The first few months of 2020 have been strange times indeed. In fact, it just occurred to me that April begins the second quarter of the year. In coaching, we typically break down progress into 90 days, so a follow up to coaching would ask you to evaluate the first 90 days of the year, and then build upon that in the second 90 days.

Why 90 days?

Research indicates that 90 days is the amount of time required to develop a new habit, lifestyle change, or attitude to move you in a new direction.

These days, we may find that the progress we had hoped to make this year has come to a grinding halt. And because we are spending more time at home, we are limited to the activities we can do to occupy our time. Many of us are catching up on TV shows or movies we never had time for before. Or we’re upgrading our health and wellness, or even relaxing our strict diets in favor of something comfortable … and comforting.

Deep inside each of us, however, is the realization that we have stopped moving forward and that this is an opportunity to reassess where we’re going and how we’re getting there.

To help with that process, this week, I’m providing a pretty substantial list of books to tap into for inspiration. In addition, I’d like you to consider the following questions as you contemplate the next 90 days and what that will look like for you.

• What does getting back to normal look like for you? ⁠⠀
• What does this solution or process look like in your life?
• When you imagine the most realistic but best possible outcome, what do you see?⁠⠀
• What are you stepping into? ⠀
• As we slowly move forward in the next few years, what do you want to cultivate in life?⁠⠀
• How is your life shifting because of these changes?

Take the time to think about how the next 90 days will present challenges and opportunities. Consider your answers to these questions as you shape a new reality for yourself in 2020 and beyond.

And while you’re working on your future, consider these five articles that reference over 100 books on leadership, self development, and mindfulness that can help you navigate these uncertain times.

1. 60 great business and leadership books, all written by women.

As the article mentions, most of the top books on business and leadership feature truly innovative content from top intellectual thinkers who happen to be men. If you’re interested in a list of compelling content written by women, this article provides a great list of material. Don’t feel left out, guys. The article also provides a link to Richard Branson’s list of top 70 must-read books with a nice collection from prominent male authors. Enjoy!

2. 12 great books to make the most of the next 90 days.

This article from the Next Big Idea Club pulled together a list of 12 books curated from the brilliant minds of Malcolm Gladwell, Susan Cain, Adam Grant, and Daniel Pink. The books on this list are intended to give you peace of mind, and help you develop a level of mindfulness and perseverance that will carry you through the next few months.

3. 20 books that all leaders should read in 2020.

This is a great list of books from the World Economic Forum. What I like about this list is that it is broken down into categories and the books I find the most relevant to today’s challenging environment fall under the “Rhythms of Work and Life” section. I highly recommend Life is in the Transitions, The 4 Day Week, and Do Nothing.

4. Eight business books entrepreneurs should read to dominate their industry. 

Many of the most successful businesses have been born from times of upheaval. If you’re one of the many people these days wondering if now is the time to start your own business, you’ll find this article helpful. And if you’re wondering if you could be successful, I recommend reading Pat Flynn’s bio to learn how he faced a layoff during the 2008 economic downturn and turned it into his dream job.

5. 11 books that will teach you more about business than an MBA.

Let’s say you are finding yourself on the road to entrepreneurship these days. This article from Fortune provides 11 books from top executives who’ve made it to the top with grit, ingenuity, creativity, and a little bit of luck. There’s great material in this list, including stories from true industry giants like John D. Rockefeller, Jr., Warren Buffett, Robert Cialdini, David Ogilvy, and Dale Carnegie among others.

One more thing. If you missed my note last week, I’m offering one free month of coaching (two one-hour sessions) for anyone interested in working through today’s current environment. If you are interested in working with me for a month of coaching, please feel free to respond to this email or send me a note directly at christina@christinaholloway.com. This offer expires on April 30, 2020 so make sure to get on my calendar early.

 

Christina Holloway is an executive coach and business coach. She helps executives and entrepreneurs grow their companies faster, create results-driven teams, and increase profitability. She has been featured in Forbes, The Huffington Post, Addicted2Success and Fast Company. If you’re interested in working with Christina, take a look at her strategy sessions and contact her to get started.