To start out 2021, we put together a selection of our favorite books for professional development. We’re happy to finally bid 2020 farewell and are eager to begin this new year.
Business executives avoid being stagnant through personal and professional development. Your career will advance and you will become a better person if you keep learning new things.
The Endless Game
Blue Summit prefers The Endless Game! Everyone who is in business, especially those who are just getting started, need to give it a chance, in our opinion. Owen Franklin, the CEO of our company, sat down with Grace Treutel, our content marketing manager, to have a thorough discussion about The Endless Game.
An illustration of a finite game is a game of chess. It features set rules for how to play, a specified game board and players, and a clear means to win. But business is very different. It’s an endless game with numerous variables, a large cast of players, and no obvious way to win.
To “win the game,” a corporation shouldn’t focus on arbitrary, short-term objectives like financial benchmarks, as doing so might result in unethical behavior and rule-bending. Companies that want to endure must reorient themselves to an infinite perspective, one that isn’t just concerned with immediate profits. Instead, by keeping a “just cause” in mind when making decisions, a firm may survive the ups, downs, and utterly unforeseen events.
Owen kept our people-centric focus while we navigated the pandemic’s financial impact on Blue Summit. He turned attention away from short-term advantages and onto our “noble cause.” We could have cut back on customer service or fired all of our independent contractors, but where would that leave us for the following year? Instead, in order to preserve the survival of the company, we reached tiny agreements together.
Remote: No Office Needed
We had no idea at the start of 2020 that our close-knit office would have to adapt to a whole new manner of working. While many businesses were compelled to operate from home overnight, remote work gained attention. Although we all got by and found solutions on the spot, there is undoubtedly much more to learn about remote options.
The creators of Basecamp are the authors of Remote: Office Not Needed. It is considered one of the founding texts on remote work and covers both its difficulties and its advantages. It’s a must-read for companies seeking for an alternative to the traditional workplace as well as for everyone interested in working remotely.
You’re a babysitter, not a manager, if you can’t let your staff to work from home out of concern that they would become careless without your supervision. Most likely, the least of your issues will be remote work. Mr. Jason Fried Rework, another book by the team, takes the easy-is-better stance and is aimed at everyone who has ever fantasized of operating a business on their own terms.
The Dip: A Pocket Guide to Knowing When to Give Up (and When to Stick)
Seth Godin demonstrates that winners are really just the greatest quitting people in The Dip: A Small Book That Shows You When to Quit. Those that are successful understand when to give up and when to persevere.
There is always an initial period of fun when you start something, whether it be a profession, business, or hobby, before everything becomes more challenging—when you experience a drop. Understanding whether a dip is a momentary setback from which you can recover or a complete dead end will help you succeed more.
Till you encounter a dip you can actually beat, give up quickly and frequently. This book will assist you in distinguishing between the two so you can focus your efforts where they are most needed.
How to Get Friends and Have Influence
How to Win Friends and Influence People, which was first published in 1936, is a timeless masterpiece that keeps getting better with time. If you’ve already read it, it’s worth rereading, and if not, now is the time to do so.
The book is filled with many pieces of time-tested advice. By teaching you how to make friends, persuade people of your point of view, and influence people without stirring up animosity, it will benefit you in both your personal and professional life. No matter what your career or sector, you must read it!
A Playbook for Breakthroughs, Rulebreakers, and Changemakers:
Those that wish to work more successfully, efficiently, and creatively might consider gamestorming. It is a mainstay in the design thinking community and offers more than 80 games for creative problem-solving.
You’ll be able to communicate better, resolve disputes, and lower obstacles with its assistance. Employ this when you get into a large challenge and need a fresh perspective. It’s perfect for team workers, but it may also assist individuals come up with fresh concepts, perceptions, and approaches.
What Is Personal Development, and How Can It Benefit Your Career?
Professional advancement and personal growth go hand in hand. Your chances of success in your personal life will increase as your career progresses. The personal growth you experience carries over to your work life. Everything is related. Both your professional and personal development are crucial to your success and shouldn’t be disregarded.
Many chances for learning are included in personal development and growth. A new hobby like playing an instrument, knitting, or kickboxing can be something you explore. Although they might not immediately relate to your work life, these activities will improve your learning skills and make you a more interesting and well-rounded person.
Introspection, optimistic thinking, mood management, and self-care are further components of personal growth for both life and the workplace. No matter what kind of personal development you go for, it will inevitably affect your professional life.
