Take these final days of summer to open a book on personal improvement, business optimization or game-changing leadership approaches. These are three titles I have been reading this year (or revisiting in some cases) that have transformed the way I work and live.

FOR MOVING OTHERS TO ACT

Daniel Pink’s To Sell Is Human: The Surprising Truth About Moving Others has been on the shelves for more than a decade — but the book’s lessons remain highly relevant in today’s selling culture. People buy from people. Remembering that can help you adjust your sales team’s approach to engage the human in the journey. With practical tips and frameworks, this book can help you and your sales force become more persuasive and effective not just in business but in life. Learn more here.

FOR SUCCESSFULLY SCALING YOUR ORGANIZATION

In Greg Alexander’s The Founder Bottleneck, founders are faced with a game-changing question: Are you working on the business or in the business? In the latter scenario, where founders manage every aspect of their day-to-day operations, they are holding their business back from scaling. In the former, they are developing a success plan and expanding on the value their business can deliver for clients, employees and themselves. Full of practical guidance and insights from 10 founders, you will learn how to step out of your organization’s way and step into growth. Learn more here.

FOR MEN IN BUSINESS SEEKING LIFE GUIDANCE 

The Five Marks of a Man Devotional: 60 Days to a Powerful Life by Brian Tome is intended as a daily devotional book for personal growth, but I have found it equally impactful as I apply its lessons in the business arena. While the five tenets are simple, the application can be life-changing: men have a vision, men take a minority position, men are team players, men work, and men are protectors. Learn more here.

FOR A SELLING APPROACH THAT IS ALWAYS EFFECTIVE

Having a Seek to Serve, Not to Sell attitude and approach stands out in a buying culture that can feel forceful and void of relationship. Seeking to serve buyers builds trust and relationships — the true currency of a successful business. Putting buyers and their needs first and being an authentic salesperson wins every time — without exception. Download this game-changing eBook to enable your workforce toward serving buyers as a true trusted advisor.