Author: Sue Stock

A Bigger Impact

connected people black paper cutouts

I attended a funeral for a teacher over the weekend, and as with most funerals, I found myself reflecting on my own life. The Deacon pointed out being a teacher can be a tough job, he also noted that a teacher has the opportunity to make a difference every day in the lives of the […]

More Sleep, Please

Why We Sleep book cover

I just finished reading “Why We Sleep” by Matthew Walker and was so stuck by the power of sleep and the lack of it we get, that I decided to use this blog to recommend this book. Sunday morning, I sat down with the Star Tribune and my expresso and was surprised and encouraged to […]

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The Art of Fear

by Kristen Ulmer

Kristen held the title of the worlds best woman extreme skier for twelve years. Based on this, I was expecting a book on overcoming fear as it relates to her sport. I was pleasantly surprised when I realized it was about “transforming our relationship with fear” to freedom in all areas of our life.

Launching a Leadership Revolution

by Chris Brady and Orrin Woodward

The three key elements introduced in this book of leadership are Character, Relationships, and Tasks. Each element is discussed in detail  elaborating on implementation and impact.  

Road to Character

by David Brooks

In my coaching I encourage my clients to balance to their focus between their “Doing” and their “Being”. This is often tricky when society puts so much focus on our productivity and accomplishments. In his book, David Brooks focuses on rebalancing, what he calls, our “resume virtues” and our “eulogy virtues.” It is a good reminder to focus on who we are, not just what we are.

The 5 Languages in the Workplace

by Gary Chapman and Paul White

Dr. Chapman is the author of the Best Selling “The 5 Love Languages”. Working together with Dr. White, they have applied the 5 principles to the workplace, focusing on appreciation of team members. 

Women Don't Ask

by Linda Babcock

Like the old saying “Men don’t ask for directions” – women don’t ask for help, what they want, or need. In Babcock’s book she looks at how men and women negotiate differently and how women can shift their approach to get what they need.  

The E Myth Revisited

by Michael E. Gerber

If you ever thought about starting your own business, this is a must read before you take the leap. It drives home the difference between working “IN” the business and working “ON” the business. As a long-time entrepreneurial I can assure you will wear many hats and work many hours.

The Speed of Trust

by Stephen M.R. Covey

“The one thing that changes everything.” I love the core message in this book. As Covey states,

“Like a ripple in the pond, trust begins within each of us personally, continues into our relationships, expands into our organizations, extends into our marketplace relationships, and ultimately encompasses our global society.”

The Moment of Lift

by Melinda Gates

As Melinda Gates has traveled around the world the one thing she has found to be true is “If you want to lift a society up, you need to stop keeping women down.” Her book talks about the research and the many ways to lift women up, and the direct impact it has on the society they live in. Providing them with education opportunities, family planning, and jobs is at the core.

The Advantage

by Patrick Lencioni

Lencioni’s book focuses on organizational health as the number one competitive advantage for an organization. This aligns with my personal view that the environment and culture we live in has a profound impact on our wellbeing and how we interact in it. He provides many practical examples and guidelines to improving organizational health.

Radical Leap

by Steve Farber

This book is a unique approach to a leadership book, as he uses a parable to weave a story about what it means to be a leader.

Dying for a Paycheck

by Jeffrey Pfeffer

Written in 2018, Pfeffer explores modern work life and the numerous potential dangers to a company’s most valuable asset, its people. He discusses workplace well-being, work life balance, and how happier employees increase productivity and bottom-line improvement.

Your Body is Your Brain

by Amanda Blake

Emotional intelligence is an awareness of one’s emotions and the ability to manage them. Social intelligence is a similar awareness and action as it applies to others. Somatic intelligence is an embodied practice as it relates to both. In this book Amanda explores the somatic competency of sensing in our bodies, and how improving our somatic intelligence works to improve our emotional and social intelligence, and our life.

Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers

by Robert Sapolsky

I think the author, Robert Sapolsky, sums up this book best in the following,

“… if you are (a) zebra running for your life, or (a) lion sprinting for your meal, your body’s physiological response mechanisms are superbly adapted for dealing with such short-term physical emergencies. For the vast majority of beasts on this planet, stress is about a short-term crisis, after which it’s either over with or you’re over with. When we sit around and worry about stressful things, we turn on the same physiological response – but they are potentially a disaster when provoked chronically. A large body of evidence suggests that stress-related disease emerges, predominantly, out of the fact that we so often activate a physiological system that has evolved for responding to acute physical emergencies, but we turn it on for months on end, worrying about mortgages, relationships, and promotions.”

