There are tons of books out there about coaching – I’ve written one myself called the Prosperous Coach – but in this blog post, I’m sharing a list of books which aren’t about coaching, but which will make you a better, more prosperous coach.
Here’s why: 96% of coaches will never read these books.
They’ll just read what other coaches read. They’ll hang out with other coaches just like them. They’ll think like other coaches.
They’ll have nothing innovative to say, or to create.
Roald Dahl once said “Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.”
I not only believe in magic, I look for it everywhere. It’s how I help my clients accomplish impossible things, again, and again. And it’s how you can do it too…
Here are some books to read – and look for the magic.
1. Dave Trott: One + One = Three
I’m high in creative intelligence. I like to invent or imagine novel solutions to problems or situations. So I got a lot out of this collection of real-life stories exploring the power of creative thinking in problem-solving and innovation.
Dave Trott emphasizes how combining ideas in unexpected ways (what another writer, James Altucher, calls ‘idea sex’!) can lead to extraordinary results. Read One + One = Three for the inspiration you and your clients need to approach challenges with a fresh perspective.
2. Tracy Goss: The Last Word on Power
For women in particular, it’s so important to…
- Live your truth, in a world that tries to crush your authenticity.
- Fully express yourself, by trusting your inner voice.
- Stop operating from fear and build a solid grounding from which to make decisions and take action.
I’ve shared this book before, on my list of 55 incredible books by incredible women. Tracy is a consultant, author, and lecturer who first published this methodology for reinventing yourself and/or your organization back in 1995, and it still provides enormous value today. It’s hands down one of my favorite books on how to create transformation from the inside out.
3. Jackie Huba: Monster Loyalty
One of the most powerful ways to create new clients is to serve your current clients so powerfully that they never stop talking about you. I call it Client Astonishment, and it’s a huge part of how I build a community of brand advocates.
Jackie Huba is an expert on customer loyalty and evangelism, and in Monster Loyalty she explores what we can learn from the way Lady Gaga creates the experiences that turn fans into super-fans.
4. Kasia Urbaniak: Unbound: A Woman’s Guide To Power
Compelling storytelling that draws from your own experience is a great way to sign high-level clients. Kasia Urbaniak has a better story than most: she spent 17 years studying to be a Taoist nun, and funded it by working as a high-end dominatrix in New York City.
In Unbound: A Woman’s Guide To Power, she shares what both experiences taught her about how women can stand up for themselves to get what they want. Look this book up and you’ll find a lot of reviews calling it a must-read for women, but even if you’re not a woman you will find its analysis of power dynamics useful.
5. Chip Heath and Dan Heath: The Power of Moments
If you want to build community and deep connection and clients who rave about their experiences with you – forever – create defining moments for them.
My team and I work long and hard on ways to create defining moments for my clients and my community again and again and again: and so clients come back to work with me, again and again and again.
I’ve written on my own blog about the power of moments, and how I created a defining moment for my son, inspired by Chip and Dan Heath’s book, The Power of Moments. It’s about what makes an experience into a ‘peak’ moment that truly defines us, and it’s another useful way to think about Client Astonishment.
(Their other books Made To Stick and Switch are worth reading, too.)
6. Priya Parker: The Art of Gathering
Meetings – with clients or colleagues, online or in person – are a huge part of your job as a coach. I meet with my team regularly. And I make our meetings fun. We start every meeting with a little celebration of something in our private lives.
Priya Parker is a master facilitator and an expert on human connection. The Art of Gathering, like a lot of books on this list, is really about the power of creating valuable experiences. It will help you make your meetings more intentional, and thus way more effective.
7. Frans Johansson: The Click Moment
When you accomplish something incredible, people don’t usually know much about you, other than your success. They call you ‘lucky’. But what most people don’t know is that there are ways to make your own luck.
The Click Moment teaches two things: first, that success is random – far more random than we would like to believe – but, second, that there are things we can do to capture this randomness and focus it in our favor.
This is one of my very favorite books on how to live a Created Life. Frans Johansson’s other book, The Medici Effect, is also an inspiring read.
8. Rory Sutherland: Alchemy
In real life, most things aren’t logical: they’re psychological.
Rory Sutherland gets that. He’s a legend in advertising; his TED Talks get millions of views; and he’s one of my favorite thinkers on the power of thinking differently. I highly recommend reading Alchemy: The Power of Ideas That Don’t Make Sense to challenge your own way of thinking.
9. Mike Michalowicz: Profit First
Here’s one of the metrics I’ve been using this year for prosperous success: ‘revenue is vanity, but profit is sanity’.
Profit First flips the way we look at accounting and provides simple principles to simplify accounting and make it easier to manage a profitable business.
I don’t recommend or read a lot of what you might call ‘business books’ any more, because it’s so hard to find one that says anything new: Profit First is an exception.
10. Paul Jarvis: Company of One
I run a values-based business. A business, whether it’s a coaching business or any other kind, should be about finding what you want out of life.
Company of One is a must-read for any entrepreneur who wants to resist the idea that bigger is always better, and to create a business that gives you the freedom to live the life you want.
11. John Grisham: The Exchange
Really successful people work really hard. Period. But when you’re not working, switch off completely. It’s called ‘re-creation’ for a reason!
With that in mind, it’s important to read something just for fun, and I’d always recommend John Grisham thrillers for that. You’re not going to learn any negotiation skills, but you will get some time to unwind, which is just as important.
More recommendations
Want more suggestions for books to make you a better, more prosperous coach? Check out my previous lists of recommendations here:
- 55 Incredible Books by Incredible Women
- 52 Incredible Books: A recommended reading list
- A reading list for coaching smart, wealthy, successful people
Read my book to become a prosperous coach
Looking to build a practice with a small number of high-performing, high-paying clients? With over 100,000 copies sold, The Prosperous Coach has helped thousands of coaches and consultants build their businesses. Read it to increase income and impact for both you and your clients.
Love. Rich