Whether you want to reach new heights in your professional or personal life, there’s no better group of people to learn from than those who have overcome enormous challenges and gone on to attain great success. The next time you are in need of some inspiration, check out these books by world-class leaders.
1. “Onward: How Starbucks Fought for Its Life without Losing Its Soul” by Howard Schultz and Joanne Gordon
In 2008, former CEO of Starbucks Howard Schultz returned to the ailing coffee company with the intention of turning it around. Needless to say, thanks to his realistic but determined leadership mindset, he succeeded. This is his account of the steps he took to preserve one of America’s most iconic chains.
2. “The Trusted Executive: Nine Leadership Habits that Inspire Results, Relationships and Reputation” by Paul Polman and John Blakey
John Blakey is an internationally recognized leader in the art of teaching people to lead in a time of increased scrutiny and scepticism from the general public. He explains how it is more necessary than ever before that leaders develop their abilities, integrity, and benevolence. By following his three-part approach, you too can win the trust of those who follow you.
3. “Bold: How to Go Big, Create Wealth and Impact the World” by Peter H. Diamandis
Peter H. Diamandis explains how, thanks to the rise of various new technologies and access to crowdfunding, entrepreneurs and small businesses can make a bigger and faster impact than ever before. In this book, he takes the reader through the steps required to become a leader in their field by leveraging digital and social resources.
4. “The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective People” by Stephen R. Covey
Stephen R. Covey is one of the most famous writers to tackle personal change, growth, and leadership. The ideas within this book have been implemented by numerous CEOs around the world, which made the late Covey a highly respected leader and businessman in his own right.
5. “Shift: Inside Nissan’s Historic Revival” by Carlos Ghosn
In 1999, car company Nissan was on the verge of bankruptcy. Fortunately, a new COO by the name of Carlos Ghosn was appointed to turn everything around. His astonishing success, which began when he undertook an extensive in-depth examination of every facet of the business, is laid out in this book.
6. “Like A Virgin: Secrets They Won’t Teach You At Business School” by Sir Richard Branson
The successful owner of multiple companies, Richard Branson learned through experience rather than formal education. In his book, he explains how you too can attain phenomenal success by listening to those who work for you, daring to break the rules, and enjoying your work as much as possible. He makes a convincing argument for the power of rule-breaking, and why many business conventions actually stifle many peoples’ leadership potential and creativity.
7. “My Own Words” by Ruth Bader Ginsburg
A Supreme Court Justice since 1993 and one of the most powerful women in recent US history, Bader Ginsburgtackles a wide range of topics relating to success and what it takes to make a change to society.
8. “Can’t Is Not An Option: My American Story” by Nikki Haley
The daughter of Sikh immigrants from the Punjab, Nikki Haley recounts her journey from a young girl who helped run her parents’ clothing business after school to her present-day position as Governor of South Carolina. After college, Haley embarked on a mission to change legislation in such a way that would leave many small businesses in the US better able to thrive. Along the way, she and her family have faced prejudice and racism. This memoir is an inspiring story about one woman’s determination to never give up despite encountering numerous obstacles as she embarked on pursuit of her goals.
Featured photo credit: Yukiko Matsuoka via flickr.com
