The best books to enable you to achieve what seems impossible

Why am I passionate about this?

In 1995 I was challenged to declare my purpose in life. In the absence of any evidence that it was possible, and without knowing HOW to do it, I declared the possibility that I would transform Planet Earth by creating community everywhere. As ridiculous as it sounded at the time, the amazing breakthroughs that I’ve encountered on my journey since then have been even more incredible. After decades of experience helping myself and others achieve what initially seemed “impossible” possible, I’m delighted to be able to help myself and support others in making progress on pretty much any “impossible” project aside from changing the gravitational constant of the Universe. (I’m a physicist, so I’m going to leave that to greater minds than mine!) Looking forward to hearing what seems impossible for you, but if it WERE possible, would transform your life for the better!


I wrote...

Scrappy Project Management: The 12 Predictable and Avoidable Pitfalls Every Project Faces

By Kimberly Wiefling,

Book cover of Scrappy Project Management: The 12 Predictable and Avoidable Pitfalls Every Project Faces

What is my book about?

Projects are MESSY! From the minute the project begins, all manner of changes, surprises, and disasters befall them. Unfortunately, most of these are PREDICTABLE and AVOIDABLE. Tact and diplomacy can only get you so far in the wild and wacky world of project work. A combination of outrageous creativity, sheer bravado, and nerves of steel will serve you far better than any fancy-schmancy Microsoft Project Gantt chart!

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The books I picked & why

Book cover of The Art of Possibility: Transforming Professional and Personal Life

Kimberly Wiefling Why did I love this book?

Perception is not reality. Neuroscience has clearly shown that our human brains are subject to plenty of self-sabotaging patterns. The practices in this book form a powerful framework that enables the reader to imagine and create possibilities that initially seem highly unlikely or even impossible. The wisdom in this book encourages people to reject being “realistic”, ignite hope, and pursue dreams and goals that inspire and spark our passion. As our courage to dream big grows, so does our capacity to achieve those dreams together.

By Rosamund Stone Zander, Benjamin Zander,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Art of Possibility as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Presenting twelve breakthrough practices for bringing creativity into all human endeavors, The Art of Possibility is the dynamic product of an extraordinary partnership. The Art of Possibility combines Benjamin Zander's experience as conductor of the Boston Philharmonic and his talent as a teacher and communicator with psychotherapist Rosamund Stone Zander's genius for designing innovative paradigms for personal and professional fulfillment.
The authors' harmoniously interwoven perspectives provide a deep sense of the powerful role that the notion of possibility can play in every aspect of life. Through uplifting stories, parables, and personal anecdotes, the Zanders invite us to become passionate communicators,…


Book cover of The User Illusion: Cutting Consciousness Down to Size

Kimberly Wiefling Why did I love this book?

Our brains take in around 10 million bits a second, but only about 30 of those are raised to conscious awareness. Which 30? How does our brain choose? And how do we make decisions? After a lifetime of thinking I was a conscious being making logical, rational choices, I realize that I’m like a rider on a horse. My conscious mind thinks that I’m controlling the horse, but – after reading this book – now I realize that most of the time the horse is in charge! Knowing that has helped me replace self-limiting practices with more effective ways to working with my instincts and senses.

By Tor Norretranders,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked The User Illusion as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

As John Casti wrote, "Finally, a book that really does explain consciousness." This groundbreaking work by Denmark's leading science writer draws on psychology, evolutionary biology, information theory, and other disciplines to argue its revolutionary point: that consciousness represents only an infinitesimal fraction of our ability to process information. Although we are unaware of it, our brains sift through and discard billions of pieces of data in order to allow us to understand the world around us. In fact, most of what we call thought is actually the unconscious discarding of information. What our consciousness rejects constitutes the most valuable part…


Book cover of The Last Word on Power

Kimberly Wiefling Why did I love this book?

All my life I felt like someone was holding me back. Being introduced to the concepts in this book helped me understand that that person was . . . ME! I made this realization years before reading this book when I attended a workshop that was based solidly on the principles that Tracy Goss wrote about. The Last Word on Power boils down the paradigms and strategies that keep us human beings stuck, and reveals a path to a more powerful way of being where we recognize the difference between our interpretation and reality, as well as our own contributions to the interpretations that keep us stuck in old ways of thinking and being. The core of this is using language to create, rather than merely describe, reality, declaring and committing to possibilities that we currently have no idea HOW to achieve, and playing a bigger game in life that gives us access to possibilities that were previously unimaginable.

