The end of summer means kids are going back to school, but for us adults, the work never stopped. Even for teachers, summer consists of making lesson plans or even working a second job. But we must admit that summer can be a little distracting, what with Summer Fridays, vacation, and warm weather. As autumn approaches, it’s time to get back in the groove and get motivated again.
Luckily, Ballast Books can help you out! Here are five books that will jumpstart your brain and get you back into work mode.
As the sun sets early and the temperature gets colder, it’s especially important as a leader to know how to motivate and guide your team well. With The Steady Leader, learn how to lead your company, your team, and even yourself. Leading really has one true tenet: taking care of people. To be a steady leader, you must enable others—and yourself—to be the best. Whether you’re a leader now or striving to be one, this book can help you become the person you want to be.
This spunky and inspiring memoir follows Susan Quinn, the first person to build a live text streaming platform in the days of the early internet. As a single mother and a tech visionary blazing the trail for women, Quinn had to navigate the struggles of protecting her family, confronting generational abuse, and being early to a brand-new industry. But she did it all—and you can too. Digital Odyssey will show you how to go on your own journey to success.
Learn how to define your own success and improve your work ethic from a former Navy SEAL. Magallan uses the spear as an analogy for the workplace, both civilian and military. The “elite” (e.g., SEALs, executives, star athletes) make up the tip of the spear, but Magallan posits that anyone can make it there, no matter their job, and that every part of the spear is important and necessary. It all comes down to hard work, sacrifice, and choice. In Tip of the Spear, you’ll examine your own “normal” life and discover the value you add regardless of your position, empowering you to reach your full potential.
We spend tens of thousands of hours of our lives at work, but that doesn’t mean we should have to change who we are just to fit the “culture.” When Michelle immigrated to the US with her family, escaping a war, she still had to stay in survival mode, silencing herself so she could be accepted. Especially as she entered the workplace, she found herself wearing a mask. What she realized was that if she wanted to truly thrive, she had to go from stifling herself to embracing herself. Unmask Your Brilliance will guide you away from normalized toxic corporate culture and toward a future where we refuse to conform, no matter the pressure.
In our fast-paced society, we tend to place a high value on material and external success. As we head into the colder months of the year, it’s important to remind yourself what really matters: purpose, joy, and growth. We can find all these things in our personal lives but also in our professional lives. You will be much more motivated in your work if you see it as a place where you can complete milestones and find genuine purpose. A Small Book for a BIG Life will help you reach that mindset!
Summer is coming to a close, and we must all find new ways to motivate ourselves as it gets darker and colder outside. Check out the Ballast Books website for more—or submit your own idea for a motivational book!