50 Audiobooks Listening Challenge 2021.

January 2, 2021 In Book Challenge 2 Mins Read

In 2020, I experimented with listening to 50 audiobooks and was able to listen to 38. In 2021, I am committing to listening to 50 audiobooks by December 31st, 2021.

Strategy

Buy one Audiobook every month which comes with my monthly subscription on Audible.com
Borrow Audiobooks from the Public Library
Re-Listen to more audiobooks in my compilation as I have come to realize that with repeated listens I get the concepts better.

Listening Times –

First thing in the morning and last thing in the evening.
While in commute and in the Gym.

Here are the audiobooks I’m listening to

January

February

April

Awakening the Entrepreneur Within: How Ordinary People Can Create Extraordinary Companies by Michael E. Gerber.
Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff . . . and It’s All Small Stuff by Richard Carlson.
How Will You Measure Your Life? by Clayton M. Christensen.

May

100 Books Reading Challenge 2021

January 1, 2021 In Book Challenge 3 Mins Read

Goal: Read 100 Books by December 31st 2021.

100 Books Reading Challenge 2020

January – 8

February -10

March – 11

April – 11

Finish What You Start: The Art of Following Through, Taking Action, Executing, & Self-Discipline by Peter Hollins.
Real Estate Titans: 7 Key Lessons from the World’s Top Real Estate Investors by Erez Cohen.
Enough: True Measures of Money, Business, and Life by John C. Bogle.
Leading Digital: Turning Technology into Business Transformation by George Westerman et al.
Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking, by Malcolm Gladwell.
The Now Habit: A Strategic Program for Overcoming Procrastination and Enjoying Guilt-Free Play by Neil Fiore.
Why Digital Transformations Fail: The Surprising Disciplines of How to Take Off and Stay Ahead by Tony Saldanha
Working Backwards: Insights, Stories, and Secrets from Inside Amazon by Colin Bryar and Bill Carr.
Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, a Young Man, and Life’s Greatest Lesson by Mitch Albom.
Competing in the Age of AI by Marco Iansiti and Karim R. Lakhani.
The Age of Surveillance Capitalism by Shoshana Zuboff.

Book Summary – Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear.

March 22, 2020 In Book Challenge 8 Mins Read

Print | Kindle (eBook) | Audiobook

Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate.― Carl Jung

In the book Atomic Habits by Author James Clear shares the step-by-step plan for building better habits, why tiny atomic changes can make a big difference in forming good and breaking bad habits. The book is rich with insights, examples, anecdotes, and real-life scenarios and is easy to connect with.

The book expands on the concepts earlier shared by Charles Duhigg, in his book The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business. Atomic Habits are tiny changes with marginal gains, 1% improvement, tiny incremental changes which if sustained for a long period of time leads to significant changes.

Habits are like the atoms of our lives. Each one is a fundamental unit that contributes to your overall improvement. At first, these tiny routines seem insignificant, but soon they build on each other and fuel bigger wins that multiply to a degree that far outweighs the cost of their initial investment.

The basic premise of the book is that small incremental changes lead to long term result. Here are some the ways have been using the atomic habits to enhance my productivity:

50 Audiobooks listening Challenge 2020

March 18, 2020 In Book Challenge 3 Mins Read

I would be experimenting with listening to 50 audiobooks by December 31st, 2020. Audiobooks and podcasts are my favorite learning strategies in my quest to get better daily.

Strategy

Buy one Audiobook every month which comes with my monthly subscription on Audible.com
Borrow Audiobooks from the Public Library
Re-Listen to more audiobooks in my compilation as I have come to realize that with repeated listens I get the concepts better.

Listening Times –

First thing in the morning and last thing in the evening.
While in commute and in the Gym.

Book Summary – Unfu*k Yourself: Get Out of Your Head and into Your Life by Gary John Bishop

March 10, 2020 In Book Challenge 13 Mins Read

In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing – Theodore Roosevelt

Print | Kindle (eBook) | Audiobook

In Unfu*k Yourself, Bishop explains the concept of Getting out of your head with a series of seven assertions:

I am willing.
I am wired to win.
I got this.
I embrace the uncertainty.
I am not my thoughts; I am what I do.
I am relentless.
I expect nothing and accept everything.

Assertion One: I am Willing

Willingness is a state in which we can engage with life and see a situation from a new perspective. It starts with you and ends with you.

How to Read 100 Books in a Year

February 25, 2020 In Book Challenge 5 Mins Read

I first explored the idea of reading 100 books in a year in 2016. It was part of my new year resolution and have tried to do it yearly ever since: a

2016

Goal: Read 100 Hardcover Books
Outcome: Read 50+ Books by December 31st 2016

2017:

Goal: Read 100 Books from my Amazon Kindle.
Outcome: Read 80+ Books by December 31st 2017

2018:

Goal: Read 100 Books from my Amazon Kindle
Outcome: Read 10+ but stopped to make & execute some life decisions (Relocation et al)

2019:

I did not set the goal to read 100 Books but read some books: was not counting but I guess I read 20+ books all year round.

