Ten Actionable Ideas for Applying 77 Reading Recommendations

I don’t know when first learned that idea but it has shaped the path of my adult life for more than 30 years.  These are a sampling of books, articles and authors.  Some new, some old.  I would categorize them into four areas.  Business, Neuroscience, Psychology and Spirit.  Their priority depends on where you are on your own personal path.

Here are ten actionable ideas for finding the perfect resource for you.

1. Find a resource that resonates with you and stick with it.

2. Don’t read it, or listen to it study it.

3. Learn not what is said but why it applies to your life right now.

4. If you can’t teach it to others you don’t understand it enough to apply it to you own life.

5. Find others to share your ideas with who will test your assumptions.  Surrounding yourself with people who challenge your beliefs will deepen your understanding.

6. If you don’t apply it what is it worth?

7. I like a combination of audio and reading.

8. My favorite resource is Harvard Business Review because it often introduces me to the best thinkers on the planet.  I can listen to an Ideacast or read an article and, then later when I need it, I can search for the author, tittle or phrase and find the sources.

9. Once is not enough.  The goal is to be not do.

10. “Listen to or read through until it becomes you.” 

You can find articles derived from many of the resources at https://redshoesolutions.com.  Use the search box at the top right to find exactly what you need when you need it.  If that doesn’t work call me at 1-800-893-9002.

The “Bee the Difference” characters you see throughout our material, in my keynotes and intertwined in our consulting are the keys to sustainable transformation of any kind. “Just Do It™” is a powerful brand* but an incomplete approach.  There are times when we must do more than we “bee-lieve” we are capable of but “bee-lieving” is the first step and doing the last.  It may be helpful to realize that the “Just Do It™” tag was inspired by the final words of convicted murderer Gary Gilmore before he was put to death.  Last words, last step get the connection. (:

Doing without “bee-ing”

Is like walking without seeing.

It is possible but most will find effort-full failure

Less desirable than the effortless familiar.

When we invest or attention in “bee-ing”

The future becomes familiar.

Instead of pushing to be something we are not

we are pulled to “bee” what we have forgot.

We have all been the fearless, creative, resourceful, persistent purpose-full people we want to “bee”.  We just forgot.

If we want to create sustainable transformation for ourselves or our organizations we need to change our aphorism from

“Just Do It™” to “Just Remember You”.

We are exposed to an endless barrage of tragedy, threat, whining and warnings thousands of times each day.  Injecting a tiny inoculation of inspiration, short shot of real science or a small bite of business brilliance is not enough to overpower the contagion of unconsciousness.     We spend our days operating on autopilot believing without knowing and accepting without understanding.

French mathematician – Rene Descartes (1596-1650) said: “If you would be a real seeker after truth, you must at least once in your life doubt, as far as possible, all things.”

The only thing that should go without doubt is that we are all connected.  Albert Einstein called the disbelief in this reality an “optical delusion of the consciousness”.

You are reading this for a reason, we are connected for a purpose.  Discovering that purpose for which you were born is a never ending and world energizing journey.  Believe you have powers greater than anyone ever imagined.  Children do, we once did as well.  Then we forgot.  More than teaching you something new these books will help you remember something that somewhere deep inside you always felt but were afraid to believe.  You are “Powerful Beyond Imagination”.  Take time to reimagine the real you.  What would you be like if you were fearless?  “Bee” that person.

*The “just Do It” campaign increased Nike worldwide sales from $877 million to $9.2 billion.  http://goo.gl/6DF8WI