Wired for Love

by Stan Tatkin

Understanding each other in a romantic relationship can sometimes be challenging. This book looks at how we are each wired for love differently, respond to conflict differently, and have different needs and attachment styles. The book presents guiding principles to improve your relationship.

Why We Sleep

by Matthew Walker

I was so struck by the power of sleep and the lack of it we get, that I decided to add this book to my recommended book list. To summarize Walker’s book, I offer some interesting points:

  • The shorter your sleep, the shorter your life span.
  • Sleep is the most effective thing we can do to reset our brain and body health each day.
  • Humans need consistently more than 7 hours of sleep per night to maintain cognitive performance. Chronic sleep loss is linked to Alzheimer’s, anxiety, depression, strokes, cancer, diabetes, heart attacks, infertility, weight management difficulties and immune deficiency.
  • We cannot “sleep back” lost sleep by binge sleeping on the weekends or on vacation.
  • REM sleep fuels creativity, alcohol suppresses REM sleep.
  • Factors that impact a good night sleep include lighting (turn down the lights in the evening), temperature (turn down the temperature for better sleep), electronic devices (don’t use prior to bedtime), alcohol and caffeine (both sleep disruptors).
  • Extreme sleep deprivation cognitively impairs the brain similarly to being legally drunk.

The Tao of Pooh

by Benjamin Hoff

One of my favorite memories as a child was my dad reading Winnie the Pooh to me. So, it is not surprising that I love this book. The best way I can describe this book is a sentence from the forward, “It’s about how to stay happy and calm under all circumstances.” The back sums it up simply, “While Eeyore frets… and Piglet hesitates… and Rabit calculates …and Owl pontificates …Pooh just is.” I have often said it is one of the best Leadership books out there.

The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse

by Charlie Mackesy

The boy, the mole, the fox, and the horse bring together different perspectives, fears, and challenges. Together they teach each other, comfort each other, and open space in their hearts for each other. The story is simple, the drawings are lovely, and the metaphor for all life is spot on.

Tea and Cake with Demons

by Adreanna Limbach

We all have them, those pesky demons, why not invite them to tea and get to know them in lieu of trying to ignore or push them away. In this lighthearted, easy read, the author supports facing our demons and offers practical ways to shift the story line we live by.

Quiet

by Susan Cain

“The power of introverts in a world that can’t stop talking.” As an introvert I found Susan Cain’s book affirming. The extrovert may seek the attention; however, many introverts have made profound changes in society throughout history. Empower the introvert in your life to quietly be all she/he can be.

Mindsight

by Daniel Siegel

In this book Dan Siegel integrates neuroscience and psychotherapy to show how we can each change the wiring of our brain to improve every aspect of our life. He has written several books; most I have read and would recommend.

Love is Letting Go of Fear

by Gerald G. Jampolsky, MD

Everyone I know who has read this says the same thing, “Life changing”. It is an easy read that gives us practical tools for letting go of our past, not trying to predict the future, and focusing on living in the now. Our past and future are often based on fear, when we learn to let go of our fears and live in the now, we can find inner peace and love.

Life Reimagined

by Barbara Bradley Hagerty

Retired? Thinking of retiring? Afraid to retire? This is a great book to explore our next chapter with confidence. It looks at how to identify our gifts and find new creative ways to use them beyond the job that has defined us for so many years.

Cassandra Speaks

by Elizabeth Lesser

What if women were the storytellers of human history? What if women had an equal role in the creation of our future? Elizabeth Lesser encourages women to honor their voice and men to listen.

Neuroscience of Change

by Kelly McGonigal

Kelly McGonigal is a psychologist who has written several books on improving our wellbeing. In this book she brings together scientific findings and Eastern wisdom to provide a process for personal transformation.

Clarity and Connection

by Yung Pueblo

If you are familiar with my coaching, my Blogs, or my leadership style you know I believe the base for success in all areas of our life is “Self-Awareness”. Clarity and Connection is all about turning inward and developing deeper self-awareness. It is easy to read, can be used as a daily focus, or as a journal prompt.

Clarity and Connection

by Yung Pueblo

If you are familiar with my coaching, my Blogs, or my leadership style you know I believe the base for success in all areas of our life is “Self-Awareness”. Clarity and Connection is all about turning inward and developing deeper self-awareness. It is easy to read, can be used as a daily focus, or as a journal prompt.