<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="630" height="354" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/105706751-1548781269546gettyimages-484998960.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-409103" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/105706751-1548781269546gettyimages-484998960.jpeg 630w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/105706751-1548781269546gettyimages-484998960-300x169.jpeg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/105706751-1548781269546gettyimages-484998960-140x80.jpeg 140w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 630px) 100vw, 630px" /><figcaption>Usain Bolt of Jamaica celebrates after winning gold in the Men’s 100 metres final during day two of the 15th IAAF World Athletics Championships Beijing 2015 at Beijing National Stadium on August 23, 2015 in Beijing, China.VCG | Visual China Group | Getty Images
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Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt is still known as the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2021/07/07/how-the-worlds-fastest-man-usain-bolt-mentally-prepares-for-a-race.html">fastest man alive</a>&nbsp;and one of the richest athletes.



In 2018, Bolt was ranked at No. 45 on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/profile/usain-bolt/?sh=31e18698c805" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Forbes Magazine’s</a>&nbsp;list of the 100 richest athletes in the world. He earned $31 million in 2017, when he officially&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbc.com/sport/athletics/40919834" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">retired.</a>



But Bolt, 34, admits he wasn’t always good with his money.



“When I started coming up, I spent a little bit more than I wanted to,” Bolt tells&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/make-it/">CNBC Make It.</a>



The eight-time Olympic gold medalist says that after his first Olympic debut in 2004, when he was just 18, he got into “spending” because that’s when he started making money.



Luckily, Bolt says his teammates sat him down and explained finances to him.



“I have to give credit to my team,” Bolt says. “They’ve really helped me to understand how to save.”



The biggest lesson Bolt says he learned is to save more than half of your earnings.



“Then you can spend the rest and pay bills,” he says. ” I tell people if you make $10, save $6, and then you can figure out what to do with the rest.”



Bolt still holds the official world record for both the men’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.worldathletics.org/records/all-time-toplists/sprints/100-metres/outdoor/men/senior" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">100-meter</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.worldathletics.org/records/all-time-toplists/sprints/200-metres/outdoor/men/senior" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">and 200-meter</a>&nbsp;sprints, which he achieved at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin. He ran the 100-meter in 9.58 seconds and the 200-meter in 19.19 seconds. And he was part of the&nbsp;4&#215;100-meter world-record-holding relay team at the London 2012 summer Olympics.



In&nbsp;<a href="https://olympics.com/ioc/news/ioc-sanctions-two-athletes-for-failing-anti-doping-test-at-beijing-2008" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2017</a>, Bolt was forced to return his 2008 Olympic gold medal in the 4&#215;100-meter relay by The International&nbsp;<a href="https://www.olympic.org/news/ioc-sanctions-two-athletes-for-failing-anti-doping-test-at-beijing-200" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Olympic Committee</a>&nbsp;when his Jamaican relay mate failed a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/01/25/511605094/usain-bolt-loses-a-gold-medal-after-2008-teammates-failed-test" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">drug test</a>.



Though now a retired athlete, some of Bolt’s sponsorships&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ispo.com/en/people/id_78674594/usain-bolt-and-money-the-business-with-the-super-sprinter.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">haven’t</a>&nbsp;slowed. He has a lifetime partnership with Puma and just signed as a spokesperson for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.carmax.com/usainly-fast-offers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CarMax.</a>&nbsp;He’s also a real estate investor and co-founder of the electric&nbsp;<a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/news/usain-bolt-is-sprinting-toward-his-next-venture-133719845.html#:~:text=The%20fastest%20man%20in%20the,electric%20scooters%20via%20an%20app." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">scooter company</a>&nbsp;Bolt Mobility.



Still, Bolt would advise his younger self to “save as much as possible.”



“There are a lot of athletes out there who got injured,” Bolt says, “And that’s something that I learned and I saw with my own eyes.”



As for career advice, Bolt says the best advice he ever received was from his dad.



“He said to me, ‘Son, anything you want, just work hard and be dedicated and you will be fine.’ And for me I’ve always lived by that,” Bolt says.

