Success Advice
7 Powerful Books You Need to Read Right Now That Will Change Your Life Forever
There are no short cuts when it comes to understanding, absorbing and implementing what you read and if you are reading a powerful book that could impact your life, then you want to get into the habit of reading it twice and taking your time to get the most out of the experience.
I’m a big believer in what I call “the long cut” and that carries through to most things I teach and share through my Before5am brand and reading isn’t any different.
Below, is a list of 3 tips that will help you when it comes to reading and absorbing information and knowledge:
1. Read the same book more than once
My rule of thumb is to read a book for the first time for pleasure and as soon as you finish it, turn back to page one and read it again. Doing this, you will be able to fully comprehend and understand the ideas and strategies that are being shared in that book. Always take notes. Grab a hi lighter and don’t be afraid to mark things up in your book.
Think of reading a book as a project. Write important sections down, hi light your favorite quotes from the book. After each chapter, write down on a piece of paper what that chapter was about and what you learned. Find a way that you can implement that chapter into your life or how it is relatable to you.
“A house without books is like a room without windows.” – Horace Mann
2. Make reading work for you
Now I know some of you struggle with focusing for any real length of time, especially when it comes to reading a book, mainly because there are no special effects and no surround sound to keep you engaged. So you have to make reading work for you.
Sometimes you might have to listen to music while you read or maybe you have to find an environment that is close to home that you feel comfortable reading in. Whatever the case may be, do what works for you and if you can only read 10 pages a day before you lose focus, then just do that.
Get yourself into the right frame of mind for reading. If your phone is the main thing that distracts you, then try turning it off while you read. Limit anything that can cause a distraction in your designated reading time. Give yourself a chance to escape into the words of the book you are reading. You will absorb much more by doing that.
3. Review the notes you wrote down
Finally, whenever you finish reading a book, invest some time back into going over your notes and expanding upon the ideas and concepts you have just read. Think about how you can modify and apply them to your life, right now. Like everything else in life, you have to learn to adapt it into your life rather than take it literally. This where most people go wrong when reading books. They don’t make what they’ve read relatable to their own life.
The real shortcut to success is reading a book. Take what you’ve read and implement it into your life. Make sure you are absorbing the information that you are reading and are dissecting each chapter to make sure you understood the lesson or strategy. Once you fully understand what you’ve been reading, you will then be able to make it relatable to your life.
“I do believe something very magical can happen when you read a good book.” – J.K. Rowling
Now that you know how you should read your next book, below I have listed 7 books that you can get started on. These books have changed my life and millions of others around the world. I still read most of these books to this day and I can promise you they won’t disappoint.
7 books that will change your life forever:
- “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho
- “The Richest Man in Babylon” by George S. Clason
- “How to Win Friends and Influence People” by Dale Carnegie
- “Unlimited Power” by Tony Robbins
- “The Compound Effect” by Darren Hardy
- “Purple Cow” by Seth Godin
- “The 10X Rule” by Grant Cardone
Have you read any of these books? If you have, how have they changed your life for the better? Comment below!
Success Advice
What Every New CEO Must Do in Their First 100 Days (or Risk Failure)
Your first 100 days as CEO could define your entire legacy, here’s how to make every move count

When Tim Cook took over from Steve Jobs at Apple, the world watched with bated breath. Jobs wasn’t just a CEO; he was a visionary, an icon, and a legend of innovative leadership. (more…)
Entrepreneurs
The Leadership Shift Every Company Needs in 2025
Struggling to keep your team engaged? Here’s how leaders can turn frustrated employees into loyal advocates.

