Fuel For Thought: A Mind Expanding Arsenal & Resources to Ignite Curiosity and Learning
Learning is never obsolete. We may have some upgrades in how we consume information, but the practice will remain the same no matter what century we’re in. As a curious individual, I relish any opportunity to expand my mind into new, uncharted territory, whether to build upon what I already know and have it turned upside down by a differing opinion OR learn about something entirely new.
Having a curious mind is a rollercoaster ride, and I am readily on board.
To help inspire your own personal learning quest, I’ve compiled a list of my current “greatest hits” for expanding your mindscape. They are well-researched, backed by science, and helpful information that supports your development, no matter what that may be. These are resources I find myself returning to year after year and gaining new insight each time I revisit.
Podcasts That Make You Think:
Acquired with Ben Gilbert and David Rosenthal
History may repeat itself but so does business. I look forward to these in-depth episodes that tell the untold story of how some of the world’s most successful companies came to fruition. Each episode dives into the strategies, unique scenarios, and leadership tactics that helped support their mission. It does not matter where you are in your career, or what industry you’re in—this podcast will equip you with actionable insights to revolutionize your approach to business and unlock unprecedented growth.
Exponential Wisdom with Dan Sullivan and Peter Diamandis
Staying up to date with the latest tech innovations is so much more palatable when it’s in this format. The hosts unravel the limitless potential of emerging tech, which gives you a front-row seat to the future of business and a roadmap to capitalize on unprecedented opportunities. I always learn something new when I tune in!
Books to Shape Your Mind:
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson
As the title suggests, this book is about taking a counterintuitive approach to life. What I love about this book is the author’s ability to cut through the noise in the self-help world. He debunks the toxic positivity that seems rampant in the mindset and self-help world and backs it up with science and research. Instead, he gives tangible advice on handling the good, the bad, and the ugly.
Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smart by Liz Wiseman and Stephen Covey
I enjoy any book that challenges me to rethink common “norms”—especially when it comes to leadership. Not only does this book help you become a better leader and amplify the talents of your team, but it also offers a paradigm shift into how we typically view leaders and provide effective strategies to unlock potential and success.
Burn the Boats by Matt Higgins
This is your motivational guide to encourage you to fully commit to your goals by
eliminating any possibility of retreat or backup plans. I love that the author challenges conventional wisdom and gives you the courage to follow through. This book reshapes your understanding of risk-taking and commitment and offers a radical approach to achieving results for both personal and professional goals.
Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things by Adam Grant
This book provides an insightful examination of how we can achieve more by recognizing and developing the hidden potential within ourselves and others. I like that the author pushes the idea that your true potential should not be measured merely by your accomplishments but by how hard you worked to get there.
Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World by Adam Grant and Sheryl Sandberg
With a personal tagline that reads: Breaking out of average, it is no surprise that I am a big fan of outside-of-the-box thinking. This book teaches you how to recognize a good idea, foster respectful dissent to gain valuable insights, and improve the status quo across multiple disciplines. I love it when my thought process is challenged and this book delivered.
10x Is Easier Than 2x: How World-Class Entrepreneurs Achieve More by Doing Less by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy
This book’s "10X" concept revolutionizes the understanding of growth by presenting it not as a daunting increase in workload, but as a strategic shift in mindset. It focuses on expanding four key freedoms: time, money, relationships, and purpose, and challenges you to view incremental improvements for exponential growth. The shift in understanding productivity in this sense has been wildly helpful.
Who Not How by Dan Sullivan and Benjamin Hardy
This book challenges your deeply ingrained mindset of the “how” and flips it to “who.” This shift is incredibly important for leaders and entrepreneurs who wear many hats and are finding their growth stagnant. This book helps you understand exactly where to put your energy and where to delegate for exponential growth.
The Hard Thing About Hard Things: Building a Business When There Are No Easy Answers by Ben Horowitz
This gives a candid account of what it takes to build a successful start-up. We commonly like to glamourize the life of a startup founder, especially Silicon Valley startup founders, and I appreciate the author’s raw and real wisdom that guides both seasoned founders and entrepreneurs alike through the challenges of business.
Bold: How to Go Big, Create Wealth and Impact the World by Peter H. Diamandis and Steven Kotler
As someone who prides himself on constantly seeking to understand and test out the newest technologies and innovations, I appreciated the practical strategies this book provided for leveraging exponential technologies and empowering you to transform your audacious ideas into world-altering realities.
Abundance: The Future Is Better Than You Think by Peter H. Diamandis and Steven Kotler
Another pivotal book in the Exponential Technology Series, this book focuses on challenging the status quo by offering a hopeful outlook for the future. The authors predict how exponential progress in fields like AI, robotics, and synthetic biology is poised to solve humanity's greatest challenges and offer a rose-colored look at all the creative potential the future holds thanks to new technologies.
Music to Inspire:
When I am not reading, I am probably listening to music. Music helps me get out of my head and into a flow state. Whether I am on my morning walk or working on a complicated obstacle at work, music is my creative problem-solving companion. There is a lot of research that shows just how impactful music can be when it comes to creativity and free thought—I highly recommend adding it to your creative arsenal. In fact, I’ve compiled my favorite music into one playlist to get you started.
Incredibly, the above selection represents only a fraction of the mind-expanding resources I've discovered. I'm excited to share even more of my favorite books, podcasts, and other materials in a future blog. In the meantime, I'd love to hear about your go-to sources for creativity and intellectual growth. What books, podcasts, music, or other media have transformed your thinking? Share your top picks in the comments and let's build a collective treasure trove of inspiration!