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The 10 Best Personal Development Books?

Saturday, May 11th, 2013

By Robin Sharma
Author of the #1 International Bestseller “The Leader Who Had No Title”

Greetings from New York City.

Just did a light run through Soho (exercising FIRST thing in the morning has been such a game-changer). You owe it to yourself to try it for 7 days.

Now I’m settled into creative mode. Great Colombian coffee. Book-filled room. Fresh flowers. (Another tip: your environment dramatically influences your creativity).

So, I wanted to share some more good information with you in my ongoing OBSESSION to help you Lead Without a Title + build out a life THAT MAKES HISTORY.

I’m often asked which books are most transformational for people like us who want to do fantastic work and lead our best lives.

So here are 10 of the best. Read them. Share them. Study them. LIVE them…

Jonathan Livingston Seagull. By Richard Bach.

With lines like: “Don’t believe what your eyes are telling you. All they show is limitation,” this book will move you deeply. I re-read it in Thailand. Still amazingly good.
Think and Grow Rich. By Napoleon Hill.

Fantastic book. Not so much about financial wealth as it is about the making of a rich life. You’ll learn how important it is to have a burning desire (this galvanizes your focus and causes the release of your creativity) + the imperative of setting clear goals + the value of “a mastermind alliance”. This book truly changed my life when I was starting out as a self-published author with nothing but a dream in my hands. Times were tough. This book got me through.
The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius. By–well, Marcus Aurelius.

Marcus Aurelius was a warrior—who then became a Roman emperor. He wrote his lessons on greatness and a life well lived during a multi-year military campaign. Someone got his notes. And put it into this book. I go back to this book often. It strengthens my character. And resolve to help more people.
Steve Jobs. By Walter Isaacson.

One of the best books I’ve ever read. Period.
Long Walk To Freedom. By Nelson Mandela.

Nelson Mandela’s one of my heroes. Noble. Courageous. Focused. A visionary. If I could be 1/100 of who he is, I’d be overjoyed. This is his autobiography. You’ll walk with him through his days as a lawyer, his time as a disruptor, his prison years and his period as the positional leader of South Africa.
Stop Acting Rich. By Thomas Stanley.

Thomas Stanley became famous for “The Millionaire Next Door”. But this book–not so well known–is exceptional. He explains the concept of “The Glittering Rich”, shares how too many of us live beyond our means and how to create true financial freedom. Like most of the books I read, I listened to it.
As You Think. By James Allen.

Maybe 10 times. That’s at least how many times I’ve read this book. And like all great books, it seems better+wiser and deeper every time I read it. Of course, the book hasn’t changed. Just my ability to grasp the information. And understand the concepts. This book is all about the power of your daily thinking. And how it drives your life’s behavior. As you know so well: your behavior shows us your beliefs. And this awesome book will inspire you to build new ones.
The Magic of Thinking Big. By David Schwartz.

Uber-practical. Tons of value. Great concepts, like “Go Through Life First-Class.” Every student, teammate and human being should read this book (along with “How To Win Friends and Influence People” by Dale Carnegie–that work should also be on my list. True.).
Talent is Overrated. By Geoff Colvin.

Read this one a few years ago. Changed the way I viewed Genius. Confirms a lot of the work of exceptional performance researchers like the famed Anders Ericsson that talent is less about natural gifts and far more about devotion to a skill, relentless practice and patience. Another superb audiobook.
Spark. By John Ratey.

One of the best books I’ve read in years. I’m on my 3rd reading. Shares the latest (and so fascinating) research on how exercise transforms the brain, our performance, our productivity and even builds a new type of brain that is excellent at resisting stress. Please do your life a giant favor. And read this book. Today!

Ok. So there you go. Some of my favorite books. Go study them. And use them.

Please remember, ideas–flawlessly translated into reality are the keys to breathtaking success. And you becoming more of who you truly are.

Oh–and definitely make some time each day to read. Small little advances in your knowledge base lead to quantum improvements in your performance over time.

Thanks for making the time to read my posts. I work hard to make them valuable for you. So we get you to your best. Sooner versus later.

Be great. And dream even bigger. The world needs you to shine.

