Berrett-Koehler Publishers’ Post

How I got back my habit of reading!   A friend of mine inspired me to start reading again! I was an avid reader earlier. I used to read for hours at a stretch. Then lockdown happened. All my attention went to the screen. But now between piles of assignments & short attention spans, I couldn’t find time, nor could I concentrate beyond a few pages.   My bookshelf was filled with books, but I couldn’t read up. Then, one day, I asked my friend, “how do you find time to read so many books?” Her suggestions: → Start finding some gaps in your day → Fill those with reading → Try audiobooks for commute → Set a reading timer → Swap a scroll session for a reading session → Challenge yourself: 10 pages each day I realised that I didn't need to sit for hours to start reading again. But half an hour on the go was so much doable. And just like that I started my journey back to the bookshelf. P.S. What’s a lost habit of yours that you want to start again? ----- Hi! I'm Kareena Kamat. I write about early Personal Branding benefits for Students. Follow me & hit the double 🔔 to see more from me.

📚 3 Down / 9 to Go: Over the last decade, I had consistently FAILED to reach one of my Goals: reading a physical book every month. 🔻 Despite my love for audiobooks and their convenience, they simply don't offer the tangible satisfaction of turning pages, highlighting text, and jotting down thoughts in the margins— something I deeply missed. This year, I decided it was time for a change. 🔄 I committed to carving out at least 30 minutes each day for reading. I completed 'E Myth' by Michael E. Gerber, making it my March Book of the Month! 📖 It's been an enlightening journey, reinforcing not just the importance of working on the business rather than in it but also reminding me of the profound impact that reading has on our personal and professional growth. As I continue on this journey, 3 books down, 9 to go, I'm reminded of the power of setting aside time for our goals, no matter how small they may seem. It's about progress, not perfection. 💛 Happy Easter! 🐰 #ReadingChallenge #PersonalGrowth #ProfessionalDevelopment

Have you ever asked yourself this question: Who would you be and what would you achieve? If fear wasn't a factor. I'm not a fan of audiobooks. But Curtis Jackson's Audible got me in a chokehold. It's called 'Hustle Harder, Hustle Smarter.' In it, Curtis aka 50 Cent, talks about a buddy of his who was afraid to speak up. Behind the scenes, he had all the wisdom, knowledge and smarts. But in the room with bigwigs and execs, he sat silent. Nobody knew how smart he was. Nobody knew how talented he was. Nobody knew how his mind worked. Because he let fear stop him from speaking up when it mattered most. His fear pushed him into the shadows, his brilliance unnoticed. This story reminds me a lot of myself. Not speaking up when it matters most is my downfall. I'm not a big talker. I'm a big thinker. But what I'm realizing is, I have to speak out. So, people know the brilliance brewing in my brain. I'm working on this by launching a YouTube channel. And setting a schedule to livestream more. Now, if you're like me and 50's colleague, know this: Your knowledge and insights are valuable. -step into the spotlight -share your ideas -make an impact Remember, everyone in the room is human. They're carrying their own fears and insecurities. Face your fears, take calculated risks and speak up. That's how you get noticed and make a difference.

Clients often come to us with a specific goal/challenge, but when you dig a little deeper what they're really seeking is inner peace and freedom - 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗼𝗺 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱! You know…. the voice of the mind…. the one with all the stories, assumptions, insecurities and expectations! 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗼𝗺 𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳-𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀! 💡 💡 💡 💡 💡 💡 💡 💡 💡 💡 💡 💡 💡 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙫𝙤𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙙, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙨 𝙞𝙩! 💡 💡 💡 💡 💡 💡 💡 💡 💡 💡 💡 💡 💡 Once they understand this, their 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲, 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸, 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀, everything starts to 𝗧 𝗥 𝗔 𝗡 𝗦 𝗙 𝗢 𝗥 𝗠! 🚀 They become the observer of their thoughts, and this is a highly empowering place to live, lead and make choices from. If you're looking to further your own 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳-𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀, Micheal Singer is an amazing teacher in this space. Check out his books / audiobooks: - The surrender experiment - The untethered soul - Living from a place of surrender (audio only) Image cred - @DrawMyInsights

I’ve been amazed at all that Mr. Arnold Schwarzenegger has pursued professionally. I recently finished an Audible on his book “Be Useful: Seven tools for Life”. I’ve summarized my learnings in this post, however I always recommend each of you to pick up the book and pick your own points of resonance. https://lnkd.in/gczkeJXj #audiobooks #lifelessons #learningandgrowing

I finished five books this month. Most were audiobooks, courtesy of Hennepin County Library and the Libby app. I listened while driving, cleaning, or during downtime. Each book gave me tangible advice I could implement, but if I had to choose one to recommend, it's Jon Acuff's "Soundtracks." As an overthinker, he hit the nail about why we overthink and how we can change those patterns. It'll take some work, but the positive impacts are clear. The book that gave me the most to think about was Trudi Lebron's "The Antiracist Business Book." I'm using her checklist to evaluate job descriptions moving forward. A key idea in this book is that urgency interrupts equity, and equity is intentional. What did you read this month? Image created using Canva. #reading #upskilling #canvadesign #bookclub #businessbooks

