Canadian Motivational Professional Inspirational Keynote Speaker Daren Wride, Canada BC Okanagan, Good Reads

Recommended Books

In order to remain fresh and current as a keynote speaker, I am always reading.
Here is a list and brief synopsis of ten significant books in my life. -Daren Wride

Increasing Your Leadership Confidence, by Bobb Biehl

I picked this book up in December of 1989 and it has become a guide I will refer to for the rest of my life. With lists of questions and applications on key aspects of leadership and personal development, there is something here for everyone at every stage of their development.

The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, by Stephen Covey

You are most likely familiar with this landmark book. In the early ‘90’s when I read it, it launched me solidly into priority-based planning and time management.

The Power of Full Engagement, by Jim Loehr & Tony Schwartz

The focus of this book is on “managing energy, not time.” In fact, the authors argue that the true purpose of time management is energy management. They also give many guidelines on how to begin increasing your energy immediately.

The Power of Simplicity, by Jack Trout

Yeah, I guess I like “the power of...” titles. You may know of Jack Trout from his classic Positioning. I bought this book based on the title and the dedication line (“Dedicated to the overwhelmed and the confused who sense there’s a simpler way”) and was not disappointed. While he takes shots at popular organizational, leadership, and management ideas, he is ultimately on a rampage against unnecessary complexity.

Goals, by Brian Tracy

A very thorough treatment of the topic of goal setting and achievement. If goal setting is a basic part of your operational strategy, and especially if you are a speaker who addresses the topic, buying and digesting a copy of this book is probably worth your time.

Never Eat Alone, by Keith Ferrazzi

This networking manual, whose author is considered by some to be the most connected person in the world, is the antidote to both tacky networking and a fear of networking. With a high emphasis on genuine friendship and value added interactions, practical advice I could adopt immediately, and sidebars highlighting individuals from Ferrazzi’s “Connector’s Hall of Fame,” I consider this my top read of 2006.

On Writing, by Stephen King

Even if you are not in the target audience for this book (aspiring novelists) nor a big fan of Stephen King, his masterful use of the English language sets a high standard for communicators of all stripes. I’ve been tempted to sleep with this book under my pillow in hopes that some of his clarity, discipline, and focus will rub off on me

The Innovator’s Dilemma, by Clayton Christensen

An innocent research foray into the topic of innovation resulted in my being blind-sided by this book. Using some compelling case studies, the author builds a strong case for the inability of existing organizations to create or even respond to “disruptive” (versus sustaining) innovations, leaving them vulnerable to the young, nimble organizations that create those disruptions. The implications of his theory touch organizations of every kind, including non-profits, and by the time I got to the end of the book it was a foregone conclusion that I would be reading his follow-up, The Innovator’s Solution.

The One Thing You Need to Know, by Marcus Buckingham

The subtitle, “...about great managing, great leading, and sustained individual success” reveals this book’s structure. You will not necessarily agree with his conclusions, but simply wrestling though the process of considering what is most important in each of these areas will challenge and strengthen your convictions. If nothing else, find a copy of the book and flip through it until you find The One Thing You Need to Know About Sustained Personal Success. It could lead to a significant shift in your life.

The Bible

In addition to providing a record of the life and teaching of Jesus of Nazareth, one of the most significant shapers of world history, books like Proverbs (which was complied about 1000 B.C.) give snippets of ancient wisdom that have obvious application to our lives today. Newer translations like The Message provide a fresh phraseology, while the King James Version of 1611 is a showcase of the finest writing of that day.