How To Defuse The Landmines We Plant In Our Lives by Kelly Accetta

When we women are miserable or unable to reach our goals, sometimes the underlying problems are purely of our own making. Gossip, putting ourselves down, and being overemotional are destructive to our happiness and relationships. Wallowing in an endless cycle of mommy guilt, doubt, and insecurity— sound familiar?

These actions are like deadly landmines, ready to go off at any time. Boom! The explosions block us from reaching the lives we want for ourselves and our families. As an international women’s success coach, every year Kelly helps thousands of us women learn to avoid placing these and other destructive landmines in our lives—and how to defuse the ones we’ve already set. Her insightful book helps us gain more insight and wisdom as we learn how destructive these all-too-common landmines are to our lives and to the lives of the ones we love.

@ Kelly Accetta

Predictably Irrational by Dan Ariely

This books puts human behavior into perspective. It's a must read to better understand one's own life, and why we act the way we act.

@ Maggie Norris, CEO of Uphold Health‍

Why Marry a Millionaire? Just Be One! by Wendy Robbins

As a female millennial Latina, leadership empowered me to break the barriers of adversity, climb the corporate ladder, and launch into entrepreneurship. (poverty, childhood neglect, fixed mindsets, drug addiction, prison, violence, and generational traumas) This vision strengthened through a book I read when I was young called, Why Marry a Millionaire? Just Be One! by Wendy Robbins. Wendy helped me master the mindset needed to fulfill the vision of one day launching my business but, more importantly, understanding that no matter the severity of our challenges, everything could be learned.

@ Cha'Lea Stafford

Crossing the Chasm by Geoffrey Moore

The book that shaped me is "Crossing the Chasm" by Geoffrey Moore. The book is focused on the specifics of marketing high-tech products during the early start-up period. It has helped me to think holistically about driving bottom-line growth by using creative marketing strategies that drive customer engagement.

Teresa Mackintosh, CEO of Trintech

I Know How She Does it by Laura Vanderkam

When I first became a mother and was returning to work, I read Laura Vanderkam’s “I Know How She Does it,” which helped me understand how many hours we have in a given week and how many successful moms use their time effectively. The single most impactful takeaway was that even working mothers spend at least 50 percent of their time caregiving when you factor in the mornings, evenings and weekends.

After my second child was born, I took many lessons away from Tiffany Dufu in “Drop the Ball” about focusing our time on things that are our “highest, best use” and delegating as much as possible.

More recently, Sarah Robb O’Hagan’s “Extreme You” and Lisen Stromberg’s “Work Pause Thrive” provided much-needed reminders that life is short, kids are not in diapers forever and it’s good to invest in yourself for the long haul.

As you can see, I’ve been inspired by a lot of women that are making life easier for working moms. In fact, my working mom reading list continues to be one of the most popular pages on BestfortheMoment.com.

@ Amy Jackson, Founder of BestfortheMoment.com

Dare To Lead by Brene Brown

While I've read the well-known works of Sinek, Pink, Gladwell, Ferriss, Ries, and the like, the book that really hit home for me as the owner of a 6 year old business was Brene Brown's Dare To Lead. This book dives into leadership in a way that smacks the business owners programmed by traditional ideals of leadership awake. Almost piercingly, she helps the reader see how disconnected many people are from what makes a great leader versus weak.

She not only illuminates the broken path of leadership but moreover, she provides compassion, solace, and understanding for a current leadership landscape devoid of that thing that makes us all human - a desire for connection based upon emotion. Through her stories and accounts she holds a mirror up to allow you to see yourself as a leader. You will see your own shame and mistakes, but also find your own glory in how you lead a team of people small or large. She empowers business owners to lead powerfully by aligning and leading from a place of truth, courage, bravery and vulnerability like no other book I've seen. With grace, she single handedly destroys the reader’s thoughts about what it means to have and yield power and then provides a very real place for one to begin leading anew.

@ Abby Sparks

James Allen’s “As a Man Thinketh”

This book is on the “annual read” shelf in my office and has shaped me with its reminder of the power that my mind has over creating my reality. We all have a unique story with our own challenges and victories. Allen’s notion that you can master your mind and everything else will fall into place reminds me to keep my internal foundation strong. By mastering my mind and my own limiting beliefs, I have been able to accomplish more than I could have ever imagined.

@ Karmel Larson, founder of Momni

Pour Your Heart Into It by Howard Shultz

It's an incredible story of how one of the world's greatest known brands, Starbucks came to be and grow into the behemoth that it is. Reading about Shultz's vision, execution and ability to turn passion into profit is truly inspiring.

