Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins

Everyone deals with adversity in life which gives you two choices face it head-on or start making excuses. This book is a courageous account of one man who changed his mindset from making those excuses to taking accountability for his situation. Throughout the book he tells amazingly inspiring stories of how he takes on mainly physical challenges, that most would never even consider attempting, to develop his mind to push past what he previously thought were his weaknesses. To me, this principle can be applied to practically any portion of your life that you may feel overwhelmed by. After reading this book I realized that it was not my circumstances that limited but how I perceive those circumstances.

In life pain is mandatory but suffering is optional, and this book provides some interesting insights into how to deal with the pain. This book is not for the faint of heart but if you are looking for ways to push the needle of your success just a little bit farther this book might be exactly what you are looking for.

How To Win Friends And Influence People by Dale Carnegie

This is a simple book that basically explains how people think and what motivates them. In the diverse world of the fire service, the ability to effectively speak with and interact with people will help you become more successful.

Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, and Al Switzer

I see this book as a road map or instruction booklet in how to have those tough conversations that everyone avoids. No likes confrontation, but what if you could turn that confrontation into a positive outcome?

Resolved: 13 Resolutions for Life by Orrin Woodward

I was asked to read this book as part of a leadership program and it immediately caught my interest because it discusses the leadership styles and insights of some of our founding fathers along with several others.

Each of us have the ability to accomplish great things and this book helps provide some direction on how to reach them. 

The Mission, The Men, and Me by Pete Blaber

As we move up in our organizations, I think we have the potential to lose focus on why we are doing what we do. This book is a reality check of how that lack of focus cost good men their lives. He also shares anecdotal lessons that should remind leaders how to maintain that focus.

Into the Unknown by Jack Uldrich

I read this book after seeing it on Bill’s list and was blown away. Sure I had heard of the Lewis and Clark expedition but never really gave much thought to how difficult it had to be to accomplish from a leadership standpoint. Each chapter covers a unique characteristic of this incredible leadership endeavor.

Spoiler alert, the point about optimism seems obvious but when you think about it is so underutilized. 

Leadership Secrets of Attila the Hun by Wes Roberts

I think most aggressive firefighters pride themselves on having a warrior’s mentality, and this book is about leading those types of personalities. Although it is not a historical account, it does a good job of using a historical figure as a centerpiece to put good leadership principles into a perspective that is informative and entertaining.