Happy New Year! Here it is, the conclusion to season 1. Like all good things, there is a beginning and an end, with opportunity for more afterwards. Today we Challenge “Essentialism” by Greg McKeown with the help of Alina Taylor. Alina helped talk about “Grit” with us back in March and lends her insight and personal story on focusing on what’s essential to succeed. There were some pretty philosophical sections but all concepts are presented in a tangible, human way. But how did this book measure up? Find out who Alina recommends this book to and what she rates it out of 10. Send us your recommendations for Season 2 books at [email protected]. We will be starting up the next season soon! Thank you for listening.

How did “Atomic Habits” by James Clear measure up on challenge day? Really well, but we didn’t necessarily. Would you rate it the exact same though? How did this book work for you? Should you go back and review some of the exercises, too? This book has something for everyone but it especially has some solid advice and guidance for those that TRULY wish to make a change in their lives. Once you discover how you can identify with a new way of doing things, if you apply this to your life it would last forever. But this isn’t an easy feat and you might need help to do it. Find that support on this week’s episode on the #motivatemebookclub podcast. You can also refer to previous episodes for overviews of this book.

Thank you. Thank you for listening, reading, being part of this. We are celebrating Thanksgiving this week in the US. It gives everyone an “excuse” to work on the habit of expressing gratitude more regularly. Why? There is scientific evidence that people who express sincere gratitude more often live better lives. Here we present 4 benefits of being thankful and 4 ways to cultivate gratitude in your life. Motivate Me Book Club is here to Motivate You. Thank you for motivating us!

The disciplined pursuit of less. Have you ever felt stretched thin, like you’re doing so much but feel like you don’t have the results to show for it? Are you working towards someone else’s goal? The way out may be “the way of the Essentialist” as suggested by Greg McKeown. This book provides a perspective to help you do less, but better. In this overview, you will find out what the mindset and three realities are of an Essentialist. Then, you can follow the three steps in order to become one yourself: Explore, Eliminate, and Execute. Does this sound like something you already do? Can Essentialism be an answer to our cultural affliction and glorification overworking. This is yet another proposed path to success.

Have you ever had anyone commit to you in advance? A phone call, a meeting, an activity, a service? The obvious answer is yes, of course. After 3 months of committing to an interview for the Motivate Me Book Club, an author pushed back based on their conflicting schedule. Then, after 2.5 weeks of back and forth for rescheduling, sincerest apologies were finally communicated. Learn how this is why you say “NO”. We all make commitments in our daily lives to show up to work, to show up in our relationships, and to show up when we say we will. But what happens every time someone doesn’t follow through on an obligation? It breaks down trust. It breaks down confidence. It breaks down your future opportunities. The culture of busy, doing everything for everyone, needs to shift to a culture of finer necessity for those things that matter most. How do you do this? Listen to find out how lessons have been learned from overcommitting and underproducing.

How did “The ONE Thing” by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan measure up on an intentionally delayed challenge day? We wanted to give this book a longer duration before we challenged it. There seemed to be very applicable takeaways but could it stand the test of time and linger with us? How did this book work for you? This book promotes something that could apply to everyone but more importantly those with a serious task at hand. Focus. Once you discover what your ONE thing is to focus on it should help you achieve the success you seek. Doesn’t that sound great! Find out how this helped your host, Pineapple Jen, on this week’s episode on the #motivatemebookclub podcast. You can also refer to previous episodes for overviews of this book.

How is it possibly the last book of this first season? All good things must come to an end , as it goes. But fret not! Although it is the last to read, we will still be reflecting and reviewing our books through Challenge Days. Through this season we have successfully read quite a few good books. They have seemed to form a theme around “Habits” and this book feels like a good fit to end on. “Essentialism” by Greg McKeown. This is the disciplined pursuit of less. Essentialism is not one more thing - it’s a whole new way of doing everything. It’s about doing less, but better, in every area of our lives. Essentialism is a movement whose time has come. What do you think? Tell us! [email protected]. Grab a copy or an audio book today to join us for the last book of the season!

How did “The Four Agreements” by Don Miguel Ruiz measure up on challenge day? I don’t think anyone would be surprised. Would you rate it the exact same though? How did this book work for you? If you said it didn’t or doesn’t apply to you, then congratulations! You are already the epitome of personal freedom without a single bad trait! However, if you are like the majority of the world, with areas for improvement, this book has something for everyone. These agreements are instructions on how to live your best life. This is how to be happier. Once you discover it within you it should linger for a while, if not forever. Doesn’t that sound great! Find out why on this week’s episode on the #motivatemebookclub podcast. You can also refer to previous episodes for overviews of this book.

This is the high level overview of “Atomic Habits” by James Clear. Wow. This book speaks volumes on how small, tiny, “Atomic” changes can create remarkable change in your life. James Clear brings many concepts together, including the “Habit Loop”, in a new framework for working on creating change. He showcases how “4 Laws of Habit Change” have subtle layers to help you work on your transformation. What habits do you want to adopt and what habits would you like to change? What kind of person has or doesn’t have those habits? Your identity will sustain your habits so make them the best ones for you. If you are ready to define these areas of your life, have a listen to this overview for a new method that can effectively support you. Through diagrams, examples and research, James Clear presents an easy approach to support your goals. How can you apply concepts from this book to your own habit changes? Read, listen and let us know! www.pineapplejen.com/podcast

Keep going. You never know what success you will achieve until it happens and until then you need to keep trying. For a lot of us, it means starting with changing our habits and believing in what we are doing. Before the Golden Gate Bridge was built, the longest suspension bridge in the world was only 3,501 feet, 699 feet shorter than the proposed project. This coupled with strong winds and deep waters in the San Francisco Bay made the bridge a risky venture. Despite “expert opinion” against construction, the visionaries behind the construction forged ahead with their plans and proved successful in the end. Let’s this week’s episode’s “Two Truths” help you forge ahead with your goal and habit tracking to success.