Speak soon,

P.S. LAST CHANCE NOTICE: Snap up one of the few remaining seats to my all new live event–The 48 Hour Transformation– in Toronto this June (we’re just about sold out)…

–I’ll walk you through a transformation process unlike anything you’ve ever experienced

–Learn exactly what to do during the first 3 hours of each day to get results that are 20X what you’ve ever experienced

–Discover how to find and then do work you love

–Take your happiness + creativity levels to RARE-AIR via 3 simple new habits confirmed by science

–Learn how to unleash total confidence so you do BRAVE things

–I’ll passionately teach you through revolutionary methods to rewire positive and excellent beliefs into your mindset

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–Discover how to create the life you’ve always wanted to live

So invest in YOU and make the decision that will change the game for you…

…Just a few spots left so get yours now before it’s too late.

Thank you to EVERYONE for the huge interest in this event. I’m very grateful.
And I promise to work even harder to make your life better.

See you in Toronto in a few weeks! Let’s do this! :)

Snap up your seat now.

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Be Strong to Be Useful

Tuesday, February 1st, 2011

Follow Robin on:

#1 INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER

For Media and Buzz on this International Bestseller, free resources and more information click here.

See Robin Live!
Upcoming Events

January: Closed

February 9: Toronto, Ontario
(Private Event)

February 13: Dusseldorf, Germany (Private Event)

February 14: Bergen, Norway

February 17: Mangaf, Kuwait

February 21: Doha, Qatar

February 25: Chennai, India

February 27: Dubai, UAE
(Private Event)

March 2: Johannesburg, South Africa

March 31: Vancouver, BC
(Private Event)

April: Closed

May 18: Guadalajara, Mexico

Contact as us at speaking@robinsharma.com to bring Robin into your organization to help create a winning culture and make this
new year your best yet.

BE STRONG TO BE USEFUL

About two weeks ago, an idea hit me so hard my thinking might never be the same. I was flying home from Miami. At 40,000 feet. Settled into my seat with a stack of magazines to “rip+read” (a practice I’ll explain sometime-maybe ask me on Twitter). I was going through OUTSIDE magazine and came across a fascinating new exercise trend called Paleo-Fitness. The leader’s name is Erwan Le Corre and basically he takes his clients outdoors, returns them to the land and gets them doing moves that cavemen did oh so many years ago (i.e., climbing trees, swimming underwater, stalking prey and cutting wood). The whole program is designed to get people to peak fitness. And into the mindset of a champion.

Le Corre’s back story is cool. He did triathlons, made soap as a job, and hunted for innovative ways to play at his physical (and mental) best. In 2004, he heard about a little known training manual written in 1912 by a French naval officer named Georges Hebert.

It seems that Hebert had a brush with death a number of years earlier. He’d been working on a naval ship located off the shores of Martinique when a volcano erupted, killing most of the area’s 30,000 inhabitants. Hebert and his colleagues saved over 700 lives-primarily due to the incredible condition they were in. This experience led him to coin his mantra: “Be Strong to Be Useful”. The idea being by getting to world-class fitness, we prepare ourselves to make a world-class difference.

“Be Strong to Be Useful.” I put down OUTSIDE magazine and sat silently for an hour. Maybe more. Hebert was right. How could I make the impact I’m devoted to making unless I have the stamina+physical strength+energy to do my mission? And what would business – and the world at large – look like if each one of us got so strong – and uberConditioned – that we became simply unstoppable in hot pursuit of what matters most.

I’ve done a few YouTube videos on unleashing your highest energy reserves and getting superfit. They are yours to watch, to help to amp up your conditioning. For now, I invite you to wrap your brain cells around the “Be Strong to Be Useful” motto that I’ve learned. And then, take the passionate action required to breathe that vision into reality. You, those around you and this big world of ours will be better for it.

Keep Leading Without a Title,

P.S. I’ve heard you! Given the huge demand since the sold-out product launch a number of months ago, beginning now, until Friday at 5PM EST we are offering a special online home study version of THE ROBIN SHARMA SUCCESS SYSTEM, my proven 21 day training program for health + financial + career + personal transformation at a very special sale price. Don’t miss this opportunity to get one of the best success training programs available today. Click here for details on this exclusive offer.

