âIt is better to have less thunder in the mouth and more lightning in the hand.â
Apache proverb
This holiday season, rather than squandering money on gifts with little long-term value, consider giving something practical that gets the recipient excited about taking ownership of his/her future.
Aside from allowing us to delve into the minds of the most inspiring and innovative people who ever lived, books are a great gift because they sit there staring back at us: providing gentle prompts, imaginative thought, and unprecedented motivation when we need it most.
In fact, many of the people I interviewed for Think and Grow Rich: The Legacy noted that, in times of distress, just staring at the cover of Hillâs original classic made them feel better about themselves.
Lately, Iâve also really been enjoying audiobooks. With the speed toggle, you can listen at an increasing speed. When you first try 1.25x, it seems a little intense. But a day or two later, you'll probably feel comfortable at 1.5x and wonder how you listened to anything slower before. Audiobooks are also more social because, rather than simply listening to music (which I love for entertainment or a demanding workout), you and a travel companion can improve your minds while exploring new areas of interest.
For my favorite books, as you'll see in the YouTube edition of this post, I make sure to also purchase a hard copy because it's easier for a quick reference.
Welcome to my second annual recommended reading list of gifts for yourself or a loved one. With this list, you'll undoubtedly have more lightning in the hand, as the earlier proverb reminds us.
Driven
by Dr Doug Brackmann
I first met Dr Doug Brackmann in Orange County, California, in early 2019 when my good mate Ronsley Vaz interviewed him. Brackmann radiated a potent mix of strength and empathy, traits forged from a career working with some of the most driven people on the planet.
This is the best book Iâve read in 2019 and Iâve literally just purchased a copy for every one of my clients around the world.
In it, Brackmann argues that 10% of the population possess a certain DNA that makes them feel like something is wrong with them, leading to anxiety, shame, and negative self-talk that can create a hellish existence. He calls this group the âDriven.â
Yet, through his research (which includes holding two PhDs in psychology!) and work with some of the highest performers on the planetâeveryone from Navy SEALs to pro athletes and business leadersâBrackmann has discovered how the Driven can harness that energy into constructive means to reach their highest potential.
If you are an entrepreneur, or are looking at buying a gift for an entrepreneur, you wonât go wrong with this book. Iâve never read something that struck at the heart of who I was more than this one, while at the same time giving practical tips to improve day by day.
And let's face it: every existing and aspiring entrepreneur could do with a little more help understanding themselves!
Mindset: The New Psychology of Success
by Dr Carol Dweck
Carol Dweck is one of my biggest inspirations. This book talks about what sets champions apart in any fieldâthe growth mindset.
Dweck contrasts those who have a growth mindset with those who have a fixed mindset, and it typically comes down to one simple focus: how we respond to adversity when it inevitably strikes.
Those with a growth mindset embrace challenge and recognize mastery as a journey of self-effort, whereas those with a fixed mindset avoid challenge and give up easily.
Here are some of my favorite quotes from Mindset:
In her bestselling book, Dweck shows how people of all ages can cultivate a growth mindset, while giving examples of well-known people to keep readers engaged and illustrate the points, offering practical solutions to help us fulfill our potential in the most important areas of our lives.
Educated
by Tara Westover
Written with phenomenal detail, Westoverâs memoir describes her unique upbringing by uncompromising survivalists in the mountains of Idaho.
Working in her fatherâs junkyard, Westover was never allowed to go to school or visit a doctor, and recounts her volatileâand, at times, abusiveâfamily life as the youngest of seven children.
This alone makes for gripping reading, but the trajectory from Westover first stepping into a classroom at age 17 to eventually earning a doctorate at the University of Cambridge, while continuing to fight battles in and out of the classroom, leaves you spellbound.
In particular, if youâre a female struggling to find your place (or voice) in the worldâor you know someone in that situationâthis book is a must read. It spent more than a year on the New York Times bestseller list and has now been translated into more than 30 languages.
