At some point in the summer, it’s time to sit down with a good book. You may have started last July 4th weekend or this week. Maybe you are planning ahead. I share the following 8 recommendations for the summer and beyond:
Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art by James Nestor
An interesting and helpful discussion of the impact of breathing on how we feel and what we do as people. This is true whether you focus on your breath or just breathe throughout the day.
Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear
Greatly influenced The Mad Clientist and the family.
Discipline Equals Freedom by Jocko Willink
Filled with short motivational paragraphs and snippets. The kind of book you can open to any page and find a stand-alone message.
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life by Mark Manson
Not at all what I expected not a lot of other people expected. This is a counterintuitive approach to getting things done – personal and professional.
Me, the Mob, and the Music: One Helluva Ride with Tommy James & The Shondells by Tommy James
The story behind one of the iconic rock stars of the 1960s and beyond. Offers a look into everything from the rise to stardom, music production, and the business side of things and industry luminaries. Tommy James and the Shondells is known for No. 1 singles for “Hanky Panky” and “Crimson and Clover” along with a dozen other Top 40 hits, including “I Think We’re Alone Now”, “Mirage”, “Money Money”, “Sweet Cherry Wine”, and “Crystal Blue Persuasion.” Soon to be a major motion picture.
Never a Dull Moment: 1971 The Year That Rock Exploded by David Hepworth
You may or may not agree this 1971 is the year everything changed in rock– but it does not matter. It’s a piece of music history defining an era. This is the basis for Apple TV’s hot docu-series “1971”.
And, getting down to clients. Relationships and client service are more important than ever – as are the principles, strategies, and tactics in these 2 books:
Clientelligence: How Superior Client Relationships Fuel Growth and Profits by Michael Rynowecer
Learn how to drive growth and develop the best relationships with clients—based on in-depth research with 14,000 top decision-makers who hire professional services firms. The decision-makers point to 17 activities described within Clientelligence as driving superior client relationships, service, and new business.
The Mad Clientist’s ABCs of Client Service by Michael Rynowecer
This fully illustrated book is a light-hearted look at a deadly serious skill: learning how to improve client service. The Mad Clientist distilled 14,000 in-depth interviews with top executives into 26 pithy, pointed actions for you to start using today. Spend just 26 minutes with The Mad Clientist and his ABCs of Client Service and improve your client service immediately.
Learn and enjoy.
MBR
The Mad Clientist