SHARPENING YOUR SAW

WE ALL TEND TO GET CAUGHT UP IN PRODUCING WORK AND DELIVERING RESULTS. WHILST THIS IS IMPORTANT, A BALANCE MUST BE MAINTAINED BETWEEN PRODUCING AND TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF.

By Mr GRAHAM CORNELISSEN RT 217, Southern Africa

Rest and meditation are critically important in our lives, but so is personal growth. In preparation for my role as RTI President, I read several books for my personal development. This helped me be as prepared as possible for what is to come.

Should you not have the time to read these books, try listening to an audiobook. Cheap and flexible, this option allows to you keep on growing whilst driving to work or going for a walk. The retention of information versus reading is comparable. I have found that Audible has an extensive range of books that can be listened to. Here is a breakdown of some of the best books I read/listened to in the past:

UNDERSTANDING LIFE: MAN'S SEARCH FOR MEANING ViCtor franKl

Writer Victor frankl spent multiple years in a nazi death camp. he survived unimaginable horrors and lived through this. as a psychiatrist, he used his time and suffering to develop a new approach in psychotherapy, called logotherapy. the principle of this theory is that a person's primary motivation in life is to search for meaning. i found this a chilling book to read at times and struggled with some of my mind's imagery. after finishing this and some reflection, i understood the source material and the role that suffering plays in our lives. i took away the importance of finding meaning and helping others find meaning in their lives and have been trying to do so ever since.

GAINING A PERSONAL VICTORY: THE SEVEN HABITS OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE PEOPLE stephen CoVeY

one of the most influential business books of the 20th century and is still relevant today. inspiring and impactful, the lessons contained herein has captivated millions of people for more than 3 decades. the 7 habits are famous and integrated into the lives and behaviour of millions of people worldwide. anyone can find value in reading his book and adopting the habits contained within. this is probably the book that has had the most significant impact on my life and is something that i review once a year. i always find new bits of forgotten information here that make me improve and remind me of the work already done. i use this fantastic resource to centre myself when presented with a personal or professional dilemma.

INSPIRING OTHERS: START WITH WHY simon sineK

Used in one of the most popular ted talks ever, starting with why started a global movement. Using practical examples, simon shows that why we do things are infinitely more important than what or how we do something. the golden Circle idea provides a framework for which movements can be built, and people can be inspired. finding your why and communicating this leads to commitment to you and your ideas. before taking on any new task, i ask myself why i want to do this. this helped me define my purpose and set out clearly what drives me. this further helps you define success and anchors you during tough times. this has also helped me communicate with others in a more open and trusting manner. once you start asking why you also start others for their why and this has proven to be very insightful.

UNDERSTANDING THE EFFECT OF SMALL ACTIONS: THE POWER OF HABIT Charles dUhigg

taking a very scientific approach to how habits are formed, Charles duhigg shares vast research and information on how the brain works. practical examples are given regarding how this knowledge has been used in real-world situations, from the boardroom to professional sports. getting a proper understanding of how habits work makes it easy to be more productive, find time, and achieve success in our lives. habit building is one of the keys to success. i have found that everyone has dreams, plans and goals, but converting that to results often goes awry. this is where the understanding and building of habits come into play. Understanding why you do or do not do certain things and then having the tools to program your inner code is the difference between a goal on paper and an impact made in life.

THE OLD AND THE NEW: THE MONK WHO SOLD HIS FERRARI robin sharma

timeless teachings from the east meets the modern approach from the West. told as a story, this book helps you find meaning in life in some of life's most important questions. a focus on mind, body and soul is used to demonstrate the importance of balance in your life. a system of living is introduced where you can become your best self.

Unlike many of the books on the list, this is not purely scientifically or experienced driven. We must remember that ancient wisdom is to be cherished and understood. Where this meets modern thinking, a balance is needed to decide on the way forward. i used this to understand the view of different cultures and include age-old wisdom whenever possible. the advice in this book is lifechanging and something that i plan to put more energy towards in the future.

