WHAT’S ON YOUR SUMMER READING LIST?
There are so many things to LOVE about summer. So many ways to enjoy the warmth, sunshine, gardens and even travel. So many delicious foods from the harvest – or the freezer!
Today, we’re cherishing some time in this short season. Time to simply be, and enjoy the company of friends and family. But also, a little time to refresh, catch our breath, and be inspired for new adventures to come.
As we start to envision what the next year will bring (our business year and our kids’ school year both begin/end in September), we choose some of our reading materials to guide the path forward.
This isn’t a new summer theme. “Back in the day” I would read adventure travel books. Way of the Peaceful Warrior, by Dan Millman, was a spiritual odyssey that inspired a way of being in the world. Into Thin Air, by Jon Krakauer, was a story, based on real events, about mountaineering, adventure and survival. That booked changed the way I explore – forever. And Get Off Your “But”, by Sean Stephenson, was a humourous and wise reminder that perspective determines whether we evaluate something as a limitation, or a source of abundance and possibility.
As we started our real estate investing journey, we invested in many books. One year, it was the classic, Rich Dad, Poor Dad, by Robert Kiyosaki. Another year was the ultimate Canadian classic, Real Estate Investing in Canada, by Don R Campbell. And yet another year was The RRSP Secret, by Greg Habstritt. Those three literary wonders have the ability to change lives!
Now we are growing, and always learning ways to improve. The Compound Effect, by Darren Hardy, teaches us about how those little habits literally create our days, and our lives. Extreme Ownership, by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin, is a fabulous lesson about how soldiers think, act and do –and how those same thoughts, actions and follow through can impact business owners and leaders. Never Split the Difference, by Chris Voss, is quite simply one of the best books I’ve read about negotiating.
So many good books out there! So far this year, we’ve read heavy business: Principles for Dealing with the Changing World Order, by Ray Dalio. This book is not for the light-hearted reader, but it sure does explain how predictable today’s world events are—from a historical perspective. And we’ve read lighter business: The Blue Collar CEO, by Mandy Rennehan. It’s a story about an entrepreneur who discovered their passion early in life, then set about to turn it into a business. Oh, and that East Coast humour!
What’s next on our list: The Art of Impossible, by Steven Kotler. Why? Because every time we turn around, someone else is telling us that real estate investing in Canada is impossible. Most of those well-intentioned people have a long list of rational-sounding reasons. But we’re watching Alberta’s rise from the ashes. Even as the real estate market softened in these past few months, many people are still creating profitable investments.
What’s on your summer reading list? Please share any new or new-to-you recommendations!
