The best books to kick you into high gear

Why am I passionate about this?

I have been interested in motivation, productivity, and growth my whole life. I find it fascinating how we all have 24 hours; however, some people can maximize that time to create success while others let it go to waste. It all comes down to mindset. As an entrepreneur, I’ve consumed countless books, courses, and coaching programs to create what I call the “Rockstar Mind.” It has helped me tour the world opening for bands like KISS, write two best-selling books and 3 hit songs, and run two online businesses while supporting my young family during a global pandemic. I’m always looking for the edge to create more impact in my day.


I wrote...

Hobby Boss: Turn Your Passion Into Profits Online

By Steve Mastroianni,

Book cover of Hobby Boss: Turn Your Passion Into Profits Online

What is my book about?

Have you ever wished you could make money doing what you love? Hobby Boss is a simple step-by-step system for creating a profitable online business out of your favourite hobby—by teaching that hobby to other

enthusiasts!

Based on my own success in building a six-figure annual revenue with my hobby business, Hobby Boss walks you through my “Four Pillars of Profit” for creating and growing any online hobby enterprise. Use them to quickly create your first solution, your first sale, and your first customer success story. By following the steps laid out in each chapter, you’ll have your own Hobby Business Plan filled out and ready to launch in twenty-four hours or less!

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The books I picked & why

Book cover of The 10x Rule: The Only Difference Between Success and Failure

Steve Mastroianni Why did I love this book?

This is my go-to book to feel motivated and get back into taking action (or “massive action” as Grant calls it). I highly recommend getting your hands on the audiobook version and setting the speed to at least 1.5x to get a world-class pep talk from one of the most energetic and best action-takers out there. I guarantee it will inspire you to get more out of your day.

By Grant Cardone,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked The 10x Rule as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Achieve "Massive Action" results and accomplish your business dreams! While most people operate with only three degrees of action-no action, retreat, or normal action-if you're after big goals, you don't want to settle for the ordinary. To reach the next level, you must understand the coveted 4th degree of action. This 4th degree, also know as the 10 X Rule, is that level of action that guarantees companies and individuals realize their goals and dreams. The 10 X Rule unveils the principle of "Massive Action," allowing you to blast through business clich s and risk-aversion while taking concrete steps to…


Book cover of Winning: The Unforgiving Race to Greatness

Steve Mastroianni Why did I love this book?

Tim’s stories about Michael Jordan are worth the price of admission alone. What I really love about this book is how Tim breaks down the mindset of a champion – what it takes to overcome the daily challenges that come your way and thrive when the odds are working against you. The audiobook version also has great chapter intros by Tim.

By Tim S. Grover, Shari Wenk,

Why should I read it?

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

What is this book about?

'Tim Grover's teachings completely changed how I approached my professional career, helping me navigate the constant ups and downs that sport at the highest level brings.' Marcus Rashford, MBE
From the elite performance coach for Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade and many others - and the author of the powerful bestseller Relentless - a no-holds-barred formula for winning that is ideal for business people, athletes and anybody wanting to achieve success.

In Relentless, Tim Grover showed that you need to be tough and ruthless - towards others and yourself - to achieve your goals. Now, in Winning he takes…


Book cover of The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life

Steve Mastroianni Why did I love this book?

A Zen-like book with the angst of a teenager. The thing I love most about this book is how it helps you reconnect with your core values. In other words, it helps to weed out all the BS we have to deal with every day (i.e. social media likes, living up to unattainable ideals, etc.) in order to achieve inner peace. It also had me burst out laughing a few times. Highly recommended if you’re feeling in a funk.

By Mark Manson,

Why should I read it?

7 authors picked The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

New York Times Bestseller In this generation-defining self-help guide, a superstar blogger cuts through the crap to show us how to stop trying to be "positive" all the time so that we can truly become better, happier people. For decades, we've been told that positive thinking is the key to a happy, rich life. "F**k positivity," Mark Manson says. "Let's be honest, shit is f**ked and we have to live with it." In his wildly popular Internet blog, Manson doesn't sugarcoat or equivocate. He tells it like it is-a dose of raw, refreshing, honest truth that is sorely lacking today.…


Book cover of Work Less, Make More: The counter-intuitive approach to building a profitable business, and a life you actually love

Steve Mastroianni Why did I love this book?

James is one of my friends and mentors and when he speaks, I listen. He has the rare ability to condense decades of wisdom into a handful of principles & strategies that anybody can use to quickly increase their income. Most of the book contains simple, common-sense strategies that will have you nodding your head and then scratching it, wondering how you didn’t think of doing it that way before. Reading this book was also a personal revelation for me because it inspired me to write my first book and even inspired the title.

By James Schramko,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Work Less, Make More as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Work Less, Make More is a dense delivery of solid systems and sane advice. It's not 80/20, it's 80/20 squared. Every few pages, James punches you in the face with an instantly actionable hack.
~ Perry Marshall, Author of 80/20 Sales & Marketing, Ultimate Guide to Google AdWords, and Evolution 2.0

James gives massive value in a fun and easy-to-read book. Real, actionable ways to cut your hours while increasing your income. Want to know how to do it in your own business? Get this and find out!
~ Jonathan Mizel

In Work Less, Make More, James proves that keeping…


Book cover of How the Best Get Better

Steve Mastroianni Why did I love this book?

This is a pretty rare recommendation and I only heard of this gem through my first ever business coach Alex Jeffreys who was being coached by Dan Sullivan at the time. When he mentioned the title How the Best Get Better I knew it would be perfect for a high-achiever like me and it was love at first listen. Dan is a master of creating innovative technology for the mind that helps entrepreneurs navigate the inherent challenges of their market and operate their business with 100% clarity and confidence. This is a once-a-year listen for me and I highly recommend you track down a copy and check it out.

By Dan Sullivan,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked How the Best Get Better as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Global forces, unleashed by the application of the microchip, have caused an entrepreneurial revolution in every society on the planet. The most successful entrepreneurs are taking advantage of new capabilities to create greater wealth and autonomy for themselves, while providing new income and employment opportunities for millions of others. The best entrepreneurs are also role models and teachers for countless others. Entrepreneurs have a results-oriented concept of how the world works. By focusing strategically on their most important abilities, relationships, and opportunities with a passionate, long-term commitment, they are able to create value for others, which assures their continued success.…


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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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