Given my whole of life approach I am reluctant to categorise things into "business" and "personal" because of the interconnectedness of it all.
A couple of the titles don't have a business bent at all but I feel like they absolutely need a mention.
So in No particular order:
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People - Stephen Covey
Rework - Jason Fried
Traction - Gino Wickman
The Power of Now - Eckhart Tolle
No More Mr Nice Guy - Robert Glover
The 15 Commitments of Conscious leadership - Jim Dethmer, Diana Chapman
The Way of the Superior man - David Deida
Start Something that matters - Blake Mycoskie
Daring Greatly - Brene Brown
Getting things Done - David Allen
And Why:
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People - Stephen Covey
Read this book when I was circa 18 and many times since. Had a profound impact on me. Covey's age old principles, the idea of big rocks, perspective and consciously setting out to living a life of integrity and service all struck a chord and have influenced the way that I have approached my life
Rework - Jason Fried
A relatively recent read and was surprised that I had not read it before or even heard of it. Love the no bullshit approach and the emphasis on keeping it all really simple and really useful. So refreshing
The Power of Now - Eckhart Tolle
I was fortunate to read it before he became famous. Picked it up in the very late 90's out of a friends bookshelf as we waited for dinner. I ended up declining dinner, sitting on the couch and reading it in its entirety. The question and swer format was perfect and the book literally blew me away. It transformed so much and answered so much. It was an absolute gift on my own search
No More Mr Nice Guy - Robert Glover
I was not sure whether to add this because the nice guy syndrome wasn't really my thing but it was a book that has resonated and has supported countless others and there is so much to be said for powerful and clear boundary setting
Traction - Gino Wickman
As a founder owner this book is like e secret sauce. Its practical approach to how to run a business is a game changer when applied. I have operated using traction / EOS with different levels of success related only to how bought in all stakeholders are and how consistently it is followed. I am fortunate that the Pillars runs on traction
The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership - Jim Dethmer, Diana Chapman
The tools, paradimgs and distinctions in this book are incredibly clear and incredibly helpul and are conveyed clearly
The Way of the Superior man - David Deida
It felt important to include this book because it is at the source of mens work and the martial arts journey for me and ultimately at the source of what I believe an integrated human occurs like. Noby explains this concept or conveys it quite like Deida and it is so wonderful in its clarity around the maculine and feminine polarities as energies and as distinct from gender (penis and vagina)
Start Something that matters - Blake Mycoskie
I loved the Tom's story and it was pivotal in inspiring me to create the You Move Me Project, a charity that provided prosthetic limbs to amputees in Bolivia and being the difference that I wished to see in the world
Daring Greatly - Brene Brown
The power of vulnerability in all dynamics, whether at home, work or in community is so perfectly explained by Brene Brown. I regard Brene Brown and Esther Perel as my two most important female mentors.
Getting things Done - David Allen
The ultimate book on Time Management and how best to do what we do. GTD was one of the key influences of my fascination with how we spend our time and why it is the key element of how to live with purpose.