Surround Yourself With Excellence: Top Books, Blogs, Songs, Podcasts, Videos

Our surroundings have a massive impact on our thoughts, and that is why it is so important for you to take charge, and ensure that you surround yourself with the best. Simply put, when you are at your best, you reach your best. I am often asked for recommendations on what I read, what I listen to…, so, here it goes…

Here are my personal recommendations and favourite resources to help you surround yourself with the best: from books and blogs, to songs, podcasts and videos. I suggest you bookmark this page for your reference and convenience. This is a dynamic list (and definitely not an exhaustive one!), and I will periodically add resources as I discover them (or realise omissions!), so that you can benefit too.

Enjoy, purposefully surrounding yourself with the best, be at your best, and reach your best!!!

Books
I LOVE reading, and could have listed hundreds and hundreds of books. Having said that, I’ll resist, and share with you my Top 10 Self-Development, Leadership and Business book recommendations. Apart from the first one, which holds a very special meaning to me, I’ve arranged the entries in alphabetical order. These 10 books have changed me, and positively & productively impacted my life, career and business.

The Little Prince, Antoine de Saint-Exupery “One sees clearly only with the heart.Anything essential is invisible to the eyes.”	7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen R. Covey “Treat a man as he is and he will remain as he is.Treat a man as he can and should be and he will become as he can and should be.”
The Alchemist: A Fable About Following Your Dream, Paulo Coelho“It’s the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting.”	Awaken The Giant Within, Anthony Robbins“Determination is the wake-up call to the human will.”
The Dip, Seth Godin“Persistent people are able to visualize the idea of light at the end of the tunnel when others can’t see it.”	The Go-Giver: A Little Story About a Powerful Business Idea, Bob Burg and John David Mann“Go looking for the best in people, and you’ll be amazed at how much talent, ingenuity, empathy and good will you’ll find.”
How to Win Friends and Influence People, Dale Carnegie“Actions speak louder than words, and a smile says, ‘I like you. You make me happy. I am glad to see you.”	Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion, Robert B. Cialdini“The more effort that goes into a commitment, the greater is its ability to influence the attitudes of the person that made it.”
The Pumpkin Plan: A Simple Strategy to Grow a Remarkable Business in Any Field, Mike Michalowicz “There is something extremely irresistible, something magnetic about being the extreme. Be it the strongest, or the fastest, or the most unique. The farmer with the most extraordinary pumpkin in the field wins. Every. Single. Time.”	Think and Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill “Every adversity, every failure, every heartache carries with it the seed of an equal or greater benefit.”

Blogs
There are a lot of blogs out there; over the past few years, I’ve selected my Top 10 Self-Development, Leadership and Business blog recommendations. Again here, I’ve arranged the entries in alphabetical order. These 10 blogs are positively & productively impacting my life, career and business on a daily basis.

BizSugar
Bob Burg
Early To Rise
How To Change The World, Guy Kawasaki
Human Business Works, Chris Brogan
Intentional Leadership, Michael Hyatt
Leadership Freak, Dan Rockwell
Problogger, Darren Rowse
Seth Godin
Tweak Your Biz

Songs
Music is an incredibly powerful tool. Did you know that you can change your state in an instant by listening to a particular song? This means that you can decide how you want to be feeling and use music to support you with that decision. Here are my Top 10 song recommendations. Again here, I’ve arranged the entries in alphabetical order. These 10 songs have the power to instantly impact my state, and over the years, I’ve played them, and will continue to, at particular times during my day to ensure I am at my best to move forward with my activities.

Eye Of The Tiger, Survivor
Firework, Katy Perry
I’m So Excited, The Pointer Sisters
I Can See Clearly Now, Johnny Nash
If Today Was Your Last Day, Nickelback
I Got a Feeling, Black Eyed Peas
Defying Gravity, Kristin Chenoweth
Man In The Mirror, Michael Jackson
Stronger, Kelly Clarkson
Titanium (Feat. Sia), David Guetta

An M3 Mile Tip! I suggest you put these together as your M3 Playlist, and recommend you also create your very own playlists, with the songs that inspire, energise, motivate, and uplift you; that way, when you need it, you can access these songs quickly and efficiently.

Podcasts
I “discovered” podcasts when I started running and training for my first marathon, and I never looked back; I love the fact that you can learn on the go! Thanks to today’s technology, you can have them on computers, mobile phones, or tablets. And, you can listen to the shows when you are relaxing, exercising (walking, running, at the gym), when you are driving, when you are cooking… Here are my Top 10 Self-Development, Leadership and Business podcast recommendations. Again here, I’ve arranged the entries in alphabetical order. These 10 podcasts are positively & productively impacting my life, career and business as they inspire, teach, and prompt so many ideas!!!


Blogcast FM, by Srinivas Rao	The Human Business Way (Chris Brogan), hosted by Human Business Works LLC

I Love Marketing, by Dean Jackson & Joe Polish	The Rise To The Top, by David Siteman Garland

The Go-Giver Podcast by Bob Burg	Seth Godin’s Startup School, by Earwolf

EntreLeadership (Dave Ramsey), hosted by Chris LoCurto	Smart Passive Income: Online Business \| Blogging \| Lifestyle, by Pat Flynn

HBR IdeaCast, by Harvard Business Review	This Is Your Life, by Michael Hyatt

An M3 Mile Tip! Visit iTunes, download some of these podcasts, and listen to your first episode. And, once you find a show you like (you can also browse the library and find shows for your specific interests), simply subscribe and you will start receiving the new episodes directly onto your device.

