Alec’s Bookshelf

Welcome to my bookshelf

Bookshelf

I have created this space to share many of the books I have read throughout my professional and personal journeys. These books and the people who recommended them, coupled with my experiences, have shaped my thinking over a lifetime. I share them with you to further your insight into who I am as we explore working together.

Several of these selections are classics that stand the test of time, while others build the bridge to where we are today. A few will shape our thinking for years to come.

Please browse the shelves and let me know what you think. I also hope to curate a wing of this “library” dedicated to books that you bring to my attention that have inspired you. In addition to the author and title, please share a key learning you took away from that book.

Happy browsing,

Alec

The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People is the most important Leadership book I have read. The Seven Habits are an operating system for how we show up as our best possible selves in all aspects of our lives.
Leading Change is another classic book I have read on Leadership. When driving change within your team, organization or within yourself following The 8 Stage Process will bring clarity, structure and sustainability to the changes you seek to implement.
Positive Intelligence is another book in my Top Five. Written by Stanford Lecturer and Executive Coach Shirzad Chamine, the book explores the importance of building our Mental Fitness to achieve the results we deserve. The book is a guided tour in self awareness as you learn about the Judge and its accomplice Saboteurs that stand in the way of doing our best work.
A critical component of driving change and having a positive impact is Personal Accountability. In QBQ John G. Miller. Identifying and asking the Questions Behind the Questions is an outstanding way to hold yourself and others accountable for the changes you are trying to create.
There are any number of books that have been written on the importance of developing and building strong habits. Author James Clear outlines a well researched discussion around the neuroscience of habit formation. He also outlines an approach for making tiny or atomic changes to grow 1% better or effective everyday. By learning the science and applying the methods you will begin to see new habits quickly become embedded into your delay routine.
This has to be one of the most interesting books I have read over the past year. Stanford Lecturers Bill Burnett and Dave Evans walk readers through how to use techniques taught in the Product Design School at Stanford to design a future aligned with your values in pursuit of your ideal future. Learn how to think like a designer and the benefits of reframing problems and asking yourselves the “What If” questions.
What gets you up in the morning? What really drives you to learn grow and achieve. Based upon his globally embraced Ted Talk, Simon Sinek explores the process and journey of defining your Why. Inspiration and ultimately individual and organizational success comes from clearly understanding our Why or our process. Too often our focus shifts to the How and What creating distractions. As Sinek, explains great leaders throughout time have adapted but never have lost sight of their WHY.
As an Introvert I was highly intrigued to read Quiet by Susan Cain. The sub-title really captured my attention. The Power of Introverts in a World that Can’t Stop Talking. I would add in a world that won’t slow down. When you think about the principles of mindfulness and being in the moment and slowing things down who better to learn from than an introvert.
As the title implies Think Again by Adam Grant will have you stopping in your tracks to rethink the world around you and the values and beliefs about who you are. For me this book was all about curiosity and the willingness to explore other possibilities. The principle Grant shares through storytelling is the idea of rethinking. It ties nicely into other books I am recommending as it creates the space for all of us to help create a bit more empathy to challenge ourselves and play around in the world of new ideas and opportunities to understand how we and other process information.
Along with Positive Intelligence to be effective we need to have Emotional Intelligence. Travis Bradberry and Jean Graves take you through a step by step process to develop the for core skills to to deepen your EQ. Self Awareness, Self Management, Social Awareness and Relationship Management. This book is a quick read that will introduce you to the growing body of work around EQ and provide tools to help you enhance your skills in each of the areas.
The classic work of Daniel Goleman that originally introduces and explores the concepts around EQ. This book is a great companion to Emotional Intelligence 2.0. This is the twenty-fifth anniversary edition with a new introduction from the author outlining the role of technology in shaping our EQ.
The E Myth Revisited is a great read for both entrepreneurs and professionals. The key takeaway for me is that it is important for all professionals to be working” On” their careers or businesses vs. working “In” their businesses. Growth results when we allow ourselves.
The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People is the most important Leadership book I have read. The Seven Habits are an operating system for how we show up as our best possible selves in all aspects of our lives.
Leading Change is another classic book I have read on Leadership. When driving change within your team, organization or within yourself following The 8 Stage Process will bring clarity, structure and sustainability to the changes you seek to implement.
Positive Intelligence is another book in my Top Five. Written by Stanford Lecturer and Executive Coach Shirzad Chamine, the book explores the importance of building our Mental Fitness to achieve the results we deserve. The book is a guided tour in self awareness as you learn about the Judge and its accomplice Saboteurs that stand in the way of doing our best work.
A critical component of driving change and having a positive impact is Personal Accountability. In QBQ John G. Miller. Identifying and asking the Questions Behind the Questions is an outstanding way to hold yourself and others accountable for the changes you are trying to create.
There are any number of books that have been written on the importance of developing and building strong habits. Author James Clear outlines a well researched discussion around the neuroscience of habit formation. He also outlines an approach for making tiny or atomic changes to grow 1% better or effective everyday. By learning the science and applying the methods you will begin to see new habits quickly become embedded into your delay routine.
This has to be one of the most interesting books I have read over the past year. Stanford Lecturers Bill Burnett and Dave Evans walk readers through how to use techniques taught in the Product Design School at Stanford to design a future aligned with your values in pursuit of your ideal future. Learn how to think like a designer and the benefits of reframing problems and asking yourselves the “What If” questions.
What gets you up in the morning? What really drives you to learn grow and achieve. Based upon his globally embraced Ted Talk, Simon Sinek explores the process and journey of defining your Why. Inspiration and ultimately individual and organizational success comes from clearly understanding our Why or our process. Too often our focus shifts to the How and What creating distractions. As Sinek, explains great leaders throughout time have adapted but never have lost sight of their WHY.
As an Introvert I was highly intrigued to read Quiet by Susan Cain. The sub-title really captured my attention. The Power of Introverts in a World that Can’t Stop Talking. I would add in a world that won’t slow down. When you think about the principles of mindfulness and being in the moment and slowing things down who better to learn from than an introvert.
As the title implies Think Again by Adam Grant will have you stopping in your tracks to rethink the world around you and the values and beliefs about who you are. For me this book was all about curiosity and the willingness to explore other possibilities. The principle Grant shares through storytelling is the idea of rethinking. It ties nicely into other books I am recommending as it creates the space for all of us to help create a bit more empathy to challenge ourselves and play around in the world of new ideas and opportunities to understand how we and other process information.
Along with Positive Intelligence to be effective we need to have Emotional Intelligence. Travis Bradberry and Jean Graves take you through a step by step process to develop the for core skills to to deepen your EQ. Self Awareness, Self Management, Social Awareness and Relationship Management. This book is a quick read that will introduce you to the growing body of work around EQ and provide tools to help you enhance your skills in each of the areas.
The classic work of Daniel Goleman that originally introduces and explores the concepts around EQ. This book is a great companion to Emotional Intelligence 2.0. This is the twenty-fifth anniversary edition with a new introduction from the author outlining the role of technology in shaping our EQ.
The E Myth Revisited is a great read for both entrepreneurs and professionals. The key takeaway for me is that it is important for all professionals to be working” On” their careers or businesses vs. working “In” their businesses. Growth results when we allow ourselves
Sign up for a 30 Minute Assessment!

No pressure. No obligation.

A conversation so you know what to expect!

tb_arrow