Best resources for motivation and professional development By Will LinkPeople often say that motivation doesn’t last. Neither does bathing, that’s why we recommend it daily. - Zig Ziglar Sometimes we need resources to keep us internally motivated to keep working or to turn to for advice on professional development. There are many media formats out there that can educate you on the best ways to grow and develop your career path. This article will recommend three books and three podcasts to do just that. Students and young professionals in any field will find these resources useful. Book - Grinding it Out By Ray Kroc Ray Kroc was the franchisor and later owner and CEO of McDonald’s from 1954 to 1974. He was responsible for the rapid growth of McDonald’s and opened more than 7,000 franchises across the United States. Kroc’s autobiography, Grinding it Out, reveals how he acquired and grew McDonald’s to the prominent business that it is today. Throughout the book Kroc describes many of his own personal habits, practices, and beliefs that led him to becoming a successful businessman. He also includes his personal beliefs on what makes a great business. While this book is not entirely focused on career and professional development, many students will find Kroc’s insight and advice to be very helpful on the power of persistence, working hard, salesmanship, and personal and professional management. Book - How to Win Friends & Influence People By Dale Carnegie Dale Carnegie’s 1936 book How to Win Friends & Influence People is widely considered one of the best books for professional development. The book is divided into four parts that teach business and interpersonal communication skills. Carnegie shares his belief that you can change other people’s behavior by changing your behavior towards them. He also discusses how it is human nature to not want to admit to fault. Key tenants of his book include that you should always be honest with people, be willing to admit when you are wrong, and arguing and complaining usually don’t lead to anything. This self-help book will help people learn to network and communicate with all different types of people in the workforce and feel more confident when doing so. How to Win Friends & Influence People was updated in 1981 to be more relevant to the modern business practices and techniques. Book - Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking By Susan Cain Susan Cain estimates that one third of people we know consider themselves an introvert. Many people with this personality type can have trouble with their professional development. Published in 2013, Susan Cain’s book gives advice for how introverts can still make an impact in the world and feel valued. Cain uses historical examples of introverts that have had a lasting impact on society such as Rosa Parks, Dr. Seuss, and Steve Wozniak. Throughout the book, Cain also explore the differences between extroverts and introverts and the advantages of disadvantages of both personality types. Cain looks at the concept through the lenses of many different disciplines including biology, psychology and neuroscience. She comes to the conclusion that today’s society and culture underutilize introverted people and that they are great resources to have in the workforce. Podcast - Career Cloud
Downloaded over 2,500 times a day, Career Cloud is a monthly podcast that features guests that are resume writers, career coaches, job seekers, and more. These podcasts discuss a variety of different topics related to career development including resume building, interviewing, and how to use your social media to improve your job prospects. Career Cloud also has a blog that provides notes on each podcast episode. Podcast - The James Altucher Show Releasing a new podcast every few days, former hedge fund manager and bestselling author James Altucher interviews the greats in the world of business and entertainment. Some of his past guests are Mark Cuban, Arianna Huffington, William Shatner and Tony Hawk. During his interviews Altucher asks blunt and insightful questions that challenge conventional wisdom and inspires his listeners to think outside of the box. Using both his website and podcasts, Altucher gives insightful advice on how young professionals can succeed in the world of business and life in general. Podcast - Leadership Podcast with Craig Groeschel Episodes of Craig Groeschel’s leadership podcasts discuss three different learning styles: business, visual audio, and read-write. Groeschel’s podcast also comes with a useful PDF files that summarize the main points of the episode. As Groeschel states in Building the Middle, when the leadership gets better, everyone wins. Groeschel gives great leadership advice that can very easily be translated to professional development and the workplace. In addition to the books and podcasts previously mentioned there are many resources on professional development that you can loan. If you prefer to use an eReader there are many apps that allow you to rent thousands of books for free. Some of these apps, which are available on iOS, and Google Play, are Libby, Overdrive, and Hoopla. These three mobile apps are connected to thousands of public libraries across the country. As long as you have a library card from one of the participating libraries and have an account through these apps you can rent and download any one of the thousands of eBooks and audiobooks available for free. The podcasts and books listed above are great suggestions for any young professional or student to keep themselves motivated and educated on career and professional development trends. If you can find the time each day to listen to your favorite podcasts or read a little bit of a book, you will be able to continue to improve your professional development one day at a time and be well on your way to achieving your career goals.
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