It’s early on Sunday morning – my quiet time for reading, writing, and reflection. I have this quiet time every morning before I leave the house to teach my 5:30am group fitness class, but Sunday mornings are a little more relaxed because I usually don’t have anything planned for the day. Sunday is traditionally a day of rest and I try to keep it that way.
A steaming cup of coffee sits beside me on my desk and as I sat down at my desk this morning, the book I finished last night caught my eye – “Think On These Things” by John C. Maxwell. My thought was to log it into my personal tracking spreadsheet of books read this year and then select my next book from the bookshelf. I keep the entire top shelf of my bookshelf stocked with books on my waiting list to be read so I always have several available to choose from. Mack and I spend more on leadership materials and books each month than we do on anything else that could be considered “discretionary spending.” It’s not discretionary for us because we are both dedicated to learning and growing so we can continue to pursue our mission to help others.
“Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.” ~Joseph Addison
As I logged the finished book into my spreadsheet, I did a quick review. Today is May 31, 2015 and we are five months into the year. Think On These Things is the 22nd non-fiction and/or leadership book I have read this year. Why do I track them? As a leadership and motivational speaker, I want to make sure I am studying the lives of other people who are inspirational so I can share with those who need inspiration. As a coach, I want to make sure I am continually investing in myself so I am better prepared to help my clients meet the demands of their lives. As a person, I want to look back at the end of the year and know that I was a good steward of the time and resources that God provided me with.
Certainly these books I have logged are not books to be read and forgotten but most are books to read, ponder, think about and underline some quotes. I mine them for the gold nuggets and small gems of wisdom. Don’t mistake what I am saying – we all need time for recreation and downtime to relax. I take time for that with light, fictional reading or the occasional movie night at home. It’s the time beyond what it is needed for recreation that is to be stewarded wisely.
So here is my list of books read this year. I share it and my question for you is: “How are you investing in yourself and wisely stewarding YOUR time and resources?” Feel free to comment with great books that you have read this year and what made it a worthwhile read!
| Title | Author |
| Steel Will | Shilo Harris |
| The Railway Man | Eric Lomax |
| I am Malala | Malala Yousafzai |
| From Here to There | Seth Bales |
| Start With Why | Simon Sinek |
| The 5 Love Languages | Gary Chapman |
| Spiritual Leadership | Oswald Sanders |
| Between 2 Gods | Trudy Metzger |
| Sometimes You Win, Sometimes You Learn for Teens | John C. Maxwell |
| Crucial Conversations | Patterson, Grenny, McMillan et al |
| Launch | Jeff Walker |
| Positive Personality Profiles | Robert Rohm |
| Coaching for Performance | John Whitmore |
| Rena’s Promise: Sisters in Auschwitz | Rena Gelissen & Heather Macadam |
| Paid to Speak | NSA |
| Speak More | NSA |
| Leaders Eat Last | Simon Sinek |
| Whoever tells the best story wins | Annette Simmons |
| Angels of a lower flight | Susie Krabacher |
| Shattered Silence | Mellissa Moore |
| The Whole 30 | Melissa Hartwig |
| Think on These Things | John C. Maxwell |
