This is the first of what will become a monthly post about what I’ve learned, what I’m pondering, and who I’m learning from. I hope you find some value here. One of the things I’ve learned in January is that there is no shortage of great resources available to us on the internet (and it’s free!), and there is no shortage of great people out there who are willing to share their ideas. Enjoy!

January Reading List

The first book I completed in January was Dorie Clark’s “Entrepreneurial You.” After listening to her interview on Ryan Hawk’s “Learning Leader” podcast, I was compelled to pick it up. This book was an easy read, but it was also packed full of useful information. Everyone wants to know how to “make money doing what you love.” Dorie gives us a blueprint for doing just that in her book. I highly recommend it to anyone that wants to make their “side hustle” more than just something they do on the side. As soon as I finish up my current read, I’m going to look into Dorie’s other two books, “Stand Out” and “Reinventing You.”

I read Randy Jackson’s “Culture Defeats Strategy.” This is a great read for coaches! Coach Jackson is a high school football coach here in Texas, and he wrote what he calls a “boots on the ground” guide to maximizing the culture of a program. He shares the lessons he’s learned throughout his career, and he pulls back the curtains to give readers a look at the methods he uses to implement a championship culture with the young men that he leads. I’m not even coaching ball anymore, but I loved this book. I have referenced it multiple times this month when speaking with coaches in our district.

If you have been reading my blog at all, you probably already know that I am re-reading “Legacy” by James Kerr as I walk through the Leadership Academy with some of our coaches. I have written plenty about how powerful I think this book is. I was talking with my boss yesterday about it, and we both noted that it just gets better as you get further into it.

Last week I started reading “Tribe of Mentors” by Tim Ferriss. I bought it on iBooks, and started devouring it. After a few days of solid reading, I was only halfway through, and I couldn’t figure out why. I looked at it on Amazon, and I realized the hardcover is over 600 pages long! Don’t let that scare you off! It’s fascinating! It’s one of those books that you can pick up and read a chapter (2-6 pages) a day and leave with something really valuable. Tim describes it as a “reference book,” and that’s a great way to look at it. Read the description on Amazon, and you’ll see what I’m talking about.

Podcasts I’m Loving

I subscribe to a lot of podcasts, but I really honed in on these three podcasts this month.

Joe Ferraro’s “One Percent Better”

This podcast is awesome! He’s only been doing the show since July, but he is hitting it out of the park! Joe a high school teacher and coach, but he’s interviewing some serious cats! Seth Godin, Daniel Pink, and Ryan Hawk are just a few that come to mind. I’ve been binging on his podcast this month, listening to back episodes. I also have to say this about Joe. He’s a genuinely good dude! He subscribed to my blog, and for no reason at all, he shot me a message on Twitter just to encourage me after reading one of my blog posts. Very classy guy who didn’t have to take the time to do that. I promise you that you’ll find value if you start listening to Joe’s podcast. Check out his website: https://www.onepercentbetterproject.com/

Ryan Hawk’s “Learning Leader”

Off the top of my head, I’m not sure if I’ve written about this podcast or not, but I think it’s one of those podcasts that you have to listen to if you are in a leadership position (or if you want to be in a leadership position). He has interviewed some heavy hitters over the last 200+ episodes that he’s done, and he always brings serious value. High-quality content from a true professional. Here’s Ryan’s website: http://learningleader.com/

Stephen Mackey’s “Plus One”

I love this dude. A buddy of mine introduced me to Mackey‘s content early in January, and I started binging on his podcast. The content and structure of his show changes often, but it’s always good. It’s a daily (ish) leadership podcast, and Mackey always brings the fire. One of the highlights of my month happened last Friday when I got the chance to meet him. My buddy recorded a podcast with him, and they used my office because it was a quiet place (minus the vacuum cleaner in the background… sorry guys). When they finished up, we sat and talked in my office for an hour and a half. It was a terrific conversation with another genuinely good dude. I love his show, and I love what he is doing with his character development curriculum in high schools all over Texas (and the United States). He’s the real deal. Here’s his podcast site: http://plusonepodcast.libsyn.com/, and here’s the website for his character development company: http://2words.tv/. I believe in what Mackey is doing, and I am looking forward to hopefully cultivating that relationship in the future. I’m going to write more about some of our conversation in the near future.

Quotes That Hit Home

“Always take jobs for which you are not qualified; that way you will inevitably learn something.” – Esther Dyson

“I assume you’re smart and I assume you work hard. But being civil and decent and kind is the bedrock of career success, as well as personal fulfillment.” – Tom Peters

“Grudges are for those who insist that they are owed something; forgiveness, however, is for those who are substantial enough to move on.” – Criss Jami

“An expert is a person who has made all the mistakes that can be made in a very narrow field.” – Niels Bohr

Email Lists

I highly recommend subscribing to the following email lists.

Brian Kight sends out a daily email each morning at 5:00 am. I read it every day when I wake up. It’s a quick read with lessons on “focus, discipline, and being our best.” You can subscribe here.

Ryan Hawk sends out a “Mindful Monday” email similar to this post. He shares what he’s learning and contemplating, and he shares the best articles, quotes, and TED Talks he runs across each week. You can subscribe via his website: http://learningleader.com/

Thank You!

I have been so encouraged by the people who are reading, sharing, and commenting. Your support gives me the confidence to keep writing. I know that each post might not be a home run, but it’s a work in progress. Thank you for sticking with me as I grow. I truly hope you have found value in this blog in January, and I can’t wait to see what the rest of the year has in store.