Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi

“Success in any field, but especially in business is about working with people, not against them” – Keith Ferrazzi

The reason I like this book so much is because it’s not only applicable to business, but to life. I believe that anyone, regardless of the field they work in, can benefit greatly from this book. I don’t want to ruin the book for you, but I will share a few lessons I found the most beneficial from Keith Ferrazzi’s Never Eat Alone.

Start Building Your Network Now, Not Just When You Need It

Nobody likes “that person” who only reaches out when they need something. It’s so important to build a relationship of trust and understanding, that way when you need help, you can count on someone in your network. Staying in touch is one of the most important parts of building and maintaining a professional network. Sending a quick, casual greetings on a regular basis will keep the connection alive and make it easier to reach out when you need something.

Be There. Show Up. Get Involved

This probably goes without saying, but nonetheless it’s crucial to put yourself out there when building your network. Make sure to never pass up an opportunity to network, because you never know who you’re going to meet. Ferrazzi emphasizes the benefits of joining groups and holding leadership positions in them. Being a leader in life takes practice–so practice! The possibilities for making new contacts and reaching out to others are endless. I think Ferrazzi said it best; “Relationships are more like muscles – the more you work them, the stronger they become.”

Energy Bus by Jon Gordon

“Positive energy is like muscle. The more you use it the stronger it gets. The stronger it gets the more powerful you become. Repetition is the key and the more you focus on positive energy the more it becomes your natural state.” – Jon Gordon

Much like Never Eat Alone, Energy Bus is applicable to everyday life, not just business. Energy Bus is a book that has nothing and everything to do with business. This book hardly touches on career advice, but it does focus on the importance of a positive attitude which is so applicable to having a successful career. A positive attitude in the workplace will determine employee morale, productivity and team building capabilities.

You’re the Driver of Your Bus

You have the ability to control how you look at life and transform negative energy into positive. How empowering is it to think that we are responsible for the direction of our lives? Gordon has a formula for this: Events + Perception/Positive Energy = Outcome. There is a lot in life that you have no control over, but you can control how you perceive what is happening. Choosing positive thoughts over negative ones can change the way you think, the way you work, and the way you live.

Invite People on Your Bus and Share Your Vision for the Road Ahead

Share your vision and let it propel your bus and all its passengers forward. You need to get like-minded people on your bus, and the more positive people you get, the more positive energy will be created. There is so much value in a work environment where you are supported by a team with individuals that increase your energy. Working with “energy vampires” can affect your desire to come into work each day and give it your all. At Advantage, you can feel the positive culture the second you walk through the door.

Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg

“We hold ourselves back in ways both big and small, by lacking self-confidence, by not raising our hands, and by pulling back when we should be leaning in.” – Sheryl Sandberg

This book is my holy grail for career advice. As if I didn’t have enough admiration for Sheryl Sandberg before I read this book, I was floored with her resilience despite the adversity she faces. Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook, discusses the reasons for the lack of women in leadership roles, issues for career women, why women in leadership roles are good for business and society, as well as general career advice. If you’re a woman in business, this is well worth the read. If you may not have enough time to read the book, at least do me a favor and watch her Ted Talk.

Sit at the Table

By this, Sheryl means “believe that you are worthy to sit with others at the table.” So often women underestimate their own abilities and attribute their success to external factors. Sheryl believes no one gets to the corner office by sitting on the side and not at the table. Women will hold themselves back from getting the promotion they deserve by thinking they don’t deserve their own success. It’s important for women who may credit their success to others to remember to put value on themselves.

“Leaning in” Means Never Letting Fear Drive Your Decisions

One of the underlining themes of this book is that our own fear is our worst enemy. Fear holds back many professionals from unleashing what they are truly capable of. Fear of the unknown, trying something new, and other people’s opinions all hold people back from moving forward in their career. Sheryl suggests the only way to propel forward is to not let the fear of consequences hold us back in the decisions we make.

If you’re lacking some motivation, I highly suggest picking up a personal development book. I hope you’ll consider one of the books!