Videos
In today’s digital world, we have access to so many videos, and it is up to you to control the quality of the content you decide to watch. This is why, my favourite video resource is Ted, as you can control that, by searching for videos across a wide range of topics (technology, entertainment, design, business, science, global issues), AND you can select a mood (persuasive, courageous, ingenious, fascinating, inspiring, beautiful, funny, informative). To get you started, here are my Top 10 Self-Development, Leadership and Business video recommendations. Again here, I’ve arranged the entries in alphabetical order. These 10 videos have positively & productively impacted my life, career and business, and continue to as I often re-watch them.

Brené Brown: The power of vulnerability
Caroline Casey: Looking past limits
Dan Pink: The puzzle of motivation + RSA Animation
Elizabeth Gilbert: Your elusive creative genius
Jill Bolte Taylor’s stroke of insight
Julian Treasure: The 4 ways sound affects us
Shawn Achor: Happiness helps you work better
Simon Sinek: How great leaders inspire action
Steve Jobs: How to live before you die
Tony Robbins: Why we do what we do

An M3 Mile Tip! I also love the “Not sure what to watch” feature, particularly on the go (called “Inspire me” on the app), as you can specify the length of the talk, the mood, and click on “Surprise me”.

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THANK YOU!!! Since these resources have been published, you have helped spread them around by sharing the page across the various social media platforms, and I TRULY appreciate it! Plus, we’ve also gotten some feedback via Twitter (from readers, and even from some of the authors, who are mentioned on here!).

@IrishSmiley Wow – what an honour for me to know that you include The Go-Giver amongst those other books. Many of them are my favorites!!

— Bob Burg (@BobBurg) March 21, 2013

Honoured! RT @IrishSmiley: These bks help UB at yur best. feat. @BobBurg @paulocoelho @tonyrobbins @MikeMichalowicz http://t.co/lYavTBpTEk

— Bob Burg (@BobBurg) March 21, 2013

@IrishSmiley @tonyrobbins great list – Awaken The Giant Within belongs in everyones's personal library!

— Paul Barker (@Barkerbites) March 21, 2013

Great List! RT@IrishSmiley Books to help you be your best; feat. @BobBurg @paulocoelho @tonyrobbins @MikeMichalowicz http://t.co/j5j8fYGTWE

— L N Vitril (@RoadRunnerFL) March 21, 2013

@IrishSmiley Great list – thanks!

— Diana Fournier (@Di4Nea) March 23, 2013

@IrishSmiley @bobburg @paulocoelho @tonyrobbins amazingly flattered to be on this book list. http://t.co/IcF1LtlTKD

— Mike Michalowicz (@MikeMichalowicz) March 21, 2013

RT: @IrishSmiley Resources http://t.co/pDnqJuCvAv
Another great article! Useful links, food for thought – ideal for a long weekend…

— Karen Oberlaender (@okiewashere) March 22, 2013

@IrishSmiley Thanks to you it will be a most inspiring weekend. Have a pleasant and relaxing weekend. 😉

— Karen Oberlaender (@okiewashere) March 22, 2013

RT @irishsmiley: @MichaelHyatt Michael, I’ve included your blog as part of my top 10 resources http://t.co/R7yh4MbVwX // Thanks so much!

— Michael Hyatt (@MichaelHyatt) March 22, 2013

@IrishSmiley Thank you so much! You're awesome!

— Pat Flynn (@PatFlynn) March 25, 2013

@IrishSmiley Great piece, Frederique. A few on there I haven't read yet. So thanks!

— Denise O'Dwyer (@DeniseODwyer) March 22, 2013

@IrishSmiley you're most welcome. The list is full of gems that will help people grow. I know several of the classic books. Good choices.x

— 〶₹¥ﬆĭ◬̊Ͷ (@MasonTryst) March 28, 2013

@IrishSmiley Great resources! Thrilled to see you include Ramsey and Hyatt.

— Mike Allton (@mike_allton) March 27, 2013

Love -> Top 50 Resources To Surround Yourself With The Best http://t.co/9MHhCNM7r4 via @IrishSmiley

— Melissa Stewart (@MelissaOnline) March 22, 2013

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Do not be fooled by the fabulous smile – this is serious work with seriously good results! I feel reinvigorated and have absolute clarity in my plans. Poll Moussoulides

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Within 20 minutes we had a clear plan on how to solve a specific business problem I have been struggling with for months. Linda Spaanbroek

Frederique is intelligent, skilled and highly motivated. She is inspiring to know and has a great ability to positively enhance the lives of those she works with. Owen Fitzpatrick

I had so many breakthroughs. I’ve been to so many courses before and breakthroughs just didn’t happen. This time, it was just absolutely amazing. Fiona Walsh

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I discovered it doesn’t matter what your goal is. Frederique can get you there. I found it really incredible. Paddy Lavelle

Frederique has helped me hugely to see a much bigger picture than I ever imagined before I came. I owe her a great deal: Frederique is quite exceptional. Rita Marshall

It’s useful to be reminded that anything is possible, and that the way to create the life of my dreams is to keep going, believing, taking action and being me. Bennie Naudé

I’ve been in business for over 12 years and this event has completely changed the way I want to run my business and just even run my life. Siobhán Guthrie

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