Hereâs one of my favorite quotes:
Seriously powerful stuff, and an easy listen on Audible too. Plus, if you're an aspiring writer, it's one of the most beautifully written books you'll ever read.
The 5 Minute Journal
by Intelligent Change
If you follow me on Instagram, youâve probably seen how frequently I post these as daily stories. A huge percentage of CEOs have spoken about the importance of journaling for mental well-being; yet staring at a blank page each day can be daunting. The 5 Minute Journal provides a useful structure to start and finish the day in the right mindset.
You hear me talk constantly about winning the day. The best way to win the day is to know what actions youâre going to take on a given day and how they relate to your long-term mission, and this book gives you a forum to be able to do that.
To me, itâs been truly life-changing and is the book I gift the most. If you want an introduction to gratitude, this is the best place to be. A lot of people ask me what book it is that I keep posting on Instagram, and now you know đ
Letters From A Self-Made Merchant To His Son
by George Horace Lorimer
This is the only book on this list that has entered the public domain, which means it can be downloaded for free. As a result, itâs probably a better gift for yourself, rather than sending someone a link!
This book was originally published in 1901 and contains letters from a successful business owner to his son who had just started university.
If Educated is slightly better suited to a female audience, this one is slightly better suited to a male audience. Yet, both hold enduring value for all readers.
Given Letters was written more than a century ago, it is told in a language of a foregone era, but itâs phenomenal quotes are timeless, such as:
This is the book that inspired me to start writing an annual letter to our daughter, the first one written in December 2018 (i.e. five months before she was born), so at whatever age I choose to reveal them to her she can understand the journey weâve all been on together, especially her mother's unparalleled contributions, and exactly what unconditional love means.
Think and Grow Rich: The Legacy
by James Whittaker
Writing this book is the greatest honor of my life and itâs truly humbling to see it continue to resonate with so many people around the world.
The theme of the book is that how you respond to adversity when it inevitably strikes is far more important than the adversity itself, and this is demonstrated through a combination of moving stories and practical tips. My hope is that it continues to inspire people of all backgrounds to extraordinary achievement.
Email us if you're after a signed copy! If you want your signed copy to arrive before Christmas, please allow at least two weeks' notice to ensure your order arrives in time. Discounts are available for bulk orders. Unsigned copies, as well as audiobook and ebook formats, are available on Amazon.
A letter or card, handwritten if your legibility allows, to acknowledge the recipient for all the loving and selfless actions they have taken to brighten your world and illuminate your spirit. Expressing our gratitude to one another in the long form written medium has become a lost art, but that just means your opportunity to make an impression will be even more powerful.
You've heard me say many times before that the best way to get is to give. Give someone a piece of your heart, and watch the way your life changes as a result.
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I proudly recommend all these books and know they would be a welcome gift in any stocking. This holiday season give your friends and loved ones the inspiration and ability to help themselves.
As we approach the end of 2019, I wanted to thank each and every one of you for your continued support. Have a wonderful holiday season with your loved ones and get excited for an incredible 2020.
Onwards and upwards always,
James Whittaker
In case you missed it:
How to Get a Promotion: Lessons from a Chief Maker
âThe most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.â
Thomas Edison
Thereâs one element that all those who have achieved enormous success hold in high esteem: failure. Whether industry titans of old, such as Andrew Carnegie and Henry Ford, or more contemporary worldbeaters, such as Oprah Winfrey and Jeff Bezos, failure has been the catalyst to not only creating extraordinary wealth but maintaining it too.
The headline quote from Thomas Edison, one of the greatest inventors in history, was written by a man who, from the moment he set his mind to a definite chief aim, was obsessed with the goal until it became a reality.
Incredulously, before unveiling the worldâs first lightbulb for practical use, Edison went through more than 3,000 designs for light bulbs and another 6,000 tests trying to find the right material for the filament. He would go on to hold more than 1,000 patents, and his other inventionsâsuch as the motion picture camera and phonographâtransformed almost every industry on Earth. âWhen I have fully decided that a result is worth getting, I go about it, and make trial after trial, until it comes,â the American once said.
