This month’s theme is Emotion, and boy, is it delivering! Following my last newsletter, I heard that many of you have been experiencing some ups and downs. Hang in there, you’ll hit a whole new wave soon!
Which got me to thinking about strategies I use to keep uncertainty (and its trusty companion, fear) at bay. I came up with 3 antidotes:
- Curiosity
- Learning
- Community
Here’s why; when I feel engaged and excited, the pesky ups and downs of business and life can play themselves out while I do something more interesting instead. While there are heaps of ways we can get inspired, learn and meet others in our community, from events and conferences, to classes and camps, two of the cheapest and easiest ways are books and podcasts. Here are a few I’m loving right now:
PODCASTS
I’m a pretty recent convert to podcasts and I’m not sure what I did before them! Whether I’m cooking dinner, or riding the subway, they offer bite sized opportunities to be exposed to new topics, points of view and ideas. Here are a my favorites:
Business
1) Being Boss
One of the reasons I love Kathleen and Emily’s podcast, is their totally open and honest discussions about what it takes to building a thriving and fulfilling creative career. They’re doing great, but you don’t get the feeling that they have some magic gene; they’re just working it (and working at it). With great guests, and their endearing personalities, this is a new favorite of mine.
2) Profit.Power.Pursuit
In collaboration with Creative Live, Tara Gentile interviews a wide range of thought leaders and successful small business owners. What I like about this one is the topics are often outside what I’d normally seek out. This always gets me to think a little differently, which I love.
3) Design Matters
Debbie Millman is a mainstay in the creative industry and so I’ll listen to pretty much anything she says. She also has amazing guests.
4) The Tim Ferris show
This podcast falls into the category of things I didn’t expect to like as much as I do. Tim is equal parts sweet, alpha and hyper; but his energy, great questions and ability to distill a guest’s advice down to something very simple and clear is something to behold. Check out his interview with Arnold Schwarzenegger, it’s great!
Life
While I love learning about business, I know my spiritual side needs just as much love, so here are a couple of great ones for that:
5) Tara Brach
Tara is a psychologist, author and teacher of meditation, emotional healing and spiritual awakening and I love that her lectures and meditations are delivered in a wry style (too much sincere yogi stuff turns me off!)
6) On Being
I’m a big fan of this this NPR show with Krista Tippett. If you’re lucky enough NOT to be up at 7 a.m. on Sundays (as I, and all the other mums in the land are), this podcast is a great opportunity to catch Krista and her guests. From rabbis and priests, to authors and scientists, I’ve yet to listen to an episode that didn’t expose me to new ideas and views and keep me gripped from beginning to end.
BOOKS
I’m a big reader and literally DEVOUR business books. I love them. If you’re not a reader, or don’t have the time to sit with a book, try the audio ones for your commute. Here’s what I’ve got going right now:
Business
7) Designing Your Life by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans
This book is a how-to-guide on building a well-lived and joyful life. The authors teach us how to think like designers and literally build the life we want. I’m only part way through it, but it’s one of the BEST books I’ve read in a long time. Buy it right now!
8)Tools of Titans by Timothy Ferris
This book is a distillation of the top-takeaways from Tim’s podcast. If, like me, you’re a sucker for routines, processes and mindset hacks that will help you be more productive, happy and successful, you’ll love this one.
9) Awaken the Giant Within by Tony Robbins
This book was written years ago, so some of the references are dated, but Robbins delivers a ton of great advice on how to get out of your own way and fulfill your potential. I’m not even half way through, but each time I dip in, I take something useful away that I can implement right away.
Life
10) The Game of Life and How to Play it by Florence Scoval Shinn
This book is the most dog-eared in my collection. Published in 1925, the book is probably one of the first to bring metaphysics to the general public. No matter how crazy life feels, this book ALWAYS makes me feel better. For that reason, it’s probably my most recommended and gifted book too.
11) The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks
This wonderful book counsels you on how to identify, and then spend most of your time, in your zone of genius. Not sure what your zone of genius is? Check it out and get ready for a few a-ha moments!
What about you? What are your favorite podcasts and books. Hop on over to my Facebook page and leave yours, and why you love it, in the comments.
