Reviews Beth Wallace and Alexandra Johnson

Lift Your Impact: Transform Your Mindset, Influence, and Future to Elevate Your Work, Team, and Life

By Richard Newman, (McGraw Hill), ebook and audiobook.
Run time: 6 hrs 30 mins

Whether you’re looking to make positive changes in your life, or you are supporting others to become their best selves, this book provides the tools – and inspiration – to get the job done.

Written by Richard Newman, an expert in leadership communication, storytelling and influence, it centres on the power of lift: the shift that occurs when you elevate yourself and the people around you from a negative or neutral state to a positive one. Lift, he proposes, can be applied to many areas of life, giving people the push and vision they need to improve a relationship, complete a marathon, inspire people, lead teams and more.

In Lift Your Impact, Newman shares the techniques required for creating lift, which he backs up with research, pop culture references and personal anecdotes.

He explains how to lift your mindset by using self-reflection exercises that clarify your values and vision. He also explores how to influence others through storytelling and outlines strategies for performing at your best in important moments.

Descriptions of the six archetypes of lift are particularly fascinating. Drawing on Western and Eastern philosophies, Newman delves into the different parts of ourselves – some of which we may be comfortable with and others that we prefer to repress – and how each can offer value in certain situations.

The book is full of questions and assignments that are designed to help readers identify their unique story, strengthen their sense of purpose and make progress towards their future.

The 7% Club: How to Be One of the 7% Of Businesses That Make It Beyond $2M in Turnover

By Jenny Stilwell, (Major Street Publishing), ebook

Incredibly, only 7% of Australian businesses make more than A$2 million in turnover. Admittedly, some business owners probably have no ambition to scale up to, or above, this point, but for those that do, there are a number of common barriers that tend to get in the way.

These barriers – and how to overcome them – form the basis of The 7% Club. Author Jenny Stilwell shares the lessons she has learned both as a chief executive officer and strategy adviser, to help businesses achieve sustainable growth.

The book is divided into two parts. The first drills down into Stilwell’s own story, plus the steps required to profitably generate higher turnover.

The second is about the practicalities, driven by the author’s shift business growth framework that helps entrepreneurs take control of their growth path. Readers can jump in and out where they need to; for example, there is a table to fill out to identify resource gaps and a blueprint to follow when building an A-team or creating a strategy roadmap. Each chapter features case studies of businesses that have successfully used this framework, concluding with a list of business lessons.

There is also an emphasis on nurturing life outside of work and enjoying what you do. Stilwell advocates for a work smarter, not harder approach, highlighting the importance of becoming a CEO who can move away from the day-to-day operations of their business to take on a visionary and growth-focused role.

This is for any owner, whether they want to join the $2 millionplus club, or simply gain greater control of their business.

The Future of the Professions: How Technology Will Transform the Work of Human Experts (Updated Edition)

By Richard Susskind and Daniel Susskind, (Oxford University Press), ebook

It’s been years since professionals began debating the threat of ‘technological unemployment’. Yet for the most part, organisations have leveraged technology to automate rather than innovate, without any real risk to the roles undertaken by the likes of doctors, lawyers, teachers, accountants, tax advisers, management consultants and architects (among others).

Yes, efficiencies have been created through the routinisation and digitalisation of many tasks, but more can – and should – be done to rebalance the relationship between the professions, the state and society, suggest father-and-son authors Richard and Daniel Susskind.

In the future, they predict the collapse of the professional era, whereby the traditional gatekeepers of specialist knowledge find new ways to organise the work they do, so it’s more affordable, accessible and of a higher quality.

Understandably, some may argue that certain tasks cannot – or should not – be undertaken by machines. To these the authors offer a thought-provoking rebuttal, asking instead to question whether machines can produce a better outcome.

Though it may sound the death knell for job security, this book presents a utopian view of the future for consumers, should professionals defer to the superior capabilities of machines.

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Also recommended

The Essentials of Financial Modeling in Excel: A Concise Guide to Concepts and Methods

By Michael Rees, (Wiley), ebook

A practical guide to financial modelling in Excel for beginners and intermediate level, this ebook presents the core economic concepts, foundational structures and the most frequently used calculations.

10x Is Easier Than 2x

By Dan Sullivan with Dr Benjamin Hardy, (Hay House), ebook

Dan Sullivan and Benjamin Hardy explain why achieving 10 times growth is easier than aiming for two times and offer a counterintuitive process to achieve it, such as expanding your four important freedoms: time, money, relationships and purpose.

The ChatGPT Revolution: How to Simplify Your Work and Life Admin with AI

By Donna McGeorge, (Wiley), ebook

Australian productivity coach Donna McGeorge presents a guide to using artificial Intelligence (AI) in your everyday life to help free up valuable time. She offers some entertaining examples, practical advice and activities to help you take control.

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Listen

Mind Your Mindset: The Science That Shows Success Starts With Your Thinking

By Michael Hyatt and Megan Hyatt Miller, (Baker Books), ebook and audiobook.
Run time: 5 hrs 22 mins

While advice that our daily experience and success depends on our mindset is not new, this ebook offers the latest science on how the brain works so we can leverage it to maximise our thinking. It draws on insights from psychology, neuroscience, cognitive science and case studies to explore the power of ideas to shape superior outcomes, both in business and in life.

Crucial Influence: Leadership Skills to Create Lasting Behavior Change

By Joseph Grenny, David Maxfield, Ron McMillan, Al Switzler, (McGraw Hill), ebook and audiobook. Run time: 5 hrs 34 mins

From the bestselling authors of Crucial Conversations, this updated third edition draws on case studies of remarkable leaders and scientific research to explain why people do what they do and how leaders can influence behaviour to drive results. It identifies the personal, social and structural levers that influence both motivation and ability, and how to work these levers for directed behaviour change.

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Watch

How to Boost Your Productivity With AI Tools

By Dave Birss, (LinkedIn Learning), video, 2023. Run time: 1 hr

Generative AI tools have made a big impact on business in a short period of time, but it can be challenging to know where to begin. Innovator and AI expert Dave Birss demonstrates how to collaborate with AI to incorporate it into your everyday tasks.

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CA Library

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Did you know the CA Library offers services and on-demand resources to members at no charge?

The titles featured here are available to download directly from the library catalogue, along with technical and soft-skill ebooks, audiobooks, articles and online resources.

Members can also access the online database that includes journals such as Harvard Business Review and newspapers including The Australian Financial Review.

Need help finding information? Take advantage of the complimentary research service and simply get in touch with the library team with your query.

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