Top Ten Books of 2018

My Top Ten Books of 2018

It has been an exciting and eventful year, and it all started with a book!

1) You are a Badass--This is the book that kicked it all off.  If you haven't read it yet, check out my review and get your copy.  Jen Sincero inspires you to live your best life while entertaining you at the same time.

2) You are a Badass at Making Money--Another phenomenal book by Jen Sincero. It is not an understatement to say that both of her badass books have dramatically changed my life.

Sincero reveals (in a way that finally clicked for me) that the way to changing your life is by changing your thoughts.

3) Girl, Wash Your Face-- "Rachel uses her infectious energy to empower women to take control of their lives and pursue their passions without fear. Motivational, inspirational, and always approachable."

The above quote describes Rachel Hollis so well. I LOVED, LOVED this book. I was telling my nurse one day about how I had been inspired by You are a Badass, and she told me I needed to read this book.

Somehow, I knew that I needed to read it and went home and ordered it from Amazon right away.

Rachel has motivated me, inspired me and empowered me to pursue my passions without fear, and I love her for it.

4) The Pursuit of Happyness-- I can't believe that it was only a year ago that I first saw the 2006 movie based on this book. The movie really inspired me to not give up on my dreams.

As with most things in life, the movie only showed a portion of how hard things were for Gardner and how long it took him to get back on his feet. To say this is an inspirational true story is an understatement. Once you get into the meat of the book it is hard to put down.

5) Never Broken--I heard Jewel speak at a radio convention in Orlando. She talked about her work helping people cope with anxiety. It really spoke to me and I researched more about her and discovered this book.

Jewel's life story is incredible and her hardships have helped create a woman who is full of insight and wisdom.

This book was therapeutic and helped me to gain insight into my own life as well. I can't recommend this book highly enough.

6) Dream More--I've only recently become aware of what a bad ass Dolly Parton is and I'm impressed. She came from very humble beginnings but believed in herself and God. She followed her dreams no matter how many people told her she couldn't, and has achieved success on multiple levels.

She is not only a successful singer and actress, but she has done amazing things for her hometown which branched out to being nationwide accomplishments. She is known to be the book lady by many because of her huge efforts to combat illiteracy.

This book is just a snapshot of her words of wisdom on how to live a meaningful life. It is inspirational and a must read for anyone who wants to live life with a purpose.

7) What Would Dolly Do?--This year has been one of self-discovery and finding the courage to finally follow my dreams. I've found some role models who have paved the way and Dolly Parton is at the top of the list. The more I learn about her, the more I am impressed and amazed.

She has not only followed her dreams and accomplished huge things, but she has given back and done unbelievable things through her charities. She has smashed through the glass ceiling in so many ways, we could all learn so much from her life.

The author of this book does a great job of enabling us to learn all the lessons from Dolly's life. This book was a great idea and well executed.

8) I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings-- Maya Angelou is my other heroine of the year.  I didn't realize what an incredible woman she was until watching a documentary recently. When I started looking up her books I found that she had written numerous autobiographies of her life. This one was the first one, it was painful to learn of some of what she'd been through, but amazing to see her resilience.

She was an advocate for civil rights and women's rights, and an incredible role model for us all.  

9) Phenomenal Woman--A great set of empowering poems for women by Maya Angelou.  
10) 29 Gifts--This book was mentioned and recommended by Jen Sincero. I decided to check it out and was not disappointed. I found Walker's journey through the 29 gifts inspirational. As a result, I  started my own 29 gifts in 29 days journey myself. 

Radio Show 2018

Radio Show 2018 in Orlando, Florida
In August, I posted about my awesome experience at the MBA Radio Talent Institute.  While there, Dan Vallie encouraged us to apply to the 2018 Radio Show Convention in Orlando.  Several of us (Kadrae Smith, Kramer Sansone, Bukola and I) applied and got accepted.

My Favorite Parts...
Luncheon with Major Garrett and Jill Schlesinger
When I found out that Major Garrett was going to be one of the speakers, I was excited.  I got to meet him and he was very real and genuine.  I talked to him about Tony Snow and he confirmed that Tony was the real deal.

Garrett talked about his new book, Mr. Trump's Wild Ride.  I look forward to reading it.

Mentor Match-ups
These were small group sessions where we got to meet mentors in the radio industry.  My 2 favorites were Bob Proffitt (President & CEO of Alpha Media) and Laurie Kahn (Founder & Owner of Media Staffing Network).  

Podcasting Panel with Mario Lopez (aka Slater) and Jewel.
Jewel mentioned her work with helping people overcome anxiety.  While writing this post I looked up her site, and I am so excited.  As someone who has had a long journey overcoming anxiety, it is neat to see the outreach she is doing.

She also has a book that came out in 2015, Never Broken:Songs Are Only Half the Story.  I am excited to check it out.

My 3 Goals to Accomplish Post Radio Show
I decided I wanted to come away with 3 objectives, now that I have a fire lit under me.

