Her Next Chapter
We asked founders from diverse backgrounds to share the life lessons from books that profoundly influenced their mindset or approach because when it comes to thriving in business or life, learning from the right resources can make all the difference.
Their responses offer valuable lessons on resilience, empowerment, purpose, and the power of storytelling. Let’s dive into the common themes emerging from these impactful reads.
Embracing Purpose Through Life’s Challenges
Among all these life lessons from books a recurring theme among founders is the transformation of pain into purpose—a powerful catalyst for growth.
Erica Carrico reflects on The Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield:
“It’s very much like my journey. It’s so interesting because they say that you teach what you needed to learn. That book…really helped me to recognize that all these things that have happened in my life have happened for a reason and they’ve shaped me to be who I am today. It’s really around turning your pain into purpose.”
This perspective underscores how embracing our past challenges paves the way for authentic leadership and meaningful impact.
Empowering Through Letting Go and Exploration
Parenthood and leadership alike call for balance — knowing when to guide and when to give space for growth.
Tina Yao, shares how How to Care for Your Newborn by Dr. Michel Cohen was her parenting “bible”:
“What I loved about his book and his philosophy is he had a laissez faire approach about your raising your newborn… It empowered me as a new mom. Let my child explore.”
This approach of empowerment through freedom resonates deeply in business too — fostering autonomy can unleash creativity and resilience.
Rethinking Success: It’s Not One-Size-Fits-All
Many founders shared that success often looks different than we initially imagine.
Amy Pierre Russo reads The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah as a reflection of this truth:
“It’s a little dark, but it’s uplifting I think too to see how far sometimes we push and that the end outcome isn’t always what we think it’s going to be. It’s not. Success isn’t always what we had in our mind pictured as success, but it can look different.”
This reminds us to remain flexible and open to redefining goals as our journeys evolve.
Persistence, Hard Work, and the Role of Luck
Stories that illustrate persistence leading to success continue to inspire entrepreneurs.Erin Reddan praises Be Ready When the Luck Happens by Ina Garten:
“It’s such a good book in that it’s so refreshing to read her story and every kind of twist and turn and how things just unfolded and worked out. She worked hard, she kept working hard, and things just worked out for her. I like that idea…her story is really just encouraging.”
The takeaway here emphasizes steady dedication paired with readiness to seize opportunities.
Storytelling as a Tool for Influence and Reflection
Strong stories not only entertain but also connect and persuade—an essential skill in any leadership role.
Kendall Cherry admires East of Eden by John Steinbeck:
“My favorite book of all time is East of Eden by John Steinbeck. I have read it eight times in my life and I try to read it every couple of years… It’s this generational story of a family and how money, they have a lot of money, then they lose it, then they win it back and all this family drama. But it’s also a story about someone who gets…is there free will? Do we have a choice? … John Steinbeck, if you really peel back his writing style, he writes like a funnel. Storytellers are the best salespeople in the world, because if you’re going to tell a story, you got to bring people along with you… that is why I love that book.”
This highlights how mastering storytelling can enhance leadership presence and influence.
Summary: Life Lessons from Books from Founders on Learning and Growth
What stands out from these founder insights is the multifaceted nature of success:
- Transform adversity into purpose (Erica Carrico, The Celestine Prophecy).
- Empower growth through freedom and exploration (Tina Yao, How to Care for Your Newborn).
- Redefine success on your own terms (Amy Pierre Russo, The Four Winds).
- Combine hard work with readiness to seize luck (Erin Reddan, Be Ready When the Luck Happens).
- Harness storytelling to inspire and lead (Kendall Cherry, East of Eden).
Whether you’re building a business or navigating life’s shifting tides, these Life lessons from books illuminate paths to resilience, empowerment, and authentic success.
The Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield
How to Care for Your Newborn by Dr. Michel Cohen
The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah
Be Ready When the Luck Happens by Ina Garten
East of Eden by John Steinbeck
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