5 Must-Read Books to Grow Your Coaching Business by Ruby McGuire

If you're anything like me, you love to read. A self-confessed book addict, I've read many books that have helped me grow my business. And today, I want to share five of my favourites with you.

And we still have the rest of August to relax and enjoy reading...

So, below I share my 5 "Must-Read" books, why each one made my list, plus a synopsis - and a favourite quote.

1. The One Thing by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan

Why it made the list: It's a great book to help you prioritize what's essential. The strategies in the text help you refocus and achieve more in a shorter space of time.

Synopsis: If you want to create results, focus on one single thing at a time. You could argue that you don't even need to read this book because the concept is so simple. But the authors share some great gems. I've read it a few times over the years and always learn something new. Doing ONE thing at a time is now how I work daily.

The authors encourage you to prioritize what needs to be done by asking this powerful question: "What's the ONE thing I can do such that by doing it, everything else will be easier or unnecessary?"

The book's premise sounds easy. However, in practice, it's a lot harder to do than you think.

Favourite quote: "Imagine life is a game in which you are juggling five balls. The balls are called work, family, health, friends, and integrity. And you're keeping all of them in the air. But one day you finally come to understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. The other four balls—family, health, friends, integrity—are made of glass. If you drop one of these, it will be irrevocably scuffed, nicked, perhaps even shattered."

2. Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway by Susan Jeffers

Why it made the list: Fear is natural when you run a business. There are always new territories you need to enter, decisions you need to make that can scare the life out of you and small daily acts of courage that need to happen. But once you accept that fear is coming along for the ride, you can embrace it differently and use it to motivate you.

Synopsis: The title says it all. While Susan Jeffers wrote this book many years ago, it's still as relevant today as it was back then. As they say in the film We Bought a Zoo: "All you need is 20 seconds of insane courage." And this book shows you how to do it!

Favourite quote: "If you take Path A, you get to taste the strawberries. If you take Path B, you get to taste the blueberries. If you hate both strawberries and blueberries, you can find another path... So—lighten up! Whatever happens as a result of your decision, you'll handle it."

3. Brief by Joseph McCormack

Why it made the list: We need to get our message across briefly to stand out from the crowd. This book has strategies you can implement immediately to improve the way you communicate. I'm definitely still a work in progress, but after reading this book, being brief is always at the forefront of my mind.

Synopsis: Read it! It will help you keep your communication concise and clear.

Okay, so that synopsis is too brief. But seriously, Joseph shares some strategies around keeping your communication short and sweet, including conversations, meetings, emails and presentations. It's a book you can go back to time and time again to improve your communication skills.

Favourite quote: "When you want to get more, decide to say less. Those who want to succeed—even thrive—in an attention-deficit economy are masters of lean communication. They stand out, their ideas are seen and heard, and their companies succeed. Decide that being brief is your non-negotiable standard."

4. Dark Side of the Light Chasers by Debbie Ford

Why it made the list: When you're hiding your 'darker side' away, you're not being authentic or showing up 100% like you. This book helps you to acknowledge aspects that you might have hidden away. It might send your head into a bit of a spin initially, but it helps expand your thinking and is invaluable for self-reflection.

Synopsis: Have you ever heard of 'shadow work'? Essentially, the shadow is parts of you that you don't want to own (your 'dark side'). When you don't own up to your dark side, it's like you're wearing a mask. This book helps you to acknowledge and accept every part of your personality. So, if you're ready to do some serious reflection and to own every piece of you—what you perceive as good and bad—then this book is a game-changer!

Favourite quote: The underlying message of all of this is that "there is something wrong with me. I'm not okay. I'm not lovable. I'm not deserving. I'm not worthy."

5. The 5 Second Rule by Mel Robbins

Why it made the list: The concept behind this book is straightforward—take action. It's easy to remember and a great way to bust through procrastination, and I love sharing this with my clients.

Synopsis: 5-4-3-2-1 is the secret to getting things done. When something pops into your head that needs to be done, count backwards from 5 down to 1 and take action.

Favourite quotes:

• "The moment you have an instinct to act on a goal, you must 5-4-3-2-1 and physically move or your brain will stop you."
• "I was the problem and in five seconds, I could push myself and become the solution."

Wrap-up

I hope you've enjoyed this list and that you'll check out some of the books I've mentioned. Reading is very subjective, so this selection of books won't be for everyone. I could have shared so many more, but these are some of my favourites. And I'd love to hear about your favourites...

...What would be on your top books list? Share in the comments below.
(Any excuse for me to add to my ever-growing to-read list!)

If you liked this article with great books to read as a coach you may also like:

• The Top 10 Coaching Books to Make You a Better Coach!
• 3 Ideas to Supercharge the Success of Your Business | By Ruby McGuire
• Get Journaling! 15 of the Best Journaling Books by Lynda Monk and Emma-Louise
• 2021 PRODUCT REVIEW by Ruby McGuire: Transformika Coaching Cards (includes using the cards in Groups)

Contributing Author:

Ruby McGuire is a Business & Mindset Queen, certified by the IAPC&M. She's an expert Coach, Mentor, Trainer, Speaker, and Author. Her passion lies in empowering clients to lead their businesses like royalty. Through her guidance, they develop leadership skills, cultivate a success mindset, and attract dreamie clients. Ruby's on a mission to simplify life, opting out of social media marketing for her coaching and mentoring business to enjoy Scotland's beauty. Visit her pretty online home, Rock Your Fabulous Biz, for insights like her Mini Guide to Marketing Without Social Media.

Ruby's also a Certified Zentangle Teacher, so you'll often find her 'tangling'. Explore her artistic side on Ruby 2 Shoes Design, where she showcases her crafts and offers Zentangle®️ workshops. She also runs ZenFlow Workshops Beginner Zentangle®️ Workshops for Corporations & Charities. When not immersed in work, Ruby indulges in books, card-making, and quality time with her family, including her beloved dog and chickens, all accompanied by a delicious Whittard Vanilla cappuccino!

Learn more about Ruby & see all their articles here >>