By Tracy Goss,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Last Word on Power as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Goss suggests that the main key to re-inventing an organization is to re-invent its leaders. Through a series of seven transformations in the area of leadership, Goss shows how re-invention relies upon freeing oneself from the past.


Book cover of Creative Visualization: Use the Power of Your Imagination to Create What You Want in Your Life

Kimberly Wiefling Why did I love this book?

Our brains are very skillful at pattern recognition. The best way to create an amazing future that initially seems impossible is to first imagine it. After a clear and vivid image is planted in our brains we are constantly alerted when something in alignment with that imagined future crosses our path. Inspired by this book, I have been doing creative visualizations annually for over two decades, and teach a workshop based on the power of visualization to support achieving what seems “impossible”, but eventually becomes possible. This book takes you through a very accessible process that was summarized in Napoleon Hill’s Conceive it. Believe it. Achieve it.

By Shakti Gawain,

Why should I read it?

3 authors picked Creative Visualization as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

As introduced by Shakti Gawain to more than seven million readers worldwide, creative visualization is the art of using mental imagery and affirmation to produce positive changes in your life. Gawain’s clear writing style and vivid examples make Creative Visualization easy to read and apply to your personal needs and wants. This groundbreaking work has found enthusiastic followers in every country and language in which it has been published, and Gawain’s simple yet powerful techniques are now used successfully in many diverse fields, including health, education, business, sports, and the creative arts. Whether you read it for general inspiration and…


Book cover of Wishcraft: How to Get What You Really Want

Kimberly Wiefling Why did I love this book?

A dream is just a dream until you write it down – then it becomes a plan. This book provides practical approaches to turning dreams into goals and plans. With strategies as simple as charting your progress and setting accountability checkpoints with a buddy, the “impossible” gradually becomes possible, and eventually becomes inevitable. Sure, you may lurch fitfully in the direction of your dreams and goals, but the advice in this book will ensure that any setbacks are temporary, and progress is tangible and a source of hope, inspiration, and motivation.

By Barbara Sher, Annie Gottlieb,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Wishcraft as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Cindy Fox was a waitress. Now she’s a pilot. Peter Johnson was a truck driver. Now he’s a dairy farmer. Tina Forbes was a struggling artist. Now she’s a successful one. Alan Rizzo was an editor. Now he’s a bookstore owner.

What they have in common—and what you can share—are Barbara Sher’s effective strategies for making real changes in your life. This human, practical program puts your vague yearnings and dreams to work for you—with concrete results. You’ll learn how to

• Discover your strengths and skills
• Turn your fears and negative feelings into positive tools
• Diagram the…


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Book cover of The Coaching Habit: Say Less, Ask More & Change the Way You Lead Forever

Michael Bungay Stanier Author Of The Coaching Habit: Say Less, Ask More & Change the Way You Lead Forever

New book alert!

Why am I passionate about this?

Coaching is a wonderful technology that can help people be a force for change… and is often wrapped up in mystic and woo-woo and privilege that makes it inaccessible and/or unattractive to too many. I want being more coach-like—by which I mean staying curious a little longer, and rushing to action and advice-giving—to be an everyday way of being with one another. Driven by this, I’ve written the best-selling book on coaching this century (The Coaching Habit) and have created training that’s been used around the world by more than a quarter of a million people. I’m on a mission to unweird coaching.

Michael's book list on unexpectedly useful books about coaching

What is my book about?

The coaching book that's for all of us, not just coaches.

It's the best-selling book on coaching this century, with 15k+ online reviews. Brené Brown calls it "a classic". Dan Pink said it was "essential".

It is practical, funny, and short, and "unweirds" coaching. Whether you're a parent, a teacher, a leader, or even a coach, you can stay curious longer.

By Michael Bungay Stanier,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked The Coaching Habit as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Look for Michael's new book, The Advice Trap, which focuses on taming your Advice Monster so you can stay curious a little longer and change the way you lead forever.

In Michael Bungay Stanier's The Coaching Habit, coaching becomes a regular, informal part of your day so managers and their teams can work less hard and have more impact.

Drawing on years of experience training more than 10,000 busy managers from around the globe in practical, everyday coaching skills, Bungay Stanier reveals how to unlock your peoples' potential. He unpacks seven essential coaching questions to demonstrate how-by saying less and…


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