In workplaces around the world, there’s a growing gap between employers and employees and between superiors and their teams. It’s a common refrain: “People don’t leave companies, they leave bad bosses.”
While there are, of course, cases where management could do better, this isn’t just a “bad boss” problem. The relationship between leaders and employees is complex. Instead of assigning blame, we should explore practical solutions to build stronger, healthier workplaces where everyone thrives.
Why This Gap Exists
Every workplace needs someone to guide, supervise, and provide feedback. That’s essential for productivity and performance. But because there are usually far more employees than managers, dissatisfaction, fair or not, spreads quickly.
What if, instead of focusing on blame, we focused on building trust, empathy, and communication? This is where modern leadership and human-centered management can make a difference.
Tools and Techniques to Bridge the Gap
Here are proven strategies leaders and employees can use to foster stronger relationships and create a workplace where people actually want to stay.
1. Practice Mutual Empathy
Both managers and employees need to recognize they are ultimately on the same team. Leaders have to balance people and performance, and often face intense pressure to hit targets. Employees who understand this reality are more likely to cooperate and problem-solve collaboratively.
2. Maintain Professional Boundaries
Superiors should separate personal issues from professional decision-making. Consistency, fairness, and integrity build trust, and trust is the foundation of a motivated team.
3. Follow the Golden Rule
Treat people how you would like to be treated. This simple principle encourages compassion and respect, two qualities every effective leader must demonstrate.
4. Avoid Micromanagement
Micromanaging stifles creativity and damages morale. Great leaders see themselves as partners, not just bosses, and treat their teams as collaborators working toward a shared goal.
5. Empower Employees to Grow
Empowerment means giving employees responsibility that matches their capacity, and then trusting them to deliver. Encourage them to take calculated risks, learn from mistakes, and problem-solve independently. If something goes wrong, turn it into a learning opportunity, not a reprimand.
6. Communicate in All Directions
Communication shouldn’t just be top-down. Invite feedback, create open channels for suggestions, and genuinely listen to what your people have to say. Healthy upward communication closes gaps before they become conflicts.
7. Overcome Insecurities
Many leaders secretly fear being outshone by younger, more tech-savvy employees. Instead of resisting, embrace the chance to learn from them. Humility earns respect and helps the team innovate faster.
8. Invest in Coaching and Mentorship
True leaders grow other leaders. Provide mentorship, career guidance, and stretch opportunities so employees can develop new skills. Leadership is learned through experience, but guided experience is even more powerful.
9. Eliminate Favoritism
Avoid cliques and office politics. Decisions should be based on facts and fairness, not gossip. Objective, transparent decision-making builds credibility.
10. Recognize Efforts Promptly
Recognition often matters more than rewards. Publicly appreciate employees’ contributions and do so consistently and fairly. A timely “thank you” can be more motivating than a quarterly bonus.
11. Conduct Thoughtful Exit Interviews
When employees leave, treat it as an opportunity to learn. Keep interviews confidential and use the insights to improve management practices and culture.
12. Provide Leadership Development
Train managers to lead, not just supervise. Leadership development programs help shift mindsets from “command and control” to “coach and empower.” This transformation has a direct impact on morale and retention.
13. Adopt Soft Leadership Principles
Today’s workforce, largely millennials and Gen Z, value collaboration over hierarchy. Soft leadership focuses on partnership, mutual respect, and shared purpose, rather than rigid top-down control.
The Bigger Picture: HR’s Role
Mercer’s global research highlights five key priorities for organizations:
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Build diverse talent pipelines
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Embrace flexible work models
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Design compelling career paths
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Simplify HR processes
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Redefine the value HR brings
The challenge? Employers and employees often view these priorities differently. Bridging that perception gap is just as important as bridging the relational gap between leaders and staff.
Treat Employees Like Associates, Not Just Staff
When you treat employees like partners, they bring their best selves to work. HR leaders must develop strategies to keep talent engaged, empowered, and prepared for the future.
Organizational success starts with people, always. Build the relationship with your team first, and the results will follow.
Entrepreneurs
What Makes an Entrepreneurial Leader? Traits of the World’s Best Innovators
Inside the mindset of entrepreneurial leaders who transform risk, passion, and vision into world-changing results.

When you think of Richard Branson (Virgin Group), Bill Gates (Microsoft), Steve Jobs (Apple), Rupert Murdoch (News Corporation), and Ted Turner (CNN), one thing becomes clear: they are not just entrepreneurs, they are entrepreneurial leaders. (more…)
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Building a Business Empire: Lessons from the World’s Boldest Entrepreneurs
Learn essential lessons, success strategies, and mindset shifts every aspiring entrepreneur needs to overcome challenges and build a thriving business.

Back in July 2017, I attended a business seminar on entrepreneurship in India. With my appetite for learning and meeting new people, I wanted to explore the latest developments in the entrepreneurial world. (more…)
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