A Touch of Inspiration Goes a Long Way

Books I Love

I love reading and these are some of my favorites, ones that made a difference in my life. Enjoy.
 

The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari

When I first started on the journey to discover my purpose, passion and mission back in 2008, this was one of the first books that I read. It is a fable with amazing life lessons shared throughout. Upon reading the first time, the biggest impact for me was reading the phrase “your outer world is your inner world defined.” I share that comment with others often when they are struggling with something. We must remember to look inside first. Great book someone who may be searching for their path.

Start With Why

I came across Simon Sinek’s TED talk “How great leaders inspire action” while volunteering for TEDxPhoenix in 2010. It quickly became my “go to TED talk” for sharing. His insight “people don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it” really resonated with me. That comment has been an instrumental element to the formation and development of my company. The why is much more difficult to articulate but so much richer to share. When you start with why, you start with the heart of the matter.

The Alchemist by Paolo Coelho

I received this as a Christmas gift in 2010. The book discusses pursuing your personal legend. The book follows the typical “hero’s journey” that all great stories follow as articulated by Joseph Campbell: Part I: The Separation. Part II: The Initiation. Part III: The Return. I read it and a few weeks after I did, I quit my job to pursue this practice. Things are so much closer than we think they are.

Great book to identify and prepare yourself for the journey of discovering yourself.

Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself by Dr. Joe Dispenza

I saw Dr. Joe Dispenza appear in the movie “What the bleep do we know?” in 2004 and “The People vs. State of Illusion” in 2011.  Another great movie with more insights. When a friend suggested I read a book titled this, I was excited knowing he views the world differently. This book offers you simple tools to help you see things that might not already exist in your life but how take steps towards them.

Great book with easy strategies to help you see beyond right now to see what can and will be with belief in yourself.

How to Win Friends & Influence People

I finished this book on a beach in Nice, France in 2010. That just sounds fun…which is why I included it. I remember reading this on a trip over in Europe when I was trying to figure out what was coming up next in my life. This book has all of the essential personal development discoveries and has been a go to book for many people that I have been inspired from throughout the years.

Great book with simple application tools for interacting with others.

Ted Talks

I am a huge fan of TED talks, instead of watching the news…I simply began watching TED talks to inspire me for my day. Here are a few of my favorites.
 

Simon Sinek: How Great Leaders Inspire Action

Discovered in 2010 which on the TEDxPhoenix sponsorship committee. This inspires me to continue to search for why in anything and everything I do…Why is directly linked to purpose which is why it resonates with me so much.

Gary Vaynerchuk: Do What You Love, No Excuses

In 2010, I found TED.com and began my day watching inspiring TED talks instead of depressing news. Gary’s speech inspired me eventually to quit my job. (Funny enough 5 days after I did, Gary was in Tempe speaking about his new book. I had a chance to shake his hand, thank him and share that this talk played a large part in me quitting to do what I love, which is helping others do what they love.)

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhqZ0RU95d4[/embedyt]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ks-_Mh1QhMc[/embedyt]

Amy Cuddy: Your Body Language Shapes Who You Are

Discovered in 2012 after going through an intensive 9-day coach training that spoke about “emotional state.” Language shapes our life and we can manage elements of our emotion by managing how we use our body.

Graham Hill: Less Stuff, More Happiness

In 2012, I had just done a huge shedding process and interesting enough, 4 days later I met a friend and she asked me to open the TEDxTempe “creating space” evening. Less is more. This speech inspired my focus on less stuff (after he inspired me to become a weekday vegetarian (also a great talk).

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8YJtvHGeUU[/embedyt]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCvmsMzlF7o[/embedyt]

Brene Brown: The Power of Vulnerability

In 2013, my coach shared Dr. Brene Brown’s work to help me with some relationship issues I was struggling with. This inspires a constant focus on being transparent and vulnerable when it’s difficult.

Audio Programs

I enjoy listening to audio programs to fuel my mind with different insights, here are a few of my favorites.
 

Napoleon Hill: In His Own Voice

Napoleon Hill wrote the book, “Think & Grow Rich.” This audio program available on iTunes for 2.95 (price varies.) This is a 10+ hour series of Napoleon Hill speaking about everything he learned from his own experiences and what “Mr. Carnegie” (as he references him as throughout the program) over the 20 years together.

Amazingly valuable.  Buy it.

Personal Power II by Tony Robbins

This program changed my life in 2003 when I went through over 30 days. I did everything the discs asked and during the goal setting workshop I set an income figure that I achieved a few short years later (at the pinnacle of my career).

Clarity is power, so is daily action.

Tony Robbins: Power to Shape Your Destiny

Listened to it in April 2014 as I was undergoing the launch of this site. He talks about all the challenges you encounter which help you grow and how achieving the goal is never the place that makes you happy, it’s who you become on the way towards your goals.

InCANtations are powerful.

Movies

I love movies, especially ones that get you inspired and or help you see the world differently.
 

Finding Joe

Discovered in 2012 while I was going through the difficult time as I was growing my business. This movie simplifies the 3 elements of every great story. The separation, initiation and return.

I Am

Discovered in 2012 as I was clarifying the real essence of what I was offering my audience, which was a more fulfilled life (not simply success.) Director Tom Shadyac developed. More doesn’t always mean better.

Peaceful Warrior

Saw Dan Millman speak at a Celebrate Your Life conference in 2011 and his story inspires. Live in the moment; that is all there is.

What the Bleep Do We Know

Watched in 2004 and it definitely got me thinking about a new way to approach life. Plant the seed of new insights.

Mr. Hollands Opus

Saw the previews of this movie when I was at Nationals band competition in 1995, Yes, I was in the High School Marching Band and played trumpet. Don’t discount the impact you are making in your life.

Inspirational Quotes

Ever since I was a teenager, I have enjoyed inspirational quotes. I had a revelation that quotes are simplified messages (which is why I’ve always been drawn to them). There is enormous wisdom in the words of the visionaries of thought leaders. A few of my favorites are…
 

“We are what we repeatedly do, excellence then is not an act, but a habit.”

Aristotle

“Learn from yesterday. Live for today. Hope for tomorrow.”

Einstein

“Man’s main task in life is to give birth to himself, to become what he potentially is.”

Erich Fromm

“Fortune favors the bold.”

Virgil

“It is direction, not intention, that determines destination.“

Andy Stanley

Sometimes, you need a dose of inspiration in your inbox.