While Edisonâs obsession might seem crazy to outsiders, it was a perfectly rational state of mind to the man himself. Think about todayâs true innovators and changemakers, from Sara Blakely to Elon Musk and the late Steve Jobs: all have been described by adjectives far harsher than âcrazyâ.
Edisonâs close friend, Waltor Mallory, once visited the inventor in his workshop. Having personally observed some of the countless hours of dedication, effort and sacrifice, Mallory lamented the lack of results. With a smile, Edison quickly replied, âResults? I have gotten lots of results! I now know several thousand things that wonât work.â
That simple response sums up Thomas Edisonâs growth mindset and reveals how he became such a prolific achiever, despite not having a formal education.
Those with a growth mindset:
In contrast, those with a fixed mindset:
To win in the long-term, you must open yourself up to the prospect of losing in the short-term, or longer. Simply continuing is one of the surest paths to success, but so many people give up because they accept temporary failure as permanent defeat. This is true in ALL areas of life; in fact, you can probably think of at least one person who remains bitter despite a divorce or business hardship that occurred years prior.
If you allow yourself to be defined by how youâve been wronged or some other misfortune, youâll go through life with a chip on your shoulder and likely stay within an ever-shrinking comfort zone. However, those who keep their sights on long-term victoryâand can quickly dust themselves off when they do failâare the ones who enjoy far greater happiness and success.
Embrace failure because it means youâve tried.
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos understands this better than most. âIâve made billions of failures at Amazon. Literally,â he was quoted. Further reinforcing his counterintuitive love for hardship, Bezos wrote to his shareholders, âI believe we are the best place in the world to fail (we have plenty of practice!)â But he is acutely aware that every failure increases his chance of hitting a home run, as Amazon has done with numerous innovations that catapulted the company from a simple online bookstore to, on 7 January 2019, officially becoming the worldâs most valuable company.
Even with the recent breakdown of their 25-year marriage, Bezos and his partner MacKenzie were able to quickly and amicably move on, wishing each other well, reducing any undue pressure on their four children, and calming nervous Amazon shareholders.
True innovators like Edison, Bezos, Winfrey, Jobs and Musk do not view the word âfailureâ as a negative. Rather, they view it as an omnipresent companion on the journey to achievementâa stepping stone to success. Every failure brings us closer to success, just as surrendering to adversity guarantees defeat.
In fact, the quote for todayâs episode in its entirety is: âOur greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.â
Choose to be a victor rather than a victim. Regardless of what life throws your way, promise to try just one more time.
Onwards and upwards always,
James W.
In case you missed it:
âThe Secret to Happinessâ
âThe most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.â â Thomas Edison
âIf people should take anything from my music, it should be motivation to know that anything is possible as long as you keep working at it and donât back down.â â Eminem
âAll people have fears, but the brave put down their fears and go forwardâsometimes to death, but always to victory.â â Dale Carnegie
âEvery adversity, every failure, every heartache carries with it the seed of an equal or greater benefit.â â Napoleon Hill
âThe only easy day was yesterday.â â US Navy SEALs
âFailure is so important. We speak about success all the time. It is the ability to resist failure or use failure that often leads to greater success. Iâve met people who donât want to try for fear of failing.â â J.K. Rowling
âFall down seven times. Stand up eight.â â Proverb
âLetâs go invent tomorrow rather than worrying about what happened yesterday.â â Steve Jobs
âFailure is success in progress.â â Albert Einstein
âNever accept temporary failure as permanent defeat.â â James Whittaker
âIf your ship doesnât come in, swim out to it.â â Jonathan Winters
âFind a way or make a way.â â Elon Musk
âIf youâre not making mistakes, then youâre not doing anything. Iâm positive that a doer makes mistakes.â â John Wooden
âIâve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. Iâve lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times Iâve been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. Iâve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.â â Michael Jordan
âYou may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you.â â Walt Disney
