I’ve always enjoyed listening to stories of how people succeeded in turning their life around because they weren’t happy with their paths. To some extent, I wonder if I enjoyed it because it was a reflection of how I felt about myself and what I needed to do to change things around.

In my recent search and guidance from a mentor, I came across some great resources that were inspiring and provided new perspectives on the things around us.

VIDEOS

What Makes Us Happy : A series of talks from great thinkers at the Ted Conference. My favorite speakers are Rick Warren on Life of Purpose and Malcom Gladwell on Spaghetti Sauce.

BOOKS

I seldom have the patience for reading but these two books I highly recommend. They were easy reads and provide tremendous takeaway (at least for me).

True North

This was a book that my mentor had suggested when I first started asking what I should really be doing with my career. Through the inspirational stories told in the book, I was able to see what I was missing from my own career. Since then, I’ve passed the book on to many friends so I highly recommend it. (Read an excerpt on Amazon)

The Secret

I had an interesting experience with this book. The first time I picked it up, I couldn’t get pass the 3rd chapter. I doubted every word I read but kept it in the back of my mind. When I reread it a few weeks later, I actually started believing it. The first read made me more aware of the events happening around me and through stories of others, I’ve come to see the spirit of The Secret. For me, the book help established a foundation that I needed to change my attitude. When I get discouraged now, I remind myself of The Secret to stay positive and motivated.