1) Start my Podcast~I have been wanting to do this since I left MBA in August.  I transitioned from being a server to doing Lyft/Uber and there was a learning curve but I think I'm good now.  It's past time to dive in and start doing a podcast.

2) Create a Business Card~Yes, it's going to be pink.

3) Create a Kick-ass Air Check and Resume 

Links:
-Radio Show 2018
-Radio Talent Institute
-Never Broken with Jewel~Make Happiness a Habit
-Media Staffing Network

29 Gifts~A Review

I've come to believe over the last twenty days that giving and receiving are two sides of the same coin.  One cannot exist without the other.  I am also seeing that each exchange-whether I am on the giving or the receiving end-is a divine experience, what my mother would call a God moment.~Cami Walker

Career Inspiration
-As I mentioned previously, I've been reading books on career inspiration.  You are a Badass has been the most influential, and I've been reading lots of books that Sincero recommended in it.  One of those was, 29 Gifts.

Her Story
-Cami Walker was diagnosed with MS (multiple sclerosis) only a month after her honeymoon at the age of 35.  She went through a lot of physical and emotional struggles while coming to terms with the disease. One day a friend suggested a seemingly strange prescription for her.  She recommended that Cami give away 29 gifts in 29 days.

How a Month of Giving Can Change Your Life
-At first, she thought the idea was ridiculous, but decided to give it a try.  The experience was life changing and it inspired her to start a movement.  She challenged other people to join her in the gift giving.  The gifts are also seen as 29 acts of kindness.  They can be anything from giving change to a homeless person, writing an encouraging card, reaching out to a friend in need, or paying for the person behind you in line at McDonald's.

The Connection
-As I mentioned in my review of You are a Badass, there is a link between faith, positivity, gratitude and also giving.  It changes your perspective on life.

My 1st 29 Gifts Journey
-I've started my own journey of giving 29 gifts in 29 days, I'm on day 7.  I pray at the beginning of the day and ask God to show me who it is that He wants me to give/reach out to that day.  I find myself with a different mindset and a much more gracious way of looking at life and people.  I challenge you to give it a try.

MBA (Missouri Broadcaster's Association) Radio Talent Institute

Never say, why them and not me?  It's America, you can do whatever you want.--Zach Sang

You can't teach passion--Scott Meier

Do something you love, and you'll never work a day in your life.

As I mentioned in a previous post, I was selected to be a student at the MBA Radio Talent Institute.  It has been an exciting 9 days.  I have learned a tremendous amount.  It has also been a huge confirmation that this is what I'm meant to do.

You need to find your own unique place to make a difference.--John Beck

Radio Career
On our first day, the speakers talked a lot about how radio is an exciting and fun field to work in.  It's about going after your passion.

Radio has more competition than ever before yet, it still reaches 93% of adults surpassing all other forms of media, even TV.

(Photo: Spencer Graves from 106.5 The Arch in St. Louis)

Once you have the basics down, the rest is what makes you uniquely you.--Brady Goodman

Amazing Speakers
Dan Vallie, the founder and the president of the National Radio Talent System hand picked broadcasting professionals from all the different roles in radio.

The Institute is a valuable resource because you learn a tremendous amount from experts in the field.  It is also a great chance to network, which is extremely important in the broadcasting environment.

RAB (Radio Advertising Bureau) Training
We had lots of homework this week.  We did 17 lessons and took a 100 question exam at the end.

Field Trip
On the 3rd day we got to go the Chiefs Training Camp in St. Joseph and hear Mitch Holthus speak.  Then we went to Kauffman Stadium and sat in the Diamond Club area while hearing Keith Kowalski speak.  Both men are incredible and I was able to see why they have excelled in their careers.

Inspiration and Motivation
I have been informed, inspired and motivated this week to go back home and take the next steps to pursuing my career in radio.  I'm excited to see what the future holds.

You are a Badass--A Review

-It's about having the cojones to show up as the brightest, happiest, badassiest version of yourself, whatever that looks like to you. 

-You need to go from wanting to change your life to deciding to change your life.

-Deciding means jumping in all the way, doing whatever it takes, and going after your dreams with tenacity of a dateless cheerleader a week before prom night. 
-Jen Sincero 

Career Inspiration
-I've been reading books on career inspiration the past couple of years.  As, I mentioned in yesterday's post, this book, You are a Badass has changed my life.  I've read a lot of great books in the past 40+ years, but few have changed my life as drastically as this one.

You know countless of these truisms of which I speak, you've heard them or thought them a million times, but when they finally sink in and "get it," they suddenly become earth shattering news.--pg.230

An epiphany is a visceral understanding of something you already know.--pg. 231

It Clicked
-As the above quote shows, a lot of what Sincero says isn't necessarily new or earth shattering.  Yet, she presents it in a way that really clicked with me.  It was a long, Aha... moment.

Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.--Winston Churchill

Temporary Failure
-What is the difference between a successful person and one who isn't?  The successful person never gave up.  This is the part that never sunk in for me until now.  Talent is important but it's not the only component.  Dolly Parton says that she's always had more guts than talent.  I never looked at it that way before.  Below is a list of people who were rejected, told no, experienced a lot of failures... but they kept going anyways:

-Henry Ford
-Thomas Edison
-Michael Jordan
-Steven Spielberg
-Soichiro Honda
-Beethoven
-Fred Smith (Fed Ex Creator)

Because so often when we say we're unqualified for something, what we're really saying is that we're too scared to try it, not that we can't do it.--pg.151

Procrastination, Perfectionism, Fear
-All 3 of these have been HUGE issues for me.  I put off doing or pursuing something because I'm scared and/or concerned that I can't do it well enough.  You have to face your fears and jump in the pool and learn how to swim.  Otherwise, you are sitting on the sidelines of your life and not really living it.

Your thoughts and beliefs dictate your reality, so if you want to change your reality, you have to change your beliefs.--pg.94

Your Brain is Your Bitch
-Your thoughts are super important.  I learned this 17 years ago the hard way when my struggles with fear and anxiety finally came to a head. I was paralyzed by fear and having panic attacks.  I had to drastically change my thinking, and it took time for my emotions to respond.  You have to change your thoughts and beliefs if you want your life to be different.  I have been actively doing that the past 7 months.

Faith is the muscle you use when you decide to blast outside of your comfort zone and transform your life into something that's practically unrecognizable to you in your present reality.  Faith smothers your fear of the unknown.  Faith allows you to take risks.--pg.117

Faith, Positivity, Gratitude
-It is amazing to me how being thankful is the antidote for so many of our ills.  When I dealt with my anxiety and fear, gratitude was a HUGE component in my healing.  When you have a positive attitude, are choosing to focus on the good and your blessings instead of your problems and the negative aspects of life, it drastically changes your outlook on life and your well being as a whole.  Also, when you choose to face your fears and have faith, everything comes together.

Nobody who ever accomplished anything big or new or worth raising a celebratory fist in the air did it from their comfort zone.  They risked ridicule and failure and sometimes even death.  Think of the Wright brothers.--pg.65

Outside Your Comfort Zone
-This has been another hurdle for me.  I spent so much time trying to seek comfort to help deal with the anxiety that I avoided anything that took me out of my comfort zone like the plague.  Sincero talks a lot about how if you want to succeed you are going to have do a bunch of things you are not comfortable with.  

Meeting Jen Sincero
-I got to meet Jen Sincero when she came to Wichita, Kansas this past April to promote her newest book, You are a Badass at Making Money (which is another incredible book that I will review in the near future).  She was excited to see both of my books because they have a million highlights and tons of tabs in them which is why she described my book as well worn.

Give yourself the permission and the means, to be who you are REGARDLESS OF WHAT ANYBODY ELSE THINKS OR BELIEVES IS POSSIBLE.  Do not deny yourself the life you want to live because you're worried you're not good enough or that you'll be judged or that it's too risky, because who does that benefit?

Last Quote
-I will leave you with this last quote.  If you want to start living an awesome life, go get Jen Sincero's book today.  Contact me via the comment section and/or on social media (FB, Twitter) and let me know what you think!

Disclaimer to my fellow Christians: Sincero talks about how having faith in God is important, but she embraces a lot of New Age thinking and talks about God in terms of "The Universe".  This didn't bother me, I just crossed out Universe and wrote in God.  This book actually motivated me to start having my Quiet Time in God's Word more often because she talks about how important it is to have faith.

It Turns Out, I'm a Badass and You can be One too!

Carpe Diem
-Carpe Diem means seize the day, which most of us remember from the Dead Poets Society.  It has taken me a long time, but a fire finally got lit beneath my butt this year and I'm seizing the day.

You are a Badass by Jen Sincero
-I read this book at the beginning of this year and it has literally changed my life.  If you haven't read it, go buy a copy now!  If you forget, I will be posting lots about it in the near future.

-The subtitle is, How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life.  That is exactly what I've been doing.  As I've started this journey, God led me to the MBA Radio Talent Institute.

MBA (Missouri Broadcaster's Association) Radio Talent Institute
-When I applied, I figured it was a long shot, but I was determined to go for it.  They only accepted 30 people and you were supposed to be a recent college graduate.  I didn't hear anything for awhile and assumed I didn't get in.  While, I was figuring out what my next step was, I heard that I had gotten accepted.  I was in shock and ecstatic at the same time.

Amazing Week
-Today was the 5th day, so I'm halfway through the 10 day program.  It has been such a huge confirmation that this is what I'm meant to do and I'm in the right place.  It's an awesome feeling.

Stay Tuned...
-I'll be sharing lots more in the days and weeks ahead.

What is Your Passion?
- Are you living an awesome life?  Are you following your dreams?  If not, pick up Sincero's, You are a Badass book and start today.