I am presently committed to reading 100 books in 2020 through my 100 Books reading Challenge, You might be wondering how do I intend to read 100 books in 365 days? Here are the strategies that would enable Me (you) achieve it:

Start with Why

100 Books Reading Challenge 2020

February 16, 2020 In Book Challenge 8 Mins Read

Goal Read 100 Books by December 31st 2020

January 2020-7

Relentless: True Story Of The Man Behind Rogers Communications by Ted Rogers
MONEY Master the Game: 7 Simple Steps to Financial Freedom by Tony Robbins
Tools and Weapons: The Promise and the Peril of the Digital Age by Brad Smith
Broke Millennial: Stop Scraping By and Get Your Financial Life Together by Erin Lowry
The Infinite Game by Simon Sinek
Unshakeable: Your Financial Freedom Playbook by Tony Robbins
Stillness Is the Key by Ryan Holiday

February 2020 – 9

Thrive: The Third Metric to Redefining Success and Creating a Life of Well-Being, Wisdom, and Wonder by Arianna Huffington
Artificial Intelligence: Modern Magic or Dangerous Future? by Yoris Wilkis
Secrets of the Millionaire Mind: Mastering the Inner Game of Wealth by T. Harv Eker
12 Rules of Life: An Antidote to Chaos by Jordan B. Peterson
The Next Millionaire Next Door: Enduring Strategies for Building Wealth by Thomas J. Stanley Ph.D
Rethinking Reputation: How PR Trumps Marketing and Advertising in the New Media World by Fraser P. Seitel
Factfulness: Ten Reasons We’re Wrong About the World — and Why Things Are Better Than You ThinkBook by Anna Rosling Rönnlund
Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin
Unfu*k Yourself: Get Out of Your Head and into Your Life by Gary John Bishop (7/10): Print | Kindle (eBook) | Audiobook | Book Summary

March 2020 -11

1. Africa’s Business Revolution: How to Succeed in the World’s Next Big Growth Market Hardcover – by Acha Leke , Musta Chironga , George Desvaux

2. Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy by Héctor García

3. Stop Doing That Sh*t: End Self-Sabotage and Demand Your Life Back (Unfu*k Yourself series) by Gary Bishop

4. The Decadent Society: How We Became the Victims of Our Own Success by Ross Douthat

5. The Five Dysfunctions of a Team By Patrick Lencioni (7/10): Print | Kindle (eBook) | Audiobook | Book Summary

6. Option B by Sheryl Sandberg and Adam Grant (8/10): Print | Kindle (eBook) | Audiobook | Book Summary

7. Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear (9/10): Print | Kindle (eBook) | Audiobook | Book Summary

8. The ABCs of Success: The Essential Principles from America’s Greatest Prosperity Teacher by Bob Proctor

9. No Limits: Blow the CAP Off Your Capacity by John C. Maxwell

10. Good Leaders Ask Great Questions: Your Foundation for Successful Leadership by John C. Maxwell

11. The Leader’s Greatest Return: Attracting, Developing, and Multiplying Leaders by John C. Maxwell

April 2020 – 9

How to Lead When Your Boss Can’t (Or Won’t) by John C. Maxwell
Put Your Dream to the Test: 10 Questions to Help You See It and Seize It by John C. Maxwell
Thinking for a Change: 11 Ways Highly Successful People Approach Life and Work by John Maxwell
The War of Art by Steven Pressfield (8/10): Print | Kindle (eBook) | Audiobook | Book Summary
The Dip: A Little Book That Teaches You When to Quit (and When to Stick) by Seth Godin
The Art of the Start 2.0 by Guy Kawasaki (9/10): Print | Kindle (eBook) | Audiobook | Book Summary
The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of the Walt Disney Company by Bob Iger (9/10): Print | Kindle (eBook) | Audiobook | Book Summary
The 80/20 Principle: The Secret to Achieving More with Less by Richard Koch (7/10): Print | Kindle (eBook) | Audiobook | Book Summary
Do the Work by Steven Pressfield ((7/10) : Print | Kindle (eBook) | Audiobook | Book Summary

May 2020-8

Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind: Informal Talks on Zen Meditation and Practice by Shunryu Suzuki
The Leadership Challenge by James Kouzes and Barry Posner (8/10): Print | Kindle (eBook) | Audiobook | Book Summary
Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown (9/10): Print | Kindle (eBook) | Audiobook | Book Summary
Hustle Harder, Hustle Smarter by Curtis Jackson (50 Cent) (8/10): Print | Kindle(eBook) | Audiobook | Book Summary
A Complaint Free World by Will Bowen (9/10): Print | Kindle (eBook) | Audiobook | Book Summary
On Writing Well by William Zinsser (8/10): Print | Kindle (eBook) | AudioBook | Book Summary
The Leadership Gap: What Gets Between You and Your Greatness by Lolly Daskal (7/10): Print | Kindle (eBook) | Audiobook | Book Summary
Daily Rituals: How Artists Work by Mason Currey