LEADERSHIP QUOTES TO THINK ABOUT

“The main job of the leader is to help people see clearly all they are fully.” Robin Sharma

“The drive in the band was amazing. It was incessant study. You were supposed to spend all your waking hours studying Jimmy Reed, Muddy Waters and Robert Johnson.”
Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards in LIFE

“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.”
Benjamin Franklin

You Asked For It – So Now You Can Get It!

VERY SPECIAL SALE! THE ROBIN SHARMA 21 DAY SUCCESS SYSTEM^TM

“By any standard of promise versus performance, I am deeply delighted (with Robin’s coaching)… Robin has changed my life, given me the tools for world-class health, rich relationships and the vision to build a billion-dollar business.”
- Tim Ciasulli, CEO, Planet Honda dealerships + 2 time world offshore powerboating champion

Have you been looking for a way to shatter your fears achieve stunning results in your work + financial life and seriously take your life to a completely new level of success (versus making this year just a repeat of past years)? Here’s a practical, fun, proven way to get to your goals and make this year the best year of your life.

Good news for you! Starting today – and only until Friday at 5PM EST – the fastest-selling product in the history of our company will go on sale, at a very special price.

The Robin Sharma Success System sold out when we first launched it 6 months ago and has helped people in over 23 countries create EXPLOSIVE results in their financial life, get to peak health, get to remarkable success at work and find a real sense of happiness within their lives.

This is Robin’s 21 Day personal transformation program that is based on the system he’s taught to billionaires, top CEOs and famous entrepreneurs (who paid over six figures to learn the ideas in this training program). You get the total system, now as an online 21 video home study course, for a fraction of what Robin’s executive coaching clients paid.

Click here to buy now

When it was first offered to the public, this super-practical yet exceptionally engaging boxed set of 21 DVDs sold for the introductory price of $495 (it’s a $995 retail value) and created a FRENZY of people from around the world who flooded our website to get the product. Within hours it sold out and people have been pleading with us for more. We will not be offering the original boxed package with the 21 DVDs at this point but we have heard all your requests for the program, loud and clear. So here’s what we’re doing…

Until Friday at 5PM EST, beginning now, we’re offering you the COMPLETE success/mind training video system that was on the 21 DVDs (that’s 21 thirty minute long training videos of Robin coaching you and sharing this proprietary process) as an online 21 day home study course so you can start watching the videos and start experiencing extraordinary results today.

You will learn the ideas/tactics and strategies that only the best of the best know and within only 21 days:

• Have the truly unbeatable mindset of top businesspeople, sports heroes and genius-level inventors

• Train your brain to banish worry and seize the biggest opportunities that will give you your best results

• Rewrite your physical life so you experience superhealth, more energy than you’ve felt in years and world-class inner power

• Start doing the things that only 1% of people do so you start getting the rewards that only 1% of the population gets.

• Make a quantum leap from days filled with distractions to a winning mindset and way of performing that focuses you only on the things that lead to breakthrough results

• Discover the 8 Forms of Wealth – an architecture for enduring wealth and happiness

• Learn the 9 secrets of the world’s most remarkable people

• 111 tools and tactics to make the next 12 months your most productive, successful and happiest yet.

The boxed set with the 21 DVDs containing Robin’s 21 day total success system is valued at $995, and was offered at a special introductory price of $495. As mentioned, the boxed set of the DVDs is not being offered at this point but we’re doing something we think you’ll LOVE. Until Friday at 5PM EST we’re offering you all 21 videos as an online home study course… for ONLY $277. Click here to buy now.

And when you act now, you will also receive these valuable bonus gifts for FREE (Retail Value $99)

Remember, this exclusive offer for THE ROBIN SHARMA SUCCESS SYSTEM is only available until Friday. This is your chance to get the online home study course with 21 videos sharing Robin’s program for total success, for a fraction of the original price. Remember, we offer a 100% money-back 90 day guarantee so there’s absolutely zero risk to you. If you don’t love this success training program, we’ll refund your money – no questions asked.

Successful people invest first in their personal development. Make the next 12 months the best of your life. Click here to buy now.

FEATURED BLOG: PICK FIGHTS FAST

Yes, indeed, most of us dread conflict as much as a dental visit or a speech in front of a room full of hecklers. And yet, conflict brings advantages – especially to businesses that really want to out – innovate their peers.

