Ben Meer

Personal Development 2.0. I write about systems and high-performance living Cornell MBA • NASM Trainer

We may earn commissions for purchases made via this page

Book Recommendations:

BM

Recommended by Ben Meer

@thejustinwelsh 100%. The book Show Your Work by Austin Kleon is a great primer on this. (from X)

In his New York Times bestseller Steal Like an Artist, Austin Kleon showed readers how to unlock their creativity by “stealing” from the community of other movers and shakers. Now, in an even more forward-thinking and necessary book, he shows how to take that critical next step on a creative journey―getting known. Show Your Work! is about why generosity trumps genius. It’s about getting findable, about using the network instead of wasting time “networking.” It’s not self-promotion, it’s self-discovery―let others into your process, then let them steal from you. Filled with illustrations, quotes, stories, and examples, Show Your Work! offers ten transformative rules for being open, generous, brave, productive. In chapters such as You Don’t Have to Be a Genius; Share Something Small Every Day; and Stick Around, Kleon creates a user’s manual for embracing the communal nature of creativity― what he calls the “ecology of talent.” From broader life lessons about work (you can’t find your voice if you don’t use it) to the etiquette of sharing―and the dangers of oversharing―to the practicalities of Internet life (build a good domain name; give credit when credit is due), it’s an inspiring manifesto for succeeding as any kind of artist or entrepreneur in the digital age.

BM

Recommended by Ben Meer

The 5 Second Rule is a best-selling book by Mel Robbins. (And, no, she's not talking about eating food off the floor!) Instead, she shares a research-based technique to eliminate overthinking. Here's the breakdown: (from X)

Nearly 2 million copies soldAudible's #1 Nonfiction Book of the YearAmazon's 6th Most Read Book of the Year100,000 five star reviews (across all formats)Published in 33 languagesMillions of lives changedLearn the fastest way to change your life. The 5 Second Rule is the secret to changing anything about your life. You can use the Rule and its countdown method to break any bad habit, interrupt self-doubt and negative self-talk, and push yourself to take the actions that will change your life. If you struggle with motivation... If you are tired of doubting yourself... If you know what you want but can't make yourself go get it... You NEED The 5 Second Rule. The secret to changing your life isn't knowing what to do--it's knowing how to make yourself do it. It's a simple tool, backed by research, and it has changed the lives of millions. It will work for you too. Using the science of habits, riveting stories, and surprising facts from some of the most famous moments in history, Mel Robbins will explain the power of a five second decision. You'll also meet and inspired by hundreds of people around the world who are using the Rule to achieve their goals, reach their potential, and chase their dreams. In the book, you'll learn the inspiring and relatable story of how Mel invented the 5 Second Rule during the worst moment of her life, when her anxiety and finances were so bad, she could barely get out of bed. Since creating the Rule, Mel has shared it with audiences around the world, the most respected brands, and people who want to make real and lasting change. Easy. Accessible. Science-backed. Proven. You are just five seconds away from a totally different life. Read the book and you'll learn the secret to creating it.

BM

Recommended by Ben Meer

@tweetsbyejordan How to Win Friends & Influence People is a great book to start! (from X)

You can go after the job you want—and get it! You can take the job you have—and improve it! You can take any situation—and make it work for you!Dale Carnegie’s rock-solid, time-tested advice has carried countless people up the ladder of success in their business and personal lives. One of the most groundbreaking and timeless bestsellers of all time, How to Win Friends & Influence People will teach you: -Six ways to make people like you -Twelve ways to win people to your way of thinking -Nine ways to change people without arousing resentment And much more! Achieve your maximum potential—a must-read for the twenty-first century with more than 15 million copies sold!

BM

Recommended by Ben Meer

The Rule of Automation Defaults are powerful because people are lazy. So make savings your default by automating it. I highly recommend the book “I Will Teach You to Be Rich” @ramit Lessons: • Save and invest money before you ever see it • Create an automated money system (from X)

As seen on the new NETFLIX series! The groundbreaking NEW YORK TIMES and WALL STREET JOURNAL BESTSELLER that taught a generation how to earn more, save more, and live a rich life—now in a revised 2nd edition. Buy as many lattes as you want. Choose the right accounts and investments so your money grows for you—automatically. Best of all, spend guilt-free on the things you love. Personal finance expert Ramit Sethi has been called a “wealth wizard” by Forbes and the “new guru on the block” by Fortune. Now he’s updated and expanded his modern money classic for a new age, delivering a simple, powerful, no-BS 6-week program that just works. I Will Teach You to Be Rich will show you: • How to crush your debt and student loans faster than you thought possible • How to set up no-fee, high-interest bank accounts that won’t gouge you for every penny • How Ramit automates his finances so his money goes exactly where he wants it to—and how you can do it too • How to talk your way out of late fees (with word-for-word scripts) • How to save hundreds or even thousands per month (and still buy what you love) • A set-it-and-forget-it investment strategy that’s dead simple and beats financial advisors at their own game • How to handle buying a car or a house, paying for a wedding, having kids, and other big expenses—stress free • The exact words to use to negotiate a big raise at work Plus, this 10th anniversary edition features over 80 new pages, including: • New tools • New insights on money and psychology • Amazing stories of how previous readers used the book to create their rich lives Master your money—and then get on with your life.

BM

Recommended by Ben Meer

https://t.co/nC7EEZ5yvd Use this website to download the free book: “The Almanack of Naval Ravikant” (In my Top 3 favorite books of all time) Lessons: • Money and happiness are skills • Productize yourself • Play long-term iterated games • And much, much more. https://t.co/DxaZnpHFGY (from X)

Getting rich is not just about luck; happiness is not just a trait we are born with. These aspirations may seem out of reach, but building wealth and being happy are skills we can learn. So what are these skills, and how do we learn them? What are the principles that should guide our efforts? What does progress really look like? Naval Ravikant is an entrepreneur, philosopher, and investor who has captivated the world with his principles for building wealth and creating long-term happiness. The Almanack of Naval Ravikant is a collection of Naval's wisdom and experience from the last ten years, shared as a curation of his most insightful interviews and poignant reflections. This isn't a how-to book, or a step-by-step gimmick. Instead, through Naval's own words, you will learn how to walk your own unique path toward a happier, wealthier life. This book has been created as a public service. It is available for free download in pdf and 3-reader versions on Navalmanack.com. Naval is not earning any money on this book. Naval has essays, podcasts and more at Nav.al and is on Twitter @Naval.

BM

Recommended by Ben Meer

In The Art of Focus, Dan Koe masterfully reveals the game of life. Koe emerges as a modern philosopher and pragmatic guide, showing readers how to be main characters and level up. It's a book about seeing straight, aiming right, and the art of winning - inspiring, tactical, profound. (from Amazon)

Look around. We are on the brink of catastrophe. A dystopia of excessive pleasure, comfort, and a false sense of security as to how successful you will be is no longer just a relatable movie scene. Since birth, you were spoon-fed ideas, beliefs, and routines that program you into the same default path as everyone else. This leads to the same quality of life as everyone else. It’s no wonder why most people feel anxious, overwhelmed, and have a cloud of meaninglessness hovering over their heads at all times. Focus is the cure. But not the narrow focus we associate with deep work and study. Focus is what separates action from distraction, meaning from meaningless, and success from failure. Focus is how you conduct your own adventure to stop hurling toward the dead end that was assigned to you by society for their benefit. This will be a painful journey to find meaning, reinvent yourself, and create your ideal future. The only thing more painful than seeing what you are capable of is not seeing what you are capable of, and I can’t think of anything more worthwhile to dedicate your life to.