June 2020-6

Your Money or Your Life: 9 Steps to Transforming Your Relationship with Money and Achieving Financial Independence (8/10): Print | eBook (Kindle) | Audiobook | Book Summary
No Excuses!: The Power of Self-Discipline by Brian Tracy
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King (9/10): Print | eBook(Kindle) | Audiobook | Book Summary
Rising Strong by Brené Brown (8/10): Print | eBook (Kindle) | Audiobook | Book Summary
The Courage to Be Disliked by Ichiro Kishimi & Fumitake Koga (9/10) : Print | eBook (kindle) | Audiobook | Book Summary
The Effective Executive by Peter Drucker (9/10): Print | eBook (Kindle) | Audiobook | Book Summary

July:7

The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy (9/10): Print | eBook(Kindle) | Audiobook | Book Summary
168 Hours by Laura Vanderkam (7/10): Print | Kindle (ebook) | Audiobook | Book Summary
The Gift: Creativity and the Artist in the Modern World by Lewis Hyde
Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill (10/10): Print | Kindle | Audiobook | Book Summary
The Power of Positive Leadership by Jon Gordon (7/10): Print | Kindle(eBook) | Audiobook | Book Summary
I Will Teach You to Be Rich, No Guilt. No Excuses. No BS. Just a 6-Week Program That Works by Ramit Sethi
The Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White

August -9

The Top Five Regrets of the Dying by Bronnie Ware (9/10): Print | Kindle (eBook) | Audiobook | Book Summary
She Said: Breaking the Sexual Harassment Story That Helped Ignite a Movement by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey
The Gift of Fear by Gavin De Becker (9/10): Print | Kindle(eBook) | Audiobook | Book Summary
Irresistible: The Rise of Addictive Technology and the Business of Keeping Us Hooked by Adam Alter (9/10): Print | Kindle (eBook) | Audiobook | Book Summary
Remote: Office Not Required by Jason Fried
Chess Not Checkers: Elevate Your Leadership Game by Mark Miller (7/10): Print | Kindle(eBook) | Audiobook | Book Summary
Everything Is Figureoutable by Marie Forleo (8/10): Print | eBook (Kindle) | Audiobook | Book Summary
How Life Imitates Chess by Garry Kasparov (8/10): Print | eBook (Kindle) | Audiobook | Book Summary
Developing the Leader Within You 2.0 by John C. Maxwell (9/10): Print | Kindle (eBook) | Audiobook | Book Summary

September- 6

10) : Print | Kindle(eBook) | Audiobook | Book Summary
6. Smarter Faster Better: The Transformative Power of Real Productivity by Charles Duhigg. Print | Kindle(eBook) | Audiobook | Book Summary

October-7

Ten Arguments for Deleting Your Social Media Accounts Right Now by Jaron Lanier. (9/10): Print | Kindle(eBook) | Audiobook | Book Summary
The Catalyst: How to Change Anyone’s Mind by Jonah Berger. (9/10): Print | Kindle(eBook) | Audiobook | Book Summary
The Intelligence Trap: Why Smart People Make Dumb Mistakes by David Robson (8/10): Print | Kindle(eBook) | Audiobook | Book Summary
Purple Cow: Transform Your Business by Being Remarkable by Seth Godin.(8/10): Print | Kindle(eBook) | Audiobook | Book Summary
Grinding It Out: The Making of McDonald’s by Ray Kroc. Print | Kindle(eBook) | Audiobook | Book Summary
Anger: Taming a Powerful Emotion by Gary Chapman. (8/10): Print | Kindle(eBook) | Audiobook | Book Summary
Wisdom at Work: The Making of a Modern Elder by Chip Conley. (8/10): Print | Kindle(eBook) | Audiobook | Book Summary

November -6

Radical Acceptance: Awakening the Love that Heals Fear and Shame by Tara Brach.(8/10): Print | Kindle(eBook) | Audiobook | Book Summary
Radical Candor: How to Get What You Want by Saying What You Mean by Kim Scott. (7/10): Print | Kindle(eBook) | Audiobook | Book Summary
Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within by Natalie Goldberg. (8/10): Print | Kindle(eBook) | Audiobook | Book Summary3
Invent and Wander: The Collected Writings of Jeff Bezos (9/10): Print | Kindle(eBook) | Audiobook | Book Summary
Trillion Dollar Coach: The Leadership Playbook of Silicon Valley’s Bill Campbell. (9/10): Print | Kindle(eBook) | Audiobook | Book Summary
Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life: Life-Changing Tools for Healthy Relationships by Marshall Rosenberg.(7/10): Print | Kindle(eBook) | Audiobook | Book Summary

December -4

How I Built This: The Unexpected Paths to Success from the World’s Most Inspiring Entrepreneurs by Guy Raz.(8/10): Print | Kindle(eBook) | Audiobook | Book Summary
Late Bloomers: The Power of Patience in a World Obsessed with Early Achievement by Rich Karlgaard. (8/10): Print | Kindle(eBook) | Audiobook | Book Summary
Blue Ocean Strategy by W. Chan Kim and Renee Mauborgne Print | Kindle(eBook) | Audiobook | Book Summary
Winners Take All: The Elite Charade of Changing the World by Anand Giridharadas Print | Kindle(eBook) | Audiobook | Book Summary