I recall a dinner on The Bosphorus in Istanbul where I chatted with an uberSuccessful entrepreneur. He enthusiastically shared his ideas on business-building, picking A Players (the bigger the dream, the more key the team) and delivering value to customers. And then he said something unforgettable: he revealed that his company hired a young man fresh out of business school with the sole job to passionately challenge every one of the great ideas the executive team came up with.

Loved it. Why? Click here to read more.

To subscribe to Robin’s blog click here.

NEWS + BUZZ ON ROBIN

The new robinsharma.com has gone live! Read The Lead Without a Title blog, watch Robin’s YouTube videos and get access to Robin’s latest ideas to help you fly at work.

Listen to a highly inspiring 40 minute audio by Robin on “The 10 Keys of Genius-Level Leaders”. Click here to listen.

	Have you read Robin’s #1 international bestseller “The Leader Who Had No Title” yet? Click here to get it now .



	Robin was named one of The 25 Most Inspirational people on Twitter. Join the over 45,000 people who follow Robin on Twitter. Each day Robin tweets inspirational and practical ideas to help you express your absolute best. Click here to follow him now.



	Join Robin’s Facebook community and connect with other Leaders Without a Title. You’ll LOVE what you learn here! Click here to join.



	Subscribe to Robin’s blog and get his freshest and most current ideas and tactics. Click here to subscribe.



	Subscribe to our YouTube Channel and don’t miss new video blogs and media appearances of Robin. Click here to watch.

Questions? Call: 1-416-962-7900
2010 Sharma Leadership International Inc. All rights reserved.

www.robinsharma.com

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The 8 Faces of Exceptionally Creative Leaders

Wednesday, January 5th, 2011

If you’ve been following my work for a while, you know that my core belief is that the old model of leadership is dead and now, anyone in any organization on any part of the planet can show leadership. I’ve seen taxi drivers who display rare-air leadership along with school teachers + breakfast servers + construction workers. Work is changing. And we all can provoke impact and influence if we Lead Without a Title. But here’s the point of this piece: not only do each of us have the potential to be leaders – we each have the potential to be creative. Massively.

Who sold us on the lie that only artists and poets and musicians are Creatives? When we were kids, we all expressed our Inner Rembrandt as effortlessly as we would breathe. We colored outside of the lines, ideated at the slightest chances and were essentially idea factories on two short legs. But then, as we aged, we stifled our creativity as the mortgages, deadlines and the stuff of life took over our days. Sad.

You and I do no favor to the world in withholding our creativity. So, in my sincere effort to help you work + play at your best, I invite you to consider The 8 Faces of the most creative people I’ve observed. These are the qualities that the brightest of the best have. And you can develop them too. Here we go:

The 8 Faces of Exceptionally Creative Leaders

The Madonna

The Face of Madonna will serve to remind you that nearly every great Creative was a perfectionist. Yes, I know perfectionism may not be the most healthy attribute in the world. But facts are facts and when I study the superstars of creativity, the fact is almost every one of them stood for nothing less than ideal work.

A while ago I watched Madonna’s documentary “I’m Going to Tell You a Secret”, which deeply inspired me.

At every touch point, Madonna sweat the small stuff and demanded that every element of every performance was perfect.

Why work on a project if not to get it as close to perfect as possible?

The Picasso

The face of Picasso will reinforce the notion of devotion.

Great creatives don’t do what they do just for the applause and accolades. They do it because they love it.

Picasso used to leave beautiful dinners with his friends to return to his studio to advance his craft.

His art was his passion.

And like every fantastically creative person, he worked with utter devotion.

The Thoreau

The face of Henry David Thoreau will remind you of the need to create space for your creative talent to flow.

We live in a world where too many people have too little time away from the noise of ringing smart phones, constant email and the dumbing hum of the television.

One of my all-time favorite books is “Walden” by Thoreau. He wrote it over a period living by a pond, away from the world. Living in quiet solitude with nature as his daily companion.

We don’t get our best ideas at work. We get them on beaches or in bathtubs.

Create spaces for your your inner artist to present itself.

The Hemingway

The face of Ernest Hemingway will reinforce the idea that hugely creative people are extremely disciplined.

It’s pure myth that the best artists achieved what they did without structure and organization.