Maybe the introduction of a new tradition is in order. We lived in Parkway Forest, so the library (big building, lots of books) awaited us at the end of an enjoyable walk through the neighborhood and Fairview Mall. It gave us time to talk. Enjoy the weather. Observe things. Change up the routine. Learn about ourselves and our family. Share new knowledge. Be curious. And get a nice cinnamon sugar pretzel on the way home. It was quality time and it did everyone some good. Let's try different. We probably have some time for TV, and at this point, many of us feel like we've been through 3+ cycles of reruns. How about we gather the family and replace whatever screen we have in our hands (phones, tablets, etc.) with a book? Everyone choose their own, find a cozy spot, and read for a bit. Then, come back together and share what you read and what you thought about it. And remember to smile and make eye contact as you listen (show them they deserve and have your attention). We all need to have more stimulating conversations because life has conspired to turn us into robots. We need to break out of the comfort of familiar and let new brain connections form. It's just using our time differently. If you don't like the idea of reading a physical book, look up the audiobook version which you probably have access to through a current subscription like Spotify or YouTube! Sit back, eyes open or closed, and experience the book. I tried listening to the audio version of a book I had read years ago last week, and I truly experienced the very memorable story and messages in a heightened way. It draws on different senses and helps us sharpen our focus. This is how we create impactful shifts on our ecosystems. Families are in dire need of more quality time where they are being mindful of what they expose themselves to and the habits they reinforce. This could be a great opportunity. Thank you to my mother Véda B. for having brought this to our family. A mom at 19, doing a whole lot and leveling up our lineage. One of the many ways you've made my journey one for the books 🫶🏽 #LetsTryDiffent #MindfulMasculinityIRL #Habits #Family #Reading #Audiobooks #Books #Learn

Got a chance to listen to Steven Pressfield's "The War of Art" on a plane ride to Pittsburgh last week. If you like audiobooks it was great. Pressfield has a good voice and it was a very quick listen, but packed full of great ideas and insights that make sense. The first part of the book I enjoyed the most. The idea that Resistance is an internal pressure that we all have inside of us, constantly trying to keep us from living up to our creative potentials, immediately hits home. You can't help but relive all the times you have given up on something, or worse, not started something for imagined reasons. Resistance always encourages us to take the easy way, and thus keeps us from doing our life's work, or from anything we know to be worth-while but hard to achieve. We all have that voice that talks to us, that whispers to us that we should stop, or not even start. Pressfield gave that voice a name - Resistance. And when it starts whispering, you know you are on the way to something good. So don't listen to it. When you hear Resistance, you know you are on the right track. Keep pushing through. The best things are on the other side.

Suppose your goal was to read 100 books, but you managed 12. That’s proof of your capacity for positive change. Rather than dwelling on failure, focus on what worked and learn from it. Let’s shift our lens. Instead of lamenting the 88 unread books, let’s extract wisdom from this experience: 𝗔𝗱𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆: Life rarely adheres to our rigid plans. Adaptability is our ally. Acknowledge that circumstances change, priorities shift, and that’s okay. 𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘆: Those 12 books weren’t mere placeholders; they were portals. Quality matters more than quantity. Each book left an imprint on your soul. 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗱: You didn’t give up. You persisted. That’s resilience in action. Applaud yourself for showing up, even when the odds seemed stacked. 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗲: What worked? What didn’t? Perhaps you discovered that audiobooks during commutes were your sweet spot. Or that cozy weekends with a cup of tea and a novel were your sanctuary. Remember, life’s chapters unfold at their own pace. Whether you read 12 or 100 books, you’re evolving. You’re proof of your capacity for positive change. 📚 #goalsetting #goalcrusher #goalgetter #goaloriented #goaldigger #goalchaser #goaldriven #lifelearnings

I am a paper book person. For years I stubbornly refused to go digital, but a solo cross country roadtrip with limited wifi, limited radio, and limited chitchat, finally won me over. It took a while to get into it, but since adapting to audiobooks, my book quota has skyrocketed, and I am almost a "Master". I love listening while I walk my dogs or cool down from a workout, or relax in a bath. It's perfect while catching up on chores or running errands. Do you listen to audiobooks? Share your reccos in the comments. 👇 A few of my favorites: 📚 Atomic Habits by James Clear (if you’re going to read one business/self-help/prof. dev book, read this one) 📚The Midnight Library by Matt Haig (a fantastic fiction to get your brain storming) 📚From the Streets to the Suites by Snoop Dogg (isn’t anything Snoop Dogg narrates worth listening to?) 📚Honeymoon for One by Portia MacIntosh (all the warm fuzzies of a RomCom packed into an audible. British accent included.) 📚Games People Play by Eric Berne (fascinating breakdown of how humans play games and how to recognize it) 📚Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl (a profound read- clear some space to process this one) 📚Feeding the Soul (Because it’s my Business) by Tabitha Brown (Miss Tabitha could read a list of items in her pantry and I would still gleefully listen) 📚The Year of Living Danishly by Helen Russell (Fun read to consider alternative approaches to work and life culture. Recommended if you lead a global organization) 📚Full Circle by Andrea Barber (this is a lovely listen and a very human perspective on letting success be a part of your life without consuming it; also a great perspective on living with anxiety) 📚High Performance Habits: How Extraordinary People Become That Way by Brendan Burchard (worked through this one for an entire year in a virtual cheerleading group. Loved actually implementing these habits and seeing our progress throughout the year. Recommend actually working through this one.) #bookrecommendations #leadershipdevelopment #readingcommunity #readersareleaders