CHALLENGING THE STATUS QUO: PRINCIPLES raY dalio

as the founder and Ceo of the most successful investment firms globally, ray dalio has more than 40 years of experience to share. he argues that many aspects of life can be broken down into simple rules to be followed. he introduces concepts such as "radical truth" and "radical transparency" that allows individuals and teams to make more effective decisions. With more than 100 principles and practical lessons, it is impossible to read this only once. reading an autobiography is easy as this tells a life story and provides some lessons and insights into the person. principles go way beyond that. the principle of radical transparency is something that i try to imbue in all i do. the biggest takeaway from this for me was how to make decisions whilst understanding how different personalities play their roles. i believability weigh most of my decisions and note that this has contributed to an increase in making more of the right decisions.

SETTING GOALS: THE 10X RULE grant Cordone

extreme success lies beyond regular action. achieving extreme success means not settling for mediocrity and forces you to operate where others choose not to. this book teaches you how to reach these levels of success by removing luck from the equation and how to get the best guarantee of achieving your goals. the concept of massive action is introduced, showing how this impacts the work and success of any team.

We all know how to set goals for ourselves. its easy, and almost anyone can do it. but do we set ourselves really ambitious goals? i realised that most of my goals align with others and what was done in the past. truly understanding our motto of adopt, adapt, improve is helped by this book showing that we need to break the moulds that we live in. We must not be afraid to dream big, even if we fail.

WINNING AS A TEAM: THE FIVE DYSFUNCTIONS OF A TEAM patriCK lenCioni

Written as a parable, this book tells the story of a new Ceo who took over the dysfunctional executive team of a silicon Valley firm. fictional examples followed by real-life solutions are presented for each of the 5 dysfunctions a team can have. leading a team has inherent difficulties. this book shows how this can be identified and addressed in an easy-to-understand manner. leading a diverse team of members from all over the world is not easy. being entrusted with a team, this book assists me in identifying problems and resolving them. as every individual is different, every team is unique with their unique challenges. resolving all issues in a team might not always be possible, this book helps me to get the maximum from my team members.

TAKING RESPONSIBILITY: EXTREME OWNERSHIP JoCKo WillinK & leif babin

Written by two Us navy seal officers, they share their practical experience into powerful leadership lessons that are applied from the battlefield to everyday life. all concepts are introduced with real-life combat experiences. this then gets explained and translated into easy to understand and practical advice. after their service, having started a successful consulting company, these lessons prove in high demand by many corporate teams throughout the world.

Understanding responsibility when leading a team is often misunderstood. one of the key concepts here is "extreme ownership". the leader takes full responsibility for the successes and failures of the team. in theory, this is simple, but the practical application rarely sees this happen. an enjoyable book with simple and proven lessons helps me act in high-stress situations.

A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE: LEAN IN sherYl sandberg

an inspiring book, dealing with women and power in the modern era. Urging women to take risks, seek new challenges and do work that fulfils them, whilst remaining driven and engaged. based on an earlier ted talk by sheryl, this contains personal lessons and stories based on her life and other successful women. a different perspective is one of the most important gifts that we can get. lean in provided me with a woman's view on our current culture and how this impacts different people. being a male-only organisation, it was clear that we have plenty to learn from our women, but we never really got around to this. i learnt to start seeing these different perspectives from different people and cultures and how my actions affect others.

Bonus book

MAKING CLUBS WORK brad parKes

as a past tabler with vast experience, brad understands the challenges we face. he has developed tried and tested strategies told in an easy-to-follow story approach. billy, a young man, is mentored by his boss alex and introduced into a new club. the 7 big mistakes that many clubs make and how to fix these are critical for all round table clubs. lessons for greatness follows to take your journey to the next level. this should be mandatory reading for anyone wanting to become a table chairman. not a long book to read. the value for tablers is immense.

TLDR Self-improvement is critical in our daily lives, not only as a Tabler. Reading a good book with practical applications can help you unlock your full potential. Audiobooks are great for people struggling with time as they offer a cheap and viable alternative to reading, especially when re-listening to a book.