5 Easy Reads That Will Help Your Career

Posted February 25, 2017

If you're looking to advance your career this year, there are plenty of great books you could be reading right now. Here are a few that we suggest.

The Power of Habit - Charles Duhigg

Written by a Pulitzer prize-winning reporter, The Power of Habit lays out several useful cases on the function of habits in individuals, companies and societies. Duhigg then follows up with useful solutions to identify and knowingly direct our behavior, which impacts our results. The potency of habit is the capacity to automate self-control, converting a painfully limited resource into a limitless one. Acting on the advice in this book could produce a profound change in your effectiveness and ability to get things done.

Give and Take - Adam Grant

Written by a professor from the acclaimed Wharton business school, Give and Take lays out three large groups of individuals with very different interaction styles: Takers, Matchers and Givers. Competitive in nature, Takers are fixated on always getting more than they give. Matchers believe in strict fairness and quid pro quo. Givers give without keeping score.

The book then talks about how every personality style affects one's potential, gradually constructing an argument why we should all give far more than we take.

How to Win Friends and Influence People - Dale Carnegie

Probably the book your dad always pushed you to read, How to Win Friends and Influence People was written in 1936 and much of its advice still holds true today. Carnegie lays out three techniques for interacting with others: don’t criticize or complain, be honest and sincere and arouse enthusiasm. Carnegie also suggests paying attention to others, speaking in terms of their interests and remembering to smile.

Zero to One - Peter Thiel

Authored by a PayPal co-founder, Zero to One is an essential guidebook for entrepreneurs. A major theme in Thiel's book is: "Competition is for losers."

Theil explains that while capitalism is great for consumers, it is bad for companies, which must compete with each other. Therefore, startups should seek to first dominate a small market with low competition. Thiel also says startups should target particular consumers not currently being served, or being served by very few competitors.

Never Eat Alone - Keith Ferrazzi

Never Eat Alone makes the case for networking in a socially conscious and mutually beneficial way.  The primary theme of the book is that networking should be about making other people more successful. For instance, if you give someone else a leg up, they are more likely to value a relationship with you. Ferrazzi also says you should be helping out others and building your network long before you start tapping into your network and trying to pull some strings.

If you are looking to take your career to the next level this year, please contact us at Ambassador to learn about the numerous job opportunities we can offer you as a full-service staffing agency.