âAt any moment you can make a decision to change your life.â â Janine Shepherd
âFailure is a stepping stone to greatness.â â Oprah Winfrey
âIf I had listened to the naysayers, I would still be in the Austrian Alps yodeling.â â Arnold Schwarzenegger
âBelieving that the dots will connect down the road will give you the confidence to follow your heart.â â Steve Jobs
âThere are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work and learning from failure.â â Colin Powell
âMany of lifeâs failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.â â Thomas Edison
âFeel the fear and do it anyway.â â Susan Jeffers
âYou have to be able to accept failure to get better.â â Lebron James
âFear is the result of a lack of confidence. A lack of confidence is the result of not knowing what you can do. A lack of knowing what you can do is caused by a lack of experience. A lack of experience is caused by a lack of doing something new.â â Dale Carnegie
âMost great people have achieved their greatest success just one step beyond their greatest failure.â â Napoleon Hill
âThe freedom to fail is vital if youâre going to succeed. Most successful people fail time and time again, and it is a measure of their strength that failure merely propels them into some new attempt at success.â â Michael Korda
âWhether you think you can or think you canât, youâre right.â â Henry Ford
âEven if we crash and burn, and lose everything, the experience will have been worth ten times the cost.â â Steve Jobs
âDo not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.â â John Wooden
âSometimes an expensive lesson is worth every penny.â â Noel Whittaker
âItâs failure that gives you the proper perspective on success.â â Ellen DeGeneres
âSuccess is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.â â Winston Churchill
âStrength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength.â â Arnold Schwarzenegger
âNothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood.â â Marie Curie
âDo the thing you fear to do and keep on doing it. That is the quickest and surest way to conquer fear.â â Dale Carnegie
âI have not failed. Iâve just found 10,000 ways that wonât work.â â Thomas Edison
âYou canât discover new oceans unless you have the courage to leave the shore.â â Anonymous
âThinking will not overcome your fear, but action will.â â W. Clement Stone
âTake a chance! All life is a chance. The person who goes farthest is generally the one who is willing to do and dare.â â Dale Carnegie
âRemembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.â â Steve JobsÂ
âAll is possible for the believers.â â Laird Hamilton
âAction breeds confidence and courage.â â Dale Carnegie
âIâve made billions of failures at Amazon. Literally.â â Jeff Bezos
âBe who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind donât matter and those who matter donât mind.â â Bernard Baruch
âFailure is not fatal, but failure to change might be.â â John Wooden
âFailure is an option here. If things are not failing, youâre not innovating enough.â â Elon Musk
âRight actions for the future are the best apologies for wrong ones in the past.â â Tyron Edwards
âYou can conquer almost any fear if you will only make up your mind to do so. For remember, fear doesnât exist anywhere except in the mind.â â Dale Carnegie
âNever let the fear of striking out get in your way.â â Babe Ruth
âBravery is the solution to regret.â â Robin Sharma
âRepeated failure will toughen your spirit and show you with absolute clarity how things must be done.â â Robert Greene
âGod, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.â â Reinhold Niebuhr (Serenity Prayer)
âKnow your enemy, and know yourself, and youâll never be in peril.â â Sun Tzu
âThe struggle ends when the gratitude begins.â â Neale Donald Walsch
âEverything you want is on the other side of fear.â â Jack Canfield
âI believe we [Amazon] are the best place in the world to fail (we have plenty of practice!).â â Jeff Bezos
âThe victim mindset dilutes the human potential. By not accepting personal responsibility for our circumstances, we greatly reduce our power to change them.â â Steve Maraboli
âTry and enjoy yourself. Because, actually, lifeâs pretty good.â â Elon Musk
âIf you want to conquer fear, donât sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy.â â Dale Carnegie
âThe biggest risk is not taking any risk. In a world thatâs changing really quickly, the only strategy that is guaranteed to fail is not taking risks.â â Mark Zuckerberg
âYou canât have courage without fear.â â Jocko Willink
âWrite it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.â
Ralph Waldo Emerson
When faced with misfortune, most people are quick to lash out at others. Yet, high achievers know that itâs not laying blame that leads to successâitâs proudly taking ownership of every aspect of your life.
