration were the books.
To be honest, I started off by reading books that I had seen in stores. So yes, I was judging books by covers. Then I found some recommendations online and through the other content I was consuming. If I was going to recommend self-help books to a complete newcomer, these are the ones I’d consider.
Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki
Part of your development is understanding money, and Kiyosaki’s book will challenge you to rethink your ideas of wealth. In this book, Kiyosaki compares his two “dads” and their approaches to earning. If you want to understand the basics of investing and explore new ways to grow your money, this book is an amazing starting point. There’s a reason this book has been so highly regarded for nearly two decades, and it will empower you to gain a better understanding of your finances.
What Color Is Your Parachute? by Richard N. Bolles with Katharine Brooks
It can be hard to feel motivated if you don’t know your calling in life. For decades, What Color Is Your Parachute? has been a resource for people trying to change their career path or push further in their existing path. The book has tips for all steps of the process: starting with self-discovery all the way through salary negotiation. You’ll also find tests and resources to help you along the process. The best part? The book is updated yearly to include career advice for the current day.
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson
Often, people stifle their potential because they care too much. They don’t want to fail, and they don’t want other people to see them fail. In his book, Mark Manson lets you in to some of the secrets to living your life with fewer restrictions. It’s not so much about not caring; it’s about allocating your attention to the right things. If you need a push to take action and limit your anxieties, this book will help focus less on other people.
Crushing It By Gary Vaynerchuk
If you’ve ever wanted to start your own business, or even a side-hustle, Crushing It is a good read. Gary Vaynerchuk is known for his media empires and his influence in the entrepreneurial market. If you’re looking for his guidance, you might want to stick to his podcast or YouTube videos. This book highlights the successes of people who had dreams and made them happen. You’ll learn tips and tricks through the transformation of Gary Vee’s readers. The book is empowering, but it also proves hard work can make a world of difference.
The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss
For a lot of people, part of the path to self-development is prioritizing their career goals and learning to work more efficiently. Many people have transformed their work mentality by reading The 4-Hour Workweek. This book will teach you to develop systems to replace the time constraints traditional jobs impose upon us. Will you really be working for only 4 hours a week? Maybe not. Will you understand why Tim Ferriss is a staple in the self-help world? Definitely.
How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
A lot of the time, we need to work with others to be successful. Maybe, your idea of success is just to make friends. Either way, Dale Carnegie’s classic book will inspire you to reevaluate your communication methods. By looking at some of the most recognizable figures in history, Carnegie analyzes the traits and characteristics of some of the most likable people in the world. Some of the suggestions might be common sense, but this book is a concise and interesting collection of best practices that will make you more sociable.
Unfu*k Yourself by Gary John Bishop
At some point, you need to recognize you are in control of your own fate. Unfu*k Yourself is a book that acknowledges all of the excuses we make and convince us they’re all wrong. This book works to break any shred of victim mentality and stop you from overthinking your decisions. Anyone who is looking toward the future needs to acknowledge they’re not defined by the past. Gary John Bishop knows how to give you the right amount of optimism to do this.
The Power of Positive Thinking by Dr. Norman Vincent Peale
The way we think about ourselves and our circumstances can make a huge difference. Through this book, Dr. Norman Vincent Peale wrote one of the first books to be characterized as “self-help.” Dr. Peale is going to teach you to structure thoughts and help you feel you have the ability to overcome obstacles. Fair warning, however. This book does have a strong religious and spiritual element to it. You need to go into this book with the right state of mind.
Awaken the Giant Within by Tony Robbins
By this point in time, Tony Robbins has established major credibility in the self-help world. For many people, this is his best read. In this book, Robbins will cover his steps to improve his life and take control over multiple factors. Many of his skills have been learned from his time as a businessman and entrepreneur. Don’t let that stop you from reading this book. His advice can be applied to all areas of life, and this book focuses on an improvement of the whole person.
The 7 Habits of Highly Effecitve People by Stephen R. Covey
Perhaps one of the biggest titles in the self-help world, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People will help you to recognize the ways you think about situations and learn to handle them better. This book will challenge readers to reevaluate situations and approach them from a different angle that are less emotional and more rational. Unlike most self-help books, this places an emphasis on external factors and has less focus on internal changes.