Cheat Codes
The secret sauce with a nasty stigma.
Self-help books get a bad rap.
If you watch a TED Talk on YouTube, you’re a learner.
If you go to a conference, you’re a student of your industry.
If you follow inspirational leaders on social media, you’re a devotee of greatness.
If you have mentors in your life, you’re smart.
But if you read self-help? Something must be wrong with you.
Books, in general, are seen as nerdy 🤓. I get that (kind of). Maybe there’s some unresolved emotional damage from being forced to read—or maybe people have just internalized the belief that they’re “not good at reading.”
Videos, social media, conferences, and conversations can be more engaging. They certainly require less effort to consume. But self-help books offer something no other media provides: the space to think.
Other personal development media runs at a set pace, but a book allows for self-pacing. When something strikes you as interesting or bothersome, you can re-read, pause, or skip. You have the luxury of consuming the material at whatever speed works for you. You get to think deeply, and that makes all the difference.
Self-help changed my life.
Instead of learning everything the hard way, I get to borrow the authors’ experiences and make better choices. Sure, experience will teach me either way, but my choices improve exponentially when I learn from someone else’s mistakes or research.
My deepest desire is to fulfill my potential—to be the best possible version of myself. And that’s why I read obsessively. That’s my secret.
How did I squash my limiting beliefs?
How did I triple my income? I read self-help.
How did I radically improve my life in 18 months? I read self-help.
How did I become the princess of productivity? Self-help.
How did I become debt-free? Self-help.
How did I land a big promotion in the middle of a pandemic, one month before maternity leave? You guessed it: self-help.
When we know better, we do better. Self-help books expand our perspective, giving us the tools to make smarter, braver, and more thoughtful decisions. They show us what’s possible, teach us what mistakes to avoid, and inspire us to reach higher.
Why take the hard way when you can use the cheat codes?
On a completely related note:
🔥 Black Friday Deals Coming Up Soon🔥
November 29th - December 2nd
For a limited time, you can snag a copy of my book Lies I Told Myself, and Other Truths on Kindle for just $0.99.
If you want an easy introduction to self-help books, check out mine 👆. The chapters are short. The stories are relatable. The actions are simple but practical.
If you’ve already read it, I’d love a review (even if it wasn’t your favorite). Honest feedback = growth. 💖
Fabulous Read
Ok, I know I just posted about my favorite books of 2024, but I hadn’t read this one yet and it’s so good.
Overnight the world is thrown into chaos when all adults 22 and older receive little boxes with their names inscribed. Inside is a string that can predict the exact length of your life.
This is the first fiction book to make me pause and think deeply in a long time. Bravo.
Happy Thanksgiving to all who are celebrating.
Nikki