These 10 questions will empower you to rise in almost any situation, allowing you to reset your energy, prepare actionable plans, and advance with stronger resilience than ever before.
Understanding this has been one of the most profound turning points in my life. Incredible stories of Janine Shepherd and Jim Stovall prove that thereâs a gift in every adversity ⊠you just have to find it. While a challenging skill to master in the moment, dig deep and youâll find a little comfort in even the most difficult hardship. Mastery of resilience is the foundation of the growth mindset and what keeps high performers focused when others give up.
Numerous studies, including this one from UC Berkeley, have shown that people who use a regular gratitude practice are happier. When youâre focused on positive energy, it shifts your focus from resentment and envy to abundance, improving everything from personal relationships to career success. If youâre new to gratitude, grab a copy of The 5 Minute Journalâitâs what I use personally and is truly lifechanging. Also, schedule a weekly calendar reminder to send good vibesâwhether a message, phone call or emailâto someone whose efforts and support you appreciate.
If youâre working a job you hate, or spending too much time helping someone else achieve their goals, perhaps itâs time you restored balance into the equation and thought about what you wanted. Readers of Think and Grow Rich: The Legacy might recall the greatest turning point in Sandy Gallagherâs career was when she realized her entire life had been about making someone elseâher fatherâhappy. As she transitioned toward forging her own path, Sandy found that she was not only happier and more fulfilled in her new career, she was able to positively impact far more people, too.
As Simon Sinek said, âPeople donât buy what you do, they buy why you do it.â When youâre clear on why you do what you do, whether an individual or a company, it allows you to persist through adversity, attract a tribe of people excited in your mission, and remain constantly alert for resources that will help you on your journeyâthe ultimate pathway to finding your how.
In a world of instant gratification, buck the trend of demanding it now and, instead, proudly put in the work. This is a fundamental step emphasized repeatedly in Think and Grow Rich and the process of autosuggestion. With your most important goals, write down the specific actions youâll takeâthe price youâre willing to payâto make them a reality. Youâll find that the level of success you achieve is in direct proportion to the consistent effort you take.
Audit your time each day for one week so you can easily pinpoint where youâre knocked off course. (Even simple things such as deleting time-wasting apps, switching your phone to airplane mode for regular blocks, and removing clutter, can all make a massive difference to your daily productivity.) Next, look around your living and working environments. If they donât motivate you to go the extra mile each day, make some changes. In my office, I have a huge print that says âACTION: The difference between having and wantingâ reminding me of the importance of sustained effort. Surround yourself with inspiration.
Your energy source is the most important part of your life and should be insulated from sabotage at all costs. Surround yourself with people who think positive, dream big, and align with your valuesâthose demonstrated in the top-right corner of the Friendship-Success Quadrant (below). Youâll find your energy levels increase tenfold as a result. This is the power of the mastermind and the one attribute that has made the most significant difference in my own life. Once youâve found the right people, use this to turbocharge your success.
Paradoxically, we often reserve our love and kindness for others, and then engage in negative self-talk when weâre aloneâitâs certainly a weakness of mine. Rob Dyrdek introduced me to Dr George Pratt, the clinical psychologist and hypnotherapist who Rob credits as changing his life. George helped me to be more aware of negative self-talk and gave me some exercises that I now have scheduled in my calendar every week to keep focused, relaxed and happy. Hereâs a short one you can try. Donât just make time for your mental health, schedule it.
As part of human nature, and only enhanced in the digital age, we often massively overthink and overcomplicate situations. Sometimes, taking a step back and giving ourselves a mental reset to ponder âWhat would this look like if it were easy?â can be the quickest way to an acceptable solution, saving valuable time and energy in the process.