@ Alison Bernstein, President and Founder of the The Suburban Jungle

You're Made for a God-Sized Dream by Holley Gerth

I'm a new entrepreneur and the founder of my own boutique creative agency and not too long ago, I was searching for answers to my calling and purpose in life and my mother found a book that absolutely changed my perspective on my purpose called: " You're Made for a God-Sized Dream" by Holley Gerth.

It reassured me that I do have a purpose and whatever that dream is, following my calling in life is worth more than one day looking back and always wondering "what if". The book confirmed for me that what's life worth if I'm not evening willing to risk it for my dream.

@ Erica Gilliand, Executive Brand Strategist at Peachy Los Angeles

Paco et l’orchestre by Magali Le Huche

It is a children’s book called Paco et l’orchestre. This is the beginning of TA-DA! invading my thoughts day and night. I came across this beautiful creation while living in Europe, a sound book unlike anything I had ever seen with incredible sound quality and gorgeous art and knew I could take this as a starting point to bring language and culture to children, starting with my own - meaning my son and my students. Until then nothing had been done to address language learning for our youngest without the detriment of screens.

@ Michelle Glorieux, founder and CEO of TA-DA! Language Productions

The Motivation Myth: How High Achievers Really Set Themselves Up to Win by Jeff Haden

It's is a life-changing book that gives a fresh insight into inspiration. It has changed my entire perspective on how one can be successful and achieve his/her goals. Most of us just sit around waiting for motivation to hit us to make things happen. We think we’ll be successful when we’ll get motivated. But as a matter of fact, it’s the other way around.Jeff explains in this book that motivation doesn’t happen by itself. You have to get into action to make it happen.

You dream of something, set goals for yourself and focus all your attention on the process necessary to achieve that goal. That sense of accomplishment that you feel after achieving these daily tasks gives you all the motivation you need to be successful.This is a must-read for all entrepreneurs, managers, coaches, and anyone who wants to understand the relationship between motivation and success. My favorite quote from this book: “You can do –and be – so much more than you think”.

@ Hamna Amjad of Centriq

The Entrepreneur Mind: 100 Essential Beliefs, Characteristics, And Habits Of Elite Entrepreneurs by Kevin D. Johnson

When I decided to start my own business, I was incredibly scared of what challenges await me. Sometimes this fear even paralyzed me and affected my progress. I realized I needed to switch my mindset from a regular worker to an entrepreneur. Kevin D. Jonhson’s book has influenced me significantly as I learned what habits and beliefs I had to develop to be successful.

The book is very engaging and directed towards people who are just starting off with their business. The main idea is to encourage young entrepreneurs and show them the road to success.

@ Ana Bera, security expert, researcher and founder of Safetalast

“Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking” by Susan Cain

I read this book about seven years ago and have referenced it countless times when speaking with other women. There are very few women in the C-Suite in the medical devices industry. One issue we face often is how we maintain an authentic voice, finding an appropriate path for ourselves while operating in a male-dominated industry.

“Quiet” focuses on the differences between introverts and extroverts, and the unique communication and operating styles of both. It also provides a context for each of us to better understand the differences and why each can be effective. Although not the primary message of the book, it served to reinforce the importance of following my ‘true north’ – how I can embrace the differences and use this understanding to establish an authentic voice that is not male or female but uniquely mine.

@ Martha Shadan, CEO of Miach Orthopaedics

Drive by Daniel Pink

I think a big part of being a leader in a growing company is building a great team, and motivating everyone to be inspired by their work. This book on motivation really helped me to better understand how to develop a self-motivated team, and, as a result, continue to build a great culture within a fast-paced, growing company.

@ Julia Osmar, VP, Education Experience at BrainStation

Jack: Straight From the Gut Book by Jack Welch

It is one of my favorites because it is a model for strategic management. Jack Welch admits that, as CEO of General Electric for twenty years, he made some unpopular decisions and mistakes, but his unconventional style transformed G.E. I enjoyed the parts of the book which revealed elements of his more personable side, such as his hand-written notes to employees and one-on-one conversations as he visited plants.

Overall, he was a determined business man who was focused, creative, and not afraid to take risks.  I have found myself thinking back to lessons from the book that I learned as a result of Jack’s experiences and it has helped me to reshape my POV on giving myself permission to take responsible risks and challenging myself to try some non-traditional tactics that will take me out of my comfort zone.I also feel that the simple personal touches that Jack made the effort to do for his employees are more important than many C-level executives realize.  Jack’s philosophy of making sure that every employee feels supported was not just rhetoric but his actions backed up his words and also helped to keep him grounded.

