Mark’s Favorite Books to Help You Meet Your Personal Development Goals
As a custom home builder, you might not expect personal development to play a crucial role in my business. But if you’ve ever met me, you know that continuous learning and growth are what I’m all about!l Expanding my mindset and habits directly influences how I approach business, family, and all of life. Here are my top book recommendations for personal growth, professional success, and overall well-being.
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My Favorite Books for Personal Development Goals
1. Unreasonable Hospitality
A story about a restaurant in New York that redefined the guest experience, Unreasonable Hospitality shows how going above and beyond in personal and professional relationships can set a business apart.
My Key Takeaway: Hospitality isn’t just for the service industry—it can be applied to any field, including home building! Exceptional client experiences and communication skills create long-lasting relationships and referrals.
2. Atomic Habits
This book focuses on the power of small, consistent changes and how they compound over time. One of the biggest lessons I took away was habit stacking—pairing a habit you already have with a new one to make it stick. and help you achieve your personal and professional goals!
Key Takeaway: I’ve applied this principle by stacking good habits into my daily routine, making small but impactful improvements in both my career goals and personal life!
3. Four Thousand Weeks
This book challenges conventional productivity hacks and instead encourages prioritizing what truly matters. The idea that the average human life lasts about 4,000 weeks is a powerful reminder to use time wisely and take actionable steps!
Key Takeaway: If you're really good at answering emails, people just email you more. The best way to get fewer emails? Send fewer emails! Basically, it means that being overly efficient often leads to taking on more, not freeing up time. I’ve had to learn to be more intentional about what I commit to.
4. Relentless
Written by Tim Grover, the personal trainer to Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, Relentless explores the mindset of champions and how to push beyond limits.
Key Takeaway: Success requires an unshakable mindset and full commitment to achievable goals. I try to apply this relentless drive in both business and personal pursuits!
5. Born to Run
Even if you're not a runner, this book is inspiring. It explores the fascinating history of human endurance and movement.
Key Takeaway: Running is one of the simplest and most effective ways to improve both physical health and mental strength. It’s a reminder to incorporate movement into daily life for better well-being.
6. Living with a SEAL
This book is about Jesse Itzler’s experience living with a Navy SEAL for a month. It’s both funny and motivating, showing how much we are capable of when we push past our perceived limits!
Key Takeaway: Growth happens outside our comfort zones. I’ve tried to take this lesson to heart by challenging myself in new ways as often as I can and setting ambitious goals.
7. Eat That Frog
A classic productivity book that encourages tackling the biggest, most difficult tasks first.
Key Takeaway: I’ve implemented a system where every Monday, I identify four big tasks and complete them first before diving into the rest of the week. It’s made a huge difference!
Have kids? Check out Mark’s top 7 favorite kids books!
What I’m Currently Reading
Right now, I’m reading Deep Survival by Laurence Gonzales.
It was given to me by Tony Kocanda, someone I run with often. I’m only halfway through, but it dives into why we take risks and how training our bodies impacts our decision-making. It’s a fascinating look into human psychology and why we do what we do!
I love the psychology behind decision-making and how it affects all areas of personal and professional life.
Prioritizing Personal Development Goals
Personal development is an ongoing journey, and these books have played a key role in shaping my mindset, business strategies, leadership skills, and daily habits. Whether you're a builder, entrepreneur, or just someone looking to grow, these books are worth adding to your list!