The Motivator 1 | Page 13

October 2017– THE MOTIVATOR – Page 13 TOP 10 – Continued from page 9 decidedly quirky--that define my forty- six years of life. Sitting there, I knew that despite the cancer, I truly believed I was a lucky man because I had lived out these dreams.” 5. Don't Sweat the Small Stuff This book is what you might call "reverse inspiration." It explains why the uninspiring and stress- inspiring elements of your life aren't important and can safely be, if not ignored, at least handled without much effort. By laying out a way to deal with the trivialities of life, Richard Carlson has probably set more inspiration free than any author who's addressed the subject matter directly. Best quote: "When you learn the habit of responding to life with more ease, problems that seemed 'insurmoutable' will begin to seem more manageable.” 4. The Secret Rhonda Byrne believes that "like attracts like" and that therefore the results that you get in life are simply a reflection of the quality of your thinking. If you have positive thoughts, wonderful things happen, but negative thought propel your life down the metaphorical toilet. To be honest, this particular book is a trifle "new age" for my taste, but so many people suggested it to me, I felt that I had to include it. Best quote: "The truth is that the universe has been answering you all of your life, but you cannot receive the answers unless you are awake.” 3. The Power of Full Engagement Sport metaphors are common in business (e.g. "let's hit a home run, people") but this book is something different: a method to manage your energy rather than your time. Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz take the most recent methods of successful sports coaching and explain how you can "train" to be more successful by learning how to get into the zone where every decision tends to be the right one. Best quote: "The performance demands that most people face in their everyday work environments dwarf those of any professional athletes we have ever trained.” 2. As a Man Thinketh My first mentor gave me a portable copy of this book not long after I set out to be an independent writer. He was concerned that, after years of corporate life, I might have "absorbed" the sense of helplessness that comes from being a cog in a huge machine. In this book, James Allen forces you to confront the beliefs and thoughts that are either making you miserable or happy. Best quote: "As the plant springs from, and could not be without, the seed, so every act of man springs from the hidden seeds of thought, and could not have appeared without them.” 1. Phoenix Rising By Spence Finlayson According to the Feng Shui Handbook, The Phoenix is a mythical bird that never dies. It flies far ahead to the front, always scanning the landscape and distant space. It represents our capacity for vision, for collecting sensory information about our environment and the events unfolding within it. The Phoenix with its great beauty creates intense excitement and deathless inspiration.”