@ Carolyn Hardwick, GM/VP, Engineering at SQUAN; President of the Women’s Wireless Leadership Forum (WWLF)

“Brag: The Art of Tooting Your Own Horn Without Blowing It” by Peggy Klaus

It brought forward practical and hands-on ways in which I could speak up about my accomplishments and feel comfortable in doing so. I’ve always been a “heads down and deliver results” person, but I’ve learned in the last few years that approach will only get you so far and now I have higher aspirations. I leave this book on my nightstand atop books I plan to read in order to remind me to “Brag”.

@ Holly Garcia, VP North America, ATEN Technology, Inc.

Becoming by Michelle Obama

I would have to say my favorite book is "Becoming' by Michelle Obama because it's a story about her journey to becoming the First Lady, but also, how she always stayed true to herself and her own personal & professional goals in life. I admired how she is able to balance it all, while remaining fabulous!

@ Teasha Bivins, Owner and Broker of Bivins Realty Group

The End of Illness by David B.Agus

This book is about how a cancer doctor meets his greatest challenge and learns from it. I learned an insight from him about the elements of healthy lifestyle, and that timing is really everything in addition to the truth about synthetic shortcuts. It motivated me even further to find the purest and most natural form of remedies from nature.

This book only encouraged me more during my search and journey of creating the purest form of propolis.And personally I understood from this book that: People can stay healthy by recognizing themselves with the characteristics of their birth and arranging their lives accordingly and natural ways. it shows ways of applying it to your life.

@ Dr. Asli Tanugur Samanci, CEO and Founder of BEE & YOU

The Art of Seduction by Robert Greene

If you judge a book by its cover, you will assume this book will help you seduce a lover, but it’s so much more than that. This book is a great template to persuade anyone in any role to convert and act in your best interest. After all, that’s what growth hacking is really about. No matter what tactic or tool we are using, we want to persuade someone to act in our best interest through purchasing our product or service, liking our post, follow our business page, etc. Reading this book helped me learn to adapt my messaging, my approach, my behavior towards my audience target that I was trying to persuade to act in my best interest.

Sysamone Phaphon, Head of Growth @ Vertosa

Great by Choice by Jim Collins

While I was working towards my MBA at Stanford University, I took an entrepreneurship class with Jim Collins, now the author of several acclaimed books on how companies achieve greatness and how successful leaders in the business and social sectors have built movements that last. Jim’s class was transformative and is relevant not only to my current role in the cannabis industry but also to my entire career working with startups.

Jim’s recent research and publications have been particularly useful too, as he’s been working on case studies about how companies have succeeded and failed in times of chaos—and it’s safe to say that a startup industry like cannabis can be pretty chaotic at times!  I highly recommend Jim’s book, “Great by Choice,” which studies why some organizations thrive in times of great chaos an unpredictability.

@ Kim Rael, President and CEO of Azuca

The Age of Empathy: Nature’s Lessons for a Kinder Society by Dr. Frans de Waal

First, everyone needs to learn empathy and be a little more kind towards others in an age of cut-throat competition agesecond, it’s the best book out there on understanding what the hullabaloo over empathy these days and why the greatest leaders of the world quote empathy as one of the prerequisites for effective leadership.

As the corporate culture is understood to be a world (subject to interpretations) that one has to outdo each other in terms of reaching to the top as a part of our primitive instinct, the book reveal on testaments from the fields of neuroscience, animal behavior, psychology, and anthropology how humans are actually social animals and works on cooperation, peace, and sensitivity to injustice- all the more reasons to stop thinking you have to tread on someone to be ahead in life.

@ Manpreet Kaur, Head of Corporate Communications at Mercer | Mettl

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

I read this book in high school and was very inspired by the character Atticus Finch. He was a hardworking, honest, and courageous advocate. As a lawyer, I do my best to emulate these qualities while fighting for justice for my clients.

@ Eileen McGivney, attorney at The Perecman Firm, P.L.L.C.‍

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

It’s a much older book, but A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, by Betty Smith, was so ahead of its time, as was its main character, Francie Nolan. Growing up I really identified with Francie in a lot of ways — she spent her days reading on her fire escape, I spent mine reading in a tree; she loved to write and tell stories, so did I. She grew up to be a working woman in an office, which was pretty uncommon in 1917 — she was a feminist and a pioneer! — and I too, felt compelled to blaze a trail for women in my own professional life. With all that said, Francie was also really normal and human, and no matter how many times I reread the book, I find comfort in her raw emotions, imperfections, and shortcomings because it makes me feel so seen.

@ Molly Winding Dewey, Founder & Co-CEO - Mettacool.com

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