The Wisdom That Changed My Life: 11 Must-Read Books

Last month I celebrated my 59th.

It had me reflecting on the biggest influences that rerouted my path, especially the books that shaped my mindset, my career, my health, and even my view of the universe.

These aren't just books I enjoyed.

They are turning points that literally changed how I live.

Some helped me become a better teacher, others taught me discipline and financial independence, and a few opened up my sense of purpose.

Here's the list in the same order I cover them, with a personal note on why each mattered to me.

Mindset, Self-Discovery

Don't Sweat the Small Stuff, Richard Carlson

I stumbled into this book in 1997 after literally knocking over a stack of them in Barnes & Noble. It sparked my lifelong love of self-help. Its short chapters and practical reminders taught me to let go of stress and focus on what actually matters, which helped me lead my teams (and my life) with a clearer head.

You'll See It When You Believe It, Wayne Dyer
This is the book I've re-read more than any other, sometimes daily for weeks at a time. Dyer's lessons on manifestation and the "seven attachments" helped me release ego, control, and the need to be right, which created more peace and focus in every area of my life.

Stumbling on Happiness, Daniel Gilbert
Gilbert proves we're never as happy or as sad as we think we'll be, because we can't fully predict our future selves. This freed me from chasing perfection and helped me embrace the journey, knowing joy comes more from growth than from reaching the finish line.

Storytelling, Career Transformation

Made to Stick, Chip and Dan Heath
A dearly-departed friend gifted me this book in December 2007, and it completely changed how I thought about communication. Its framework for making ideas memorable became the foundation of my Interview Intervention methodology, and eventually the blueprint for the storytelling systems I still teach today.

Interview Intervention, Yours Truly
I wrote this book in just five weeks at the end of 2011, and it completely transformed my career. For the first time, I captured years of coaching into a system anyone could use, and that was the first official step that turned me from recruiter to teacher to author.

Choice, Goals, Perspective 

This Is Water, David Foster Wallace
This slim book, adapted from a 2005 commencement speech, is one of the most powerful I've read. Wallace's simple but profound message, that you can choose what to think about, has reshaped how I approach daily life, teaching me to stay present and compassionate in the middle of life's noise. It also served at the stimulation for the next book on this list.

Out of Reach But in Sight, Me Again
Born from a keynote I gave to scholarship students, I turned the speech into a book. Capturing timeless lessons on setting and pursuing goals, it later evolved into my Goal Setting Masterclass and proved how small steps can inspire big transformations.

Wealth, Health

The Millionaire Next Door, Thomas Stanley and William Danko
At 30, this book confirmed that wealth is