By Elizabeth Greatrex
Published: 21/09/2020
How have you done it? What is your secret? What keeps you awake at night? What skeletons do you have in your closet? Just a few of the burning questions that most of us would like to ask a billionaire if we had the chance. Wouldn’t it be fascinating to delve into the minds of some of the most successful individuals on the planet? Well, with these five books to get your teeth into, you can do just that.
What I Know for Sure by Oprah Winfrey
“Make a decision and watch your life move forward.” – Oprah Winfrey
Behind the self-assured smile and unmatched confidence of one of the most well-known women in the world is a past no one would have expected. Born into poverty in rural Mississippi, sexually abused during her childhood, and having experienced the loss of a child after becoming pregnant at 14, Oprah Winfrey didn’t have an easy start in life. Yet today, this legendary Billionaire talk show host, media executive and philanthropist talks freely about her struggles and successes in her 2014 book, What I Know for Sure. This is a truly inspirational and insightful read in which Oprah imparts pearls of wisdom, details stories of her life, and unique advice on exactly how to live the life you actually want and become the best version of yourself. The book is organised by theme: resilience, joy, connection, gratitude, awe, possibility, power and clarity, and is a wonderful boost for anyone that wants to go forth in life with the same courage, gratitude, and ambition of Oprah Winfrey.
Lean In: Work, Women and The Will to Lead by Sheryl Sandberg
“What would you do if you weren't afraid?” – Sheryl Sandberg
Having been Google’s Vice President of global online sales and operations before becoming the first woman to serve on the board of Facebook as Chief Operating Officer, Sheryl Sandberg is an inspiration to women all around the world. She is known to many as an activist for women’s rights in the workplace and is well remembered for her exhilarating TED Talk speech in which she tackles why we don’t have enough female leaders, encourages women to be as ambitious as they can, pursue their dreams and refrain from holding themselves back in the workplace. She continues to address these huge subject matters in her brave, stimulating, best-selling book, Lean In: Work, Women and The Will to Lead, which was so popular that it inspired a global community group founded to assist women working to achieve their goals. Sandberg writes in a manner that not only relates to women of all backgrounds and cultures, but that also speaks to anyone who wishes to right the wrongs of inequality in the workplace and learn why having more women in leading roles is good for society and business.
I Can’t Accept Not Trying: Michael Jordan on the Pursuit of Excellence by Michael Jordan
“I approach everything step by step … I had always set short-term goals. As I look back, each one of the steps or successes led to the next one.” - Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan; arguably the greatest basketball player of all time, but also a complete global icon. During his career, he has won six titles with the Chicago Bulls, received the NBA’s Most Valuable Player Award five times, become known for his significant product endorsements, and has become one of the most marked athletes of his generation. In this autobiography, Jordan details his life as a professional athlete and imparts his wisdom on the rules he has lived by and how he has achieved his great success. He delves into what it means to be a leader, how one can overcome obstacles and consistently meet goals, looking at fear as an illusion, the importance of teamwork, among many other subjects. Overall, this is a short yet motivational read with useful tips for anyone who is looking to reach their full potential, take advantage of opportunities, perfect a skill or pull themselves out of a dark place.
How to Win at the Sport of Business by Mark Cuban
“Success is about making your life a special version of unique that fits who you are—not what other people want you to be.” – Mark Cuban
Entrepreneur, media proprietor and investor, television personality, and ‘shark’ investor on the ABC reality television series, Shark Tank, Mark Cuban has a lifetime of valuable experience to share. In this extremely useful e-book, How to Win at the Sport of Business, Cuban creates a no-nonsense, practical guide for entrepreneurs on how to build a successful business and reach significant levels of financial success no matter your age or the stage of your career that you are at. The book draws material posted on Cuban’s popular Blog Maverick and is filled with effective business advice geared towards smart saving, gathering sales experience, setting priorities, and much more. Whether the reader is a CEO or a student, this is the ultimate book for those who want to become business savvy and take life by the horns.
What You See Is What You Get by Alan Sugar
“My parents did their best, but not being able to have what I wanted made me determined to do something for myself – to be self-sufficient.” – Alan Sugar
Born on a council estate in Hackney and growing up watching his family struggle to survive, Sir Alan Sugar was instilled with a significant sense of drive by a very young age. A drive, that would lead to his momentous success as a businessman, politician, political adviser, and media personality starring in the long-running show The Apprentice since 2005. Within What You See Is What You Get, one of Britain’s biggest business moguls describes his journey to the top of the business world in great detail. From setting up his own company as a teenager to his ventures within the stock exchange and television, Sugar retains his unmistakable sense of humour, wit, and controversial opinions throughout this extraordinary and thoroughly enjoyable tale of rags to riches. Whether you love him or hate him, Sugar’s story allows us to see past the stern face from The Apprentice and get to know the man behind the money. His life story gives an inspiring example to follow and illustrates the fact that no matter your background, you can amount to the highest of heights if you work hard enough.
