12 Books That Changed My Life
Ever had that moment where you finish a book and think...
“Dang. I’m gonna do life differently now.”
That’s what these 12 books did for me.
They’ve shaped how I think…
how I lead…
how I parent…
how I build businesses…
I've dog-eared these pages, scribbled in margins, and recommended them so many times my friends probably think I'm getting kickbacks from the publishers.
(I'm not... unfortunately)
And today, I want to share them with you.
Not in a “here’s a list, go Google it” kind of way.
But with some of the best takeaways, quotes, and why they hit me so hard—so you can decide which one’s next on your shelf.
Let’s dive in.
1. Buy Back Your Time by Dan Martell
This book solved one of the biggest entrepreneurial paradoxes I've ever faced:
Why do so many business owners grow to HATE the very businesses they built?
Dan's "Buyback Loop" has become my business mantra:
AUDIT your time ruthlessly
TRANSFER or delete low-impact tasks
FILL your calendar with only high-impact work that energizes you
The most powerful concept?
Calculating your "Buyback Rate" - the actual dollar amount of what your time is worth.
Once you know this number, decisions about hiring and delegating become crystal clear.
Read this if you’re buried in busywork and starting to resent the business you built.
2. The 5 Types of Wealth by Sahil Bloom
People obsess over money.
But this book reminds you that time, relationships, health, and purpose are just as important.
Sahil brilliantly outlines how to build wealth across five dimensions:
Time wealth (freedom/autonomy)
Social wealth (relationships/network)
Mental wealth (knowledge/wisdom)
Physical wealth (health/energy)
Financial wealth (money/assets)
The true revelation?
You can be "rich" but deeply poor if you're only winning in one dimension.
I've since restructured my goals to ensure I'm making deposits across all five accounts daily.
If you want a full, rich life (not just a fat bank account), start here.
3. 10X is Easier than 2X by Dan Sullivan & Ben Hardy
This book forces you to focus only on what really matters.
It shows that thinking bigger actually makes things simpler.
Why?
Because 10X goals force you to:
Rethink your entire approach
Ditch ineffective systems
Create entirely new solutions
When you try for 2X growth, you just work harder within your existing (broken) frameworks.
This book taught me to stop pushing harder against walls and instead look for the doors I wasn't seeing.
If you feel stuck in the grind, this will shake you loose.
4. Getting Things Done by David Allen
Before GTD, I was constantly juggling tasks in my head, dropping balls, and feeling scattered.
Allen's system gave me:
A reliable "second brain" to capture EVERYTHING
A clear process for organizing inputs
A framework for weekly reviews
The result?
Mental clarity that allows me to dive into deep work without the anxiety of forgetting important commitments.
This isn't just about checking boxes—it's about creating the mental space needed for creativity and strategic thinking.
If you want to get into flow and stop dropping balls, this is your blueprint.
ALSO, I use Notion for my system and created a video showing how I use it. Just reply and tell me if you want to check that out.
5. The War of Art by Steven Pressfield
If you've ever felt that invisible force holding you back from doing your best work...
Pressfield named it: Resistance.
This book punched me in the gut because it called out all my excuses, procrastination, and self-sabotage.
The core message still echoes in my head daily:
"The more important a call or action is to our soul's evolution, the more Resistance we will feel toward pursuing it."
I now recognize resistance as a compass—the stronger I feel it, the more I know I NEED to push through it.
This isn't just a book.
It's a battle cry for anyone who wants to create meaningful work.
Read this when you need a creative gut-check.
6. Atomic Habits by James Clear
You’ve heard of it.
But if you haven’t read it, you’re missing the operating manual for becoming who you want to be.
Clear's practical approach to habit formation revolutionized how I build systems in my life and business.
His four laws of behavior change are deceptively simple but incredibly powerful:
Make it obvious
Make it attractive
Make it easy
Make it satisfying
The 1% improvement philosophy has transformed everything from my morning routine to how we onboard clients at my agency.
Instead of massive overnight changes, I now focus on tiny improvements that compound dramatically over time.
Start small.
Stay consistent.
Watch your life change.
7. The Intentional Father by Jon Tyson
This one hit different.
It made me rethink how I show up—not just as a dad, but as a man.
Parenting isn't something you can just "wing."
This book made me realize I was approaching fatherhood with less strategy than I was using for my quarterly business planning.
Crazy, right?
Tyson provides a roadmap for raising children with purpose—planning significant experiences, creating meaningful traditions, and intentionally passing down values.
I'm not just raising children; I'm developing future adults.
If you’re a dad (or want to be), this book is a must.
8. How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
The time-tested truths of relationship building.
It's the social skills manual every human needs.
Despite being written decades ago, these principles remain the foundation of effective communication:
Become genuinely interested in other people
Remember names
Be a good listener
Talk in terms of the other person's interests
Make others feel important (and do it sincerely)
I've watched deals materialize, relationships strengthen, and conflicts dissolve by applying these timeless principles.
This isn't manipulation—it's understanding human psychology and using it to create win-win outcomes.
If you lead, sell, or talk to humans—you need this book.
9. See You at the Top by Zig Ziglar
I read this in high school.
It was my first taste of personal development—and it stuck.
Ziglar's infectious enthusiasm and practical wisdom about personal development, goal-setting, and positive thinking provided a roadmap for achievement when I was still figuring out who I wanted to be.
His ladder concept—showing how character, attitude, goals, and effort stack to create success—remains a mental model I use today.
It’s motivational, hilarious, and full of heart.
10. The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod
Want to change your life?
Start with your morning.
Because..
Win the morning, win the day.
This book transformed how I start each day with the S.A.V.E.R.S. method:
Silence/meditation
Affirmations
Visualization
Exercise
Reading
Scribing (journaling)
By front-loading my days with these six practices (even for just 5-10 minutes each), I've created a consistent momentum that carries through to everything else.
My productivity, clarity, and overall satisfaction skyrocketed after implementing this routine.
Read it if your mornings feel chaotic or wasted.
11. How Will You Measure Your Life? by Clayton Christensen
This one’s deep.
It’s not about hustle.
It’s about meaning.
This book asks the uncomfortable questions we all need to face.
Christensen applies business principles to life's biggest decisions, forcing you to consider what metrics truly matter when evaluating your life's success.
The concept that hit me hardest: We allocate our resources—time, energy, talent—based on the metrics we use to measure success.
If we measure only money and status, that's where our resources will flow... often at the expense of relationships and personal fulfillment.
It’s introspective, sobering, and beautifully written.
12. Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki
The classic.
The book that launched a thousand entrepreneurial journeys.
Kiyosaki's contrast between his two father figures illuminates the stark difference between the employee mindset and the entrepreneur mindset:
Working for money vs. having money work for you
Acquiring liabilities vs. building assets
Following security vs. pursuing opportunity
If you’re just starting out in business or want to rewire your brain and mindset—this is a great place to start.
Your Move
Pick one of these books.
Just one.
Grab it.
Read it.
Highlight the heck out of it.
Let it shape the way you work, lead, and live.
Because books aren’t just ideas.
They’re tools.
Weapons.
Fuel.
And one good book at the right time can change everything.
To better shelves and better selves,
-Zack
