My favorite tools and resources.
How do I find out about new resources and tools? Mostly from others online generously sharing their favorites. So this page is dedicated to sharing my favorites. You can also visit my Feature Friday tag archive to find additional resources.
Latest update: December 18, 2018
Books
- Building a StoryBrand: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen by Donald Miller. The book compares the plot and characters in a story to your business and customers and helps you understand how to connect with them.
- The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference by Malcolm Gladwell. This book digs into how trends and information spread like an epidemic. From fashion to the drastic reduction of crime in New York City, Gladwell helps you understand how ideas spread. *This is a must read for communicators!
- Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell. This book will challenge your thinking regarding conscious and subconscious decisions. It forces you to evaluate the benefits and drawbacks of your subconscious influences.
- The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan. Much like Essentialism, this book will challenge your assumptions about productivity and success. Read my review.
- Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown. Read my review.
- Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity by David Allen. This is widely considered the authority on productivity. Everyone needs a trusted system for getting things done. This classic was updated in 2015.
- The Art of Work: A Proven Path to Discovering What You Were Meant to Do by Jeff Goins. This book is great for anyone who wants to explore the topic of “calling” whether they be a college student choosing a major, a CEO who still feels like there is more, or an entrepreneur seeking to “design” the ideal life for herself.
- Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us by Seth Godin. This book will challenge your thoughts on leadership and what it means to have a following.
- Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell. Gladwell challenges you to think differently about the factors that contribute to success. Is it pure talent? Is it timing? Is it luck? From hockey to computers, there are more factors involved with success than most of us think.
- Linchpin: Are You Indispensable? by Seth Godin. This book will challenge you to think outside the box when it comes to work. How can you be an “artist” at your job? How can you contribute in a way that makes you a linchpin?
Blogs
- Skip Prichard. Skip is an experienced leader and speaker with a track record of success. His blog is full of valuable articles that he has written as well as by numerous guest writers (Including me!). He is another leader with a people-first, leader-as-servant philosophy.
- Michael Hyatt – His tagline is “Win at work. Succeed at Life.” His blog is full of great ideas and tips for leaders. A former CEO, he now makes his living teaching and coaching others on how to build their platform.
- Leadership Freak. Dan Rockwell has a way of, as his tagline says, “empowering leaders 300 words at a time.” He has a people-first, leader-as-servant philosophy that I greatly appreciate. If you are responsible for leading a team of people you will appreciate his bite-sized blog posts. Be sure to add him to your RSS reader and follow him on Twitter – @LeadershipFreak.
- Seth Godin’s Blog. I am not sure I need to say much about Seth. Certainly an icon when it comes to communication, the internet, and marketing. He has very brief yet thought provoking posts. And numerous books including Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us. One of many helpful resources.
Podcasts
- This is Your Life with Michael Hyatt.
- The Portfolio Life with Jeff Goins
- 5 Leadership Questions with Barnabas Piper and Todd Adkins.
- EntreLeadership Podcast from Dave Ramsey, hosted by Ken Coleman.
- The Way I Heard It from Mike Rowe.
- Revisionist History from Malcolm Gladwell.
Video Tools
- Canon EOS 70D Digital SLR Camera. This is a great option for beginners shooting video on DSLR’s who can’t spring for the 5D which is about twice the price. It is often sold with an 18-135mm zoom lens that can get you started. In the Canon line, I would not recommend any of the lower end cameras if you are wanting to shoot video.
- Canon EOS 5D Mark III (22.3 MP Full Frame Digital SLR Camera) – The go to camera for shooting video on a DSLR. It’s the pricier option, but that is because it’s fantastic! You just need a few good lenses. *The new Canon 5D Mark IV is now available. I have not used it yet, but there isn’t any reason it shouldn’t carry on the legacy of the Mark III.
- Canon “Nifty Fifty” lens (Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens) This inexpensive lens has a fabulously low f-stop which means you can really maximize the depth of field. It is great for interviews and anything for which moving the camera close to your subject isn’t an issue. If you are just starting out, this is a good lens to begin with.
Productivity
- Evernote – your digital notebook/brain.
- Wunderlist – a great task manager. Part of my “trusted system”.
- Spark – email client for iOS. For me, Spark replaced Mailbox (when it was discontinued).
- Trello
- Workflowy