The end of the calendar year is a good reference point for how your life is progressing. If youâre unable to answer this question quickly, fill out the Success Plan (template). Feel the emotions of having already attained those 3-5 things, then make sure youâve got a detailed planâwith regular action items scheduledâbuilt into your weekly calendar so imagination becomes reality. High performers all have systems to optimize their success.
Through a calm demeanor and an inquisitive mind, the best way forward is always revealed. Remember, you are the only problem you will ever have and YOU are the only solution.
Take actions today that your future self will thank you for. After all, the right question could save your life.
Onwards and upwards always,
James W.
In case you missed it: âThe One Number that Doesnât Matterâ
PS â Join my VIP newsletter AND get a free bonus from Think and Grow Rich: The Legacy (instant download).
âThe victim mindset dilutes the human potential. By not accepting personal responsibility for our circumstances, we greatly reduce our power to change them.â
Steve Maraboli
Iâve just returned to Los Angeles after a three-week book tour of Australia. For those who missed the Today Show interview, you can check it out below. A big thank you to all of you for your continued support.
Today, letâs talk about the winnerâs mindset. Although it might seem counter-intuitive, champions in any field are forged in their response to failure.
We all face adversityâevery one of us. Those with a fixed mindset use it as an excuse to give up and crawl further into their ever-shrinking shell. Yet, those with a growth mindset use every failure as a stepping stone to greatness.
Whether we acknowledge it or not, we are where we are because of our decisions to this point. By simply accepting personal responsibility and taking ownership of our lives, we significantly increase our power to change. This can apply to anything, whether itâs underperforming on a university course, being passed over for a promotion at work or failing with a fitness goal.
The fixed mindset comes from stagnation. In contrast, the growth mindset comes from having an end goal in mind and then nurturing our abilities through ongoing care and attentionâavid readers of my newsletter might recognize this as âsimple and consistent action.â
In her groundbreaking book Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, author Carol Dweck showed that from a young age the brain can be trained to grow and improve, like a muscle. Once our limiting beliefs are gradually replaced with the growth mindset, we find it easier to take actions that keep us striving for ever-greater success. This builds bulletproof confidence and creates unparalleled resilience.
In 1964, after campaigning for racial equality, a South African man was given a life sentence and thrown in prison to rot. Rather than giving up, he began studying Afrikaans with the hope of building mutual respect with his captors and converting them to his cause.
Twenty-seven years later, Nelson Mandela was released from prison. After his impassioned pleas for equality caught hearts and minds around the world, he was elected President of South Africaâthe first non-white head of state in the countryâs history. Reflecting on his extraordinary life, he famously said: âI never lose. I win or I learn.â
In 2010, an unknown fighter taps the canvas. Conceding defeat, his opponent releases the devastating chokehold. With the embarrassing loss, a mere 38 seconds into the first round, the aspiring fighterâs record now stood at a paltry four wins and two losses. Rather than let another setback define him, he continued to hone his skills. An eight-fight win streak caught the eye of Dana White and the Irishman was signed to the UFC.
Five years after the humiliating loss, he defeated JosĂ© Aldo, one of the greatest fighters of all time, in 13 secondsâthe fastest finish in UFC title fight history. The following year, his coach John Kavanagh released a book documenting the extraordinary journey with his star pupil entitled âWin or Learnâ, echoing Mandelaâs fortitude. Today, Conor McGregor is one of the highest paid athletes on the planet.
Oprah Winfrey was deemed âunfit for television.â Steve Jobs was removed from the company he founded. J.K. Rowling was fired from her job as a secretary. Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team. The list goes on.
True champions have a growth mindset and never accept temporary failure as permanent defeat. Instead, they prepare a vivid, detailed plan for success and get to work on winning the day. To create a growth mindset:
Onwards and upwards always,
James W.
PS â Here is a free download of the bonus chapter from Think & Grow Rich: The Legacy, showing how simple mindset shifts catapulted ordinary people to extraordinary achievement.