When I was eleven, my then-boyfriend’s father asked me what I would be if I could be anything in the world. I told him I would be an author. Over a decade in HR leadership has deepened my understanding of workplace narratives. On April 10th, 2021, my mentor Bobby passed away, inspiring me to write "The Energy of Success." His wisdom fueled my mission to capture the transformative power of human connections and inclusive leadership in the workplace. This book is a testament to those stories that shaped my HR journey—rooted in empathy, purpose, and creating thriving environments for all.
I wrote
The Energy of Success: Power Up Your Productivity, Transform Your Habits, and Maximize Workplace Motivation
I loved Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's book because it provided me with an extremely comprehensive understanding of what it means to be in flow and how it allows me to achieve meaningful goals and happiness. I found the definitions, diverse examples, activities, and the effects of being in the flow state incredibly insightful.
Csikszentmihalyi engaged me with scientific studies and challenged me to evaluate the differences between pleasure and enjoyment. Additionally, the book helped me understand my own self-consciousness and ego as they relate to finding flow.
“Csikszentmihalyi arrives at an insight that many of us can intuitively grasp, despite our insistent (and culturally supported) denial of this truth. That is, it is not what happens to us that determines our happiness, but the manner in which we make sense of that reality. . . . The manner in which Csikszentmihalyi integrates research on consciousness, personal psychology and spirituality is illuminating.” —Los Angeles Times Book Review
The bestselling classic that holds the key to unlocking meaning, creativity, peak performance, and true happiness.
Legendary psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's famous investigations of "optimal experience" have revealed that what makes an…
I loved Adam Grant's book because he is a great storyteller who entices me with tantalizing examples of how to think like a scientist and lead with inquisition. The book not only challenged me to think differently but also shared practical tools to empower me to question my initial reactions or beliefs when presented with opposing opinions or challenges.
Grant does a great job of explaining the complex topic of what being open-minded really means. He made it easy for me to read and digest so I could put his lessons into practice and see immediate results.
"THIS. This is the right book for right now. Yes, learning requires focus. But, unlearning and relearning requires much more-it requires choosing courage over comfort. In Think Again, Adam Grant weaves together research and storytelling to help us build the intellectual and emotional muscle we need to stay curious enough about the world to actually change it. I've never felt so hopeful about what I don't know." -Brene Brown, Ph.D., #1 New York Times bestselling author of Dare to Lead
The bestselling author of Give and Take and Originals examines the critical art of rethinking:…
I loved Daniel Coyle's book because he emphasizes the importance of creating a strong foundation of trust, honesty, and vulnerability whenever I am building a team. From there, he dives into purpose, providing me and my organization with a platform to discover what drives our mission.
Coyle’s examples are insightful and actionable, empowering me with numerous tools to create a motivational workplace culture comprised of successful, unified groups.
'A marvel of insight and practicality' Charles Duhigg, author of The Power of Habit ____________________________
How do you build and sustain a great team?
The Culture Code reveals the secrets of some of the best teams in the world - from Pixar to Google to US Navy SEALs - explaining the three skills such groups have mastered in order to generate trust and a willingness to collaborate. Combining cutting-edge science, on-the-ground insight and practical ideas for action, it offers a roadmap for creating an environment where innovation flourishes, problems get solved, and expectations are exceeded.…
I loved Patti McCord’s book because her voice is direct, concise, and easy to follow. I appreciated how she challenged me to think about traditional Human Resource (HR) practices, showcasing how the workforce shifts quickly and consistently in a tech-startup world.
This made it clear to me that HR and leadership practices must shift just as quickly and consistently to match the culture of the organization. McCord did a great job of providing a summary of questions and action items at the end of each chapter, empowering me with tools and takeaways.
In Powerful, Patty McCord shares what she learned at Netflix and elsewhere in Silicon Valley. Advocating the practice of radical honesty in the workplace, saying good-bye to employees who don't fit the company's emerging needs, and motivating with challenging work, not promises, perks, and bonus plans.McCord argues that the old standbys of corporate HR - annual performance reviews, retention plans, employee empowerment and engagement programs - often end up being a colossal waste of time and resources. Her road-tested advice, offered with humour and irreverence, provides readers a different path for creating a culture of high performance and profitability. Powerful…
I loved Kim Scott's book because she provides specific recommendations that I can use to improve my communication skills and enhance my team’s productivity. She focuses on foundational elements that build a strong culture in today’s modern workforce, leading with transparency and authenticity.
The book is a fun read and offers actionable takeaways that I can use immediately in my workplace and in my personal life.
Featuring a new preface, afterword and Radically Candid Performance Review Bonus Chapter, the fully revised & updated edition of Radical Candor is packed with even more guidance to help you improve your relationships at work.
'Reading Radical Candor will help you build, lead, and inspire teams to do the best work of their lives.' - Sheryl Sandberg, author of Lean In.
If you don't have anything nice to say then don't say anything at all . . . right?
While this advice may work for home life, as Kim Scott has seen first hand, it is a disaster when adopted…
In my book, I reveal how to shift your physical, emotional, and mental potential through proven, easy-to-use strategies you can start today. By learning to shift your own and your team's energy (even if you're not in charge!), you'll immediately boost their joy and enthusiasm, transform your workplace, and infuse positivity into your environment.
The book outlines five energetic success principles with practical steps to enhance your life and positively influence those around you. You'll discover key takeaways to empower others and manage your energy levels at work, critical insights on shifting your team's focus from challenges to innovative solutions, and techniques to control your responses to external factors at work, home, and beyond.
I’m an OB/GYN, passionate about adventuring beyond what’s expected. This has led me to pivot multiple times in my career, now focusing on writing. I’ve written a play, The Post-Roe Monologues, to elevate women’s stories. I cherish the curiosity that drives outer and inner exploration, and I love memoirs that skillfully weave the two. The books on this list feature extraordinary women who took risks, left comfort and safety, and battled vulnerability to step into the unknown. These authors moved beyond the stories they’d believed about themselves–or that others told about them. They invite you to think about living fuller and bigger lives.
Tap Dancing on Everest, part coming-of-age memoir, part true-survival adventure story, is about a young medical student, the daughter of a Holocaust survivor raised in N.Y.C., who battles self-doubt to serve as the doctor—and only woman—on a remote Everest climb in Tibet.
The team attempts a new route up the East Face without the use of supplemental oxygen, Sherpa support, or chance for rescue. When three climbers disappear during their summit attempt, Zieman reaches the knife edge of her limits and digs deeply to fight for the climbers’ lives and to find her voice.
Tap Dancing on Everest: A Young Doctor's Unlikely Adventure
The plan was outrageous: A small team of four climbers would attempt a new route on the East Face of Mt. Everest, considered the most remote and dangerous side of the mountain, which had only been successfully climbed once before. Unlike the first large team, Mimi Zieman and her team would climb without using supplemental oxygen or porter support. While the unpredictable weather and high altitude of 29,035 feet make climbing Everest perilous in any condition, attempting a new route, with no idea of what obstacles lay ahead, was especially audacious. Team members were expected to push themselves to their…
