In studying hundreds of top performers from many different industries, I have realized they share a few common characteristics. One of those characteristics is the habit of constantly trying to improve their minds. They are relentless in the pursuit of a subtle idea that can improve some part of their performance. It doesn't matter whether they are an actor, athlete, entertainer, teacher, manager, salesperson or any other role. They are constantly searching for ways to improve. After winning the 2000 U.S. Open, Tiger Woods said, "I can tell you one thing and this is something I've said before, and I will continue to say: 'I'm going to try to get better. You're always trying to work on things in this game, trying to get a little better." If the greatest golfer in the world can look for ways to improve, certainly you and I can dig for those details that will make us more effective.

One way to enhance our performance is by reading on a regular basis: books, magazines, newspapers and so on. The key is to look for and capture a few key ideas from every reading session. By simply learning or being reminded of a practical idea for improving our lives and then applying the idea as soon as possible, we can turn our lives into a constant state of continuous improvement. Here are the books and authors I've read over the last ten years who have had the greatest influence on me.

Og Mandino

All of his books have been inspiring to me because their essence is extraordinarily simple. He has a way of reminding the reader of the important things in life. My favorite book of his is "The Greatest Miracle In The World." I suggest you start with that one and then try his others. There are eighteen or so altogether.

Wooden by John Wooden

This is a classic. The famous basketball coach narrows his pragmatic philosophy of life to simple, clear ideas that we can apply on a regular basis regardless of what we do.

Leading With The Heart by Mike Krzyzewski

This is a great book on group dynamics and how to get the most out of any organization. Coach K is the coach of the wildly successful Duke University basketball team, and he explains how coaching (or managing) is really a series of balancing acts: between structure and flexibility, between firmness and compassion and between directing and facilitating.

The Discipline Of Market Leaders by Michael Treacy and Fred Wiersema

This is a classic for both big and small businesses on how to position their company. Essentially, there are three ways to be a market leader: operational excellence (McDonald's and Wal-Mart), product excellence (Sony and Disney) and customer intimacy (Home Depot and Airborne Express). I prefer the latter in my business, but the book helps you to understand these three mindsets. It has helped me a great deal as I have made decisions in building my business.

Keeping The Love You Find by Harville Hendrix

This book really clarifies why we are attracted to the people we want to build long-term relationships with and why this interaction can be frustrating at times. Once I understood this concept it really impacted my behavior. There is a follow-up book called "Keeping The Love You Want" which is very good as well.

Organizing Genius by Warren Bennis and Patricia Ann Biederman

These two authors do a great job of explaining how truly great groups are formed and what the role of the leader and of the team members are within the group. I recommend pages 1-31 and 196-218 on a frequent basis. The stories between these sections are fascinating. Another favorite of mine by Warren Bennis is "Old Dogs, New Tricks."

Built To Last by James Collins and Jerry Porras

This book describes the common habits that truly superb companies maintain over an extended period of time. I commonly recommend pages 22-114. The key concepts are "Preserve The Core/Stimulate Progress" and "Be A Clock Builder." The ideas can be applied in both very big and very small companies.

Healing Back Pain by Dr. John Sarno

This was literally a life saver for me. For years my back would go out and keep me out for several days. I read this book roughly eighteen months ago and my back has had no problem since then. I no longer have to stretch three times a day or put ice and heat on my back. He explains clearly the connection between the mind and the body and how ignoring stress can actually generate incredible back pain. If you have a bad back, I encourage you to RUN to read this book.

Million-Dollar Consulting by Alan Weiss

This is a classic on consulting, particularly for those people who run their own consulting firms. It is packed with practical advice on how to build a successful professional services firm, base fees on value and grow your business exponentially without having to invest exponential time and effort.

Sacred Hoops by Phil Jackson

The key concept of the book is the same as his famous "Triangle Offense." Successful performers operate with freedom inside of a fixed structure. That is, they define their boundaries, but within those boundaries they have the flexibility to make the right decision at any given moment. This same concept was taught by Vince Lombardi in his famous Packer Sweep. It works on the basketball court and it works in life.

Walt Disney: An American Original by Bob Thomas

Walt Disney is a great example of being a craftsman. He loved creating entertainment. He held onto his passion for his entire lifetime and never let go. In the end, he created a body of work that was extraordinarily successful both in terms of bringing joy to others, but also in terms of being a business success. What a role model for all entrepreneurs who see themselves as craftsmen and are constantly trying to hone their craft.

Scott Peck

He has written so many good books it is hard to narrow it down. "The Road Less Traveled", "The Road Less Traveled And Beyond" and "A World Waiting To Be Born" are all exceptionally good. His greatest talent is his ability to define his terms and then combine those definitions in ways that create very powerful concepts. I think we would all be better communicators if we took the time to define what we mean by the words we use.

The Autobiography Of Martin Luther King, Jr edited by Clayborne Carson

If I could only recommend one book on leadership, it would be this book. His conviction, compassion, energy level, sustainability, and ability to articulate a message are all of superstar quality. He is the finest example of leadership that I have ever studied. Read it, study it and then consider how you can be as effective of a leader in your personal and professional life.

Gandhi - An Autobiography, The Story Of My Experiments With The Truth

This would be my second recommendation for a powerful book on leadership. He is the greatest personification of integrity that I have ever come across. If you want to study a person with an exceptionally strong character, then I recommend that you read this book.

Shakti Gawain

She is one of the founders of the New Age movement. Several of her books impacted my thought processes including: "Return To The Garden", "Creative Visualization", "Living In The Light" and "The Path Of Transformation." She really has an inspiring way of explaining how our lives can be a medium of positive and enriching energy in the world. With this mindset, it becomes easier to let go of the petty issues in life and focus more of our time and making a difference in the world.

A Return To Love by Marianne Williamson

This book explains how we can love in both a theoretical and practical manner. Her message resonated with me because it cut through so much of the external labels that we can worry so much about and emphasized the importance of relationships in our lives. It is a very readable book that has influenced my behaviors.

The Measure Of A Man by Sidney Poitier

This is another book about integrity, but it is quite different from Gandhi's. He openly admits that he has made mistakes and that he has struggled with trying to deal with his emotions. He is very sincere and genuine in telling his story and his rise to stardom. Again, it was his commitment to his craft that made all of the difference.

Pieces Of Time by Gary Fishall

This is a biography of Jimmy Stewart, another of my all-time favorite actors. What really comes across in this book is Stewart's life-long desire to hone his craft. He is a truly down-to-earth individual who rises to greatness because of his commitment to continually playing roles that he believed in. This is very similar to Sidney Poitier. They never took an acting job unless they really believed in their character and the role they were portraying.

Brian Tracy was once asked as to what was the key to being a great speaker. He said, "Speak and speak and speak and speak and ..." If you asked me what I thought the key was to being a great performer in any field, I would say, "Learn and learn and learn and learn and ..." One great place to start is by reading and reading.

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