Category Archives: Personal Development

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282: Theodor Geisel and the Making of an American Imagination

With Becoming Dr. Seuss author Brian Jay Jones

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I love biographies. As it turns out, so do many listeners to Read to Lead.

Other than an audio summary once or twice, I’ve never featured an interview with a biographer on the show before.

brian jay jones

That is about to change as, today, I welcome author Brian Jay Jones.

His latest book, released earlier this year, is called Becoming Dr. Seuss: Theodor Geisel and the Making of an American Imagination.

If you love biographies as much as I do, especially ones exploring the lives of creative people, be sure and check out Brian’s other books (linked below).

Click the play button below to join our conversation now, or keep scrolling for a summary.

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278: How to Become the Leader You Would Follow

With author Scott Jeffrey Miller

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More than in recent memory, I have a ton in common with today’s guest on Read to Lead.

That’s the fact that we both have learned many valuable leadership lessons the hard way.

scott jeffrey miller

His name is Scott Jeffrey Miller of FranklinCovey, and his new book is called Management Mess to Leadership Success: 30 Challenges to Become the Leader You Would Follow.

I saw my past self (thankfully) in so much of what Scott writes regarding his past leadership mistakes.

It’s an incredibly useful book for leaders, particularly Challenge 12 on leading difficult conversations, and one I read cover to cover.

For more on how to become the leader you would follow, check out today’s interview by hitting “play” below.

For a summary of our conversation, keep reading.

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275: Get Better Work, Take More Time Off, and Finance the Life You Want in the Gig Economy

With Diane Mulcahy

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If you’ve followed me even for a few months, you probably know that one of my favorite topics is the changing world of work.

In fact, in late April, I hosted an online conference called the Boss-Free Virtual Summit, an event whose purpose was to help as many as possible discover all that is available to them in the non-traditional work world.

diane mulcahy

One speaker you might say I totally missed out on having at the summit is today’s podcast guest, Diane Mulcahy.

Why? Well, her most recent book, released in 2016, is exactly the kind of book designed to help the person I described above.

It’s called The Gig Economy: The Complete Guide to Getting Better Work, Taking More Time Off, and Financing the Life You Want.

Diane even teaches an MBA-level course on this very topic at Babson College. In fact, the exercises at the end of each chapter are just like the ones she assigns her students. This book is well worth your time, especially if you hope to be ready for the future of work.

For a summary of our conversation about the gig economy, keep reading. To listen now, click the play button below.

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Encore Episode: 5 Killer Books on Public Speaking and Effective Communication

Featuring Alan Alda, Michael Port, and more!

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As I take some time off to visit with family, I decided to create this special encore episode just for you.

If you’re new or relatively new to the podcast, chances are good you’ve not experienced Episode #200 before. And if you’ve missed Episode #200, you’re even less likely to have heard the five interviews featured in it.

episode 200

These five interviews just happen to be among my all-time favorites, and not just because they include discussions on one of my favorite topics.

Click the “play” button below for more on the topic of effective public speaking and communication.

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274: An Audio Summary of Free to Focus by Michael Hyatt

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Every month for the past two-plus years, I’ve been meeting with members of my online book club to talk through the most recent book we’ve gone through together.

Last month, that book was one whose focus is on productivity. But not just any kind of productivity system. No.

jeff brown

This productivity book gets right what so many in my view get wrong: how to actually achieve more by doing less.

The book in question is called Free to Focus: A Total Productivity System to Achieve More by Doing Less, and the author is Michael Hyatt.

This is by far one of the most practical books I’ve read in a long time. It’s one you’ll find super easy to take action on. After all, that’s the point, right?

For a brief written summary, keep reading. To listen now, click the play button below.

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