In 'Show Your Work!', Austin Kleon provides a manifesto for succeeding as any kind of artist or entrepreneur in the digital age. The book emphasizes the importance of generosity over genius, getting 'findable' by using the network, and self-discovery through sharing your creative process. It offers ten transformative rules for being open, generous, brave, and productive, including chapters on sharing something small every day, engaging with your audience, and the etiquette of sharing online. The book is filled with illustrations, quotes, stories, and examples to inspire and guide readers in their creative journeys[2][3][4].
In 'The Coaching Habit,' Michael Bungay Stanier provides a straightforward and effective approach to coaching. Drawing on his extensive experience training managers worldwide, he introduces seven essential coaching questions designed to help managers unlock their team's potential. These questions include the Kickstart Question, the AWE Question, the Lazy Question, the Strategic Question, the Focus Question, the Foundation Question, and the Learning Question. The book emphasizes the importance of saying less and asking more, fostering a collaborative and empowering work environment. It combines practical advice with research in neuroscience and behavioral economics, making coaching a daily, informal part of managerial work rather than a formal event.
Rework by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson presents a fresh and unconventional approach to business. The book argues against traditional business practices such as writing business plans, seeking outside investors, and staffing up. Instead, it advocates for a simpler, more efficient way of doing business, emphasizing the importance of productivity, avoiding unnecessary meetings and paperwork, and ignoring the competition. The authors draw from their experiences at 37signals (now Basecamp) to provide practical advice and examples that support their counterintuitive ideas. The book is designed to inspire and provoke readers to rethink their approach to work and entrepreneurship.
That beautiful leather-bound journal you bought with the best intentions? The one now gathering dust under a pile of books? You're not alone.
After 40 years of failed journaling attempts, Michael Bungay Stanier finally cracked the code to sustainable reflection—and it's likely nothing like what you've tried before.
Michael is the author behind the Wall Street Journal bestseller The Coaching Habit (which Brené Brown called "a classic"), with over 1.5 million books sold worldwide. Named the #1 Thought Leader in Coaching by Thinkers50, his insights have been featured in Harvard Business Review, Forbes, and Fast Company.
In this conversation, Michael shares:
- His surprisingly simple journaling breakthrough that eliminates the most common barriers to consistency
- A powerful weekly reflection framework that drives tangible results (not just empty introspection)
- The counterintuitive boundary system he uses to prevent work overload while maximizing impact
- Why he rejects popular "word of the year" goal-setting (and what he does instead)
Whether you're a serial journal abandoner or simply seeking more intentional reflection practices, Michael's practical approach offers a refreshing alternative to traditional journaling methods that actually sticks.
Key Quotes:
“One thing that is really helpful is just to know I don’t have to say yes right away.”
“I have failed to successfully journal since I was 16. I’m now 57, so I’ve been attempting to journal for 40 years.”
“If you just start asking yourself what you want day in and day out it just starts forcing a deep clarity.”
Connect with Michael via his website, Instagram, LinkedIn, or buy the Do Something That Matters Journal.
My latest book The Health Habit is out now. You can order a copy here: https://www.amantha.com/the-health-habit/
Connect with me on the socials: Linkedin (https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanthaimber)
Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/amanthai)
If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work and live, I write a weekly newsletter where I share practical and simple to apply tips to improve your life. You can sign up for that at https://amantha-imber.ck.page/subscribe
Visit https://www.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.
Get in touch at amantha@inventium.com.au
Credits:
Host: Amantha Imber
Sound Engineer: The Podcast Butler
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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