Hemingway, the famed author, wrote at the same time every day – whether he felt inspired or de-inspired.

Yes, spark a steady flow of great ideas.

But great ideas that are not executed upon and converted into real results are a waste of time. The world is littered with geniuses who did zero with their big ideas.

The Branson

Richard Branson’s face will remind you to have fun.

Creativity often occurs in the heat of play.

Branson’s a billionaire. But he really seems to have fun at all he does.

Look – no, hunt – for ways to make whatever it is you do fun.

That will open up that part of your brain that drives your best ideas.

The Edison

The face of Edison will remind you that creative mastery is a numbers game.

Yes, we all know the cliche that Thomas Edison failed 10,000 times before he got the light bulb right. But the story’s worth remembering.

Study any genius – in the arts or in business, and you’ll discover the same thing: they succeeded because they outfailed everyone around them.

Come up with a thousand ideas and one’s bound to be brilliant.

The Starck

Philippe Starck is awesome. And part of his awesomeness stems from his love of minimalism.

Here’s where I’m going with this one: genius resides in simplicity.

The best inventions were the simplest inventions.

Further, de-clutter your workspace + your home + your mind.

Breathtakingly beautiful ideas can’t flow when your energy’s being taken up by the messes around you.

The Ford

Ok. Last one. The face of Henry Ford will remind you to trust yourself.

I’ve made my biggest mistakes when I’ve listened to the chattering voices around me vs. trusted my own instincts.

Self-belief is a powerful leadership quality.

Nearly everyone laughed at Ford’s concept for a car. His reply: “If I’d listened to the people around me, I would have built a faster horse carriage.”

Nice.

P.S. Connect with me on Facebook and Twitter.

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Tags: creative, leaders
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How To Create a World Class Day – Vlog

Friday, April 2nd, 2010

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The 5 Lies of Lucky

Tuesday, January 12th, 2010

So easy to dismiss the success of The Great Ones in business, sports, science or the arts as “lucky”. But success doesn’t just show up. It’s always earned. High achievement isn’t the result of “destiny” but desire – and acute determination.

From Branson to Bono and from Mandela to Michael Dell, dive deep into the stories of the best of the best and you’ll see they’re are all thinking the same thoughts and doing strikingly similar things (all of which I write about in my new book The Leader Who Had No Title.

Don’t buy into the following 5 Lies of Lucky:

1. Successful people don’t work hard – they just happen to be at the right place at the right time. Sure, timing makes a difference (just ask Jobs or Brin). But business superstars not only out-think their competition – they outwork them. Few things are as mission-critical to leadership and winning as blood, sweat and tears.

2. Successful people had a smoother path and more lucky breaks. Nope. The people who have achieved the most are generally those who have failed the most. Success is a numbers game and those who have reached the mountaintop were those who simply refused to lose (and turned every stumbling block into a stepping stone). FedEx’s first day in business saw only about 15 packages moved. But rather than shutting down, they regrouped and reinvented.

3. Successful people are born motivated. Motivation is a learned sport. To play at peak and light a fire in your belly takes daily devotion. The best among us are up while the world around them sleeps, listening to inspirational cds, reading heroic biographies, planning their days/weeks/months/lives and basically preparing themselves to deliver their leadership best. We all need to refill the well of passion and inspiration every morning.

4. Successful people are “one person shows”. Behind GE’s Jack Welch lived a superb group of followers. Alongside Jeff Bezos walks a remarkable band of believers. Can’t do the dream without the right team. If you are really serious about getting to wow on each of your business and personal goals, make sure you have the right people and resources to help you get there. To paraphrase John Donne: “no person is an island”.

5. Successful people are geniuses. According to the latest research, genius isn’t a natural trait – it’s a learned skill. The “genius research” has found that every so-called “genius” invested the equivalent of 10 years singularly focused on their chosen sport/business/craft. As I’ve written in The Leader Who Had No Title: “Mediocrity occurs when we focus on many things. Mastery arrives when we focus on only a few.” Commit to being brilliant at just a few passions in your life and cut out all the rest. And then practice on these obsessions daily. In time, you too will be recognized as a master. And that’s my great wish for you.

Keep Leading Without A Title.

P.S. To follow me on Twitter Click Here

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