3 Books You Should Read If You Want to be a More Effective Person
The selections from my library that have improved my productivity and efficacy
We all want to be more effective people. We want what we do, say, believe, and plan to be right, influential, and meaningful to the world and people around us.
Often our frustrations with ourselves and the world is some sort of ineffectiveness — we feel as if our efforts have no meaningful results.
“To change ourselves effectively, we first had to change our perceptions.” — Dr. Stephen R. Covey
This was me for a long time, struggling to see results where I wanted to see them.
While not a quick fix in the slightest, these three books helped me to see the light at the end of the tunnel and ultimately get a better grasp on what it means to do something meaningful in this world.
If they’re not already on your bookshelf, I’d highly recommend you add them and read them right away — they just might change your life and make you a more effective human being.
1 — Essentialism
In his book Essentialism, author Greg McKeown paints a beautiful and remarkably complex picture as to how to shape your life around what matters most.
He argues that the most effective people are those who are are able to set aside what doesn’t matter in favor of what does, despite the pressures of society and habit that would attempt to convince you otherwise.
Effective people sacrifice what doesn’t matter to make time for what does. A dramatic but pointed example from the book involves a certain writer giving away their phone and writing in a motel for eight weeks. If a project really matters to you, it should be your number one focus and priority, and it should be something you shove distractions out of the way for.
“Remember that if you don’t prioritize your life someone else will.” ― Greg McKeown, Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less
Effective people say no to much and yes to little, all with intentionality, guided by their values and biggest aspirations in life. It’s much better to accomplish a few large and worthy things than a thousand tiny wins that never really mattered in the first place.
2 — You Are A Badass At Making Money
Jen’s first book, You Are a Badass at Making Money, is a great book — however, my life radically changed when I read its followup, You Are A Badass At Making Money.
This book pointed out things I’d never thought of before, and pointed me in the directions of dreams I’d never had.
“The walls of your comfort zone are lovingly decorated with your lifelong collection of favorite excuses.”
― Jen Sincero, You Are a Badass at Making Money: Master the Mindset of Wealth
This book made me a more effective person by teaching me about all of the hangups I had about money. Sincero explains, in great detail, the danger that certain money thoughts can pose to our day-to-day life.
She poses the idea that you can make money doing what you love, and that with the right kind of attitude and focused work, you can make wealth of all of the most meaningful kind.
3 — Everything is Figureoutable
In her book Everything is Figureoutable, author Marie Forleo writes about the idea that any and all problems can be figured out. I love this idea, because it’s more true than you’ve ever realized.
And I’ll make an interesting distinction here — she claims that everything is figureoutable, not that every problem is solvable.
“Clarity comes from engagement, not thought!”
― Marie Forleo, Everything is Figureoutable
Not every problem can be solved. Some things are unreparable or exist beyond any of our control. However, that doesn’t mean that we can’t do something to cope fully with the problem and move on more resilient and prepared for the next situation that arises.
This book made me a more effective person by teaching me to tackle problems head on.
Since my freshman year of college, the used Nissan Xterra I bought has been giving me issue after issue. It’s been, if anything, a crash course in “everything is figureoutable”. No matter where you are, no matter what situation you’re in, there’s always a way out.
Becoming an effective person is a lifelong adventure, journey, and job. It won’t be done in a day and you’ll certainly have some ups and downs. However, I hope that books like these can point you in the right direction like they’ve helped me.
Just remember, you can only have a few big things in your life, you can make money doing what you love and committing fully to it, and everything is figureoutable.
Best of luck!