105706751-1548781269546gettyimages-484998960

Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt’s best money advice: ‘If you make $10, save $6’

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1110" height="793" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/mental-health-3337026_1280-1110x793.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-395053" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/mental-health-3337026_1280-1110x793.jpg 1110w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/mental-health-3337026_1280-300x214.jpg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/mental-health-3337026_1280-820x586.jpg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/mental-health-3337026_1280-768x548.jpg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/mental-health-3337026_1280.jpg 1280w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1110px) 100vw, 1110px" /></figure>



From <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2021/01/11/flexjobs-top-companies-hiring-for-work-from-home-jobs-2021.html">working remotely</a> to getting comfortable with at-home workouts, the Covid pandemic has uprooted most of our routines, and interfered with our motivation.



Don’t miss:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/select/best-cash-back-credit-cards-with-no-annual-fee/?__source=select|makeitinlinelink">The best cash-back credit cards with no annual fee</a>



Motivation tends to drop when you feel a deficit in three key areas of life: your autonomy, competence and relationships,&nbsp;<a href="https://arts-sciences.buffalo.edu/psychology/faculty/faculty-directory/park.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lora Park</a>, associate professor and director of the Self and Motivation Lab at the University of Buffalo, tells&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/make-it/">CNBC Make It</a>.



“Covid wiped out like all three of those like instantly,” Park says.



The good news is there are ways to set up your life and routine so that you feel more motivated about your goals, whether you’re trying to stay focused at work or attempting an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/23/tips-for-successfully-switching-careers-in-the-new-year.html?">ambitious New Years resolution</a>.



Here are some research-backed ways to feel more motivated today:



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-create-daily-rituals">Create daily rituals</h2>



A 2018&nbsp;<a href="http://faculty.haas.berkeley.edu/jschroeder/Publications/Enacting%20Rituals%20to%20Improve%20Self-Control.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">study</a>&nbsp;out of Harvard University found that rituals — any predefined sequences of actions characterized by rigidity and repetition — increase people’s self-control and feelings of self-discipline.



“Rituals don’t have to be this elaborate thing, it could just be a very small routine that you do every day,” Park says. For example, putting your workout clothes beside your bed so you can exercise first thing in the morning is considered a ritual. So is taking time to meditate or relax once you get your kids set up for the school day or walking your dog after work.



Over time, rituals automatize behavior, Park says. When a habit becomes automatic, “it frees up your mental energy to then be able to focus on other things that require more time attention or energy,” she says.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-set-up-routine-cues">Set up routine ‘cues’</h2>



We’re hard-wired to forge associations between ourselves and&nbsp;<a href="https://gdt.stanford.edu/the-habit-loop/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cues in the environment</a>&nbsp;that trigger us to do something, Conroy says. This could be anything from knowing to answer a Slack when you hear or see the notification to taking out your keys to unlock the door when you get home.



During the pandemic, cues that would typically prompt you to do something (like walking into an office and feeling ready to work or stopping at the gym on your commute home) have been disrupted, Conroy says. In fact, people who are working from home might be subconsciously confused by cues (like your couch or TV) that they would usually only encounter on the weekend, he says.



Creating cues in your physical environment will help keep you on track, Park says. For example, if you’re working from home, designate a workspace. That way, you’ll feel set up and mentally prepared to work when you enter that space — and be able to disconnect when you’re in other places.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-reward-yourself-the-right-way">Reward yourself the right way</h2>



Rewards can increase your intrinsic motivation or desire to do an activity, Park says. But&nbsp;<a href="https://marketing.wharton.upenn.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/04.11.2019-Fishbach-Ayelet-PAPER-Its-About-Time.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">research</a>&nbsp;shows that the timing of the reward matters. Essentially, you have to pair an activity with something that you find enjoyable to do during or right after the activity, she says.



So, while you run on the treadmill, you could watch a favorite Netflix show as a “reward.” Or, you could have a treat like a cup of coffee or a piece of chocolate while you tackle a tedious work task. (The key is to make sure the rewards are not self-destructive, she adds.)



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-make-room-for-moments-of-positivity">Make room for moments of positivity</h2>



Finding ways to cultivate positive emotions every day can have a real impact on your motivation and productivity, Park says. This can be as small as watching a funny video or sending a text to a friend, she says.&nbsp;<a href="https://positivepsychology.com/benefits-of-positive-emotions/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Research</a>&nbsp;has shown that experiencing positive emotions can improve your performance at work, as well as your physical and mental health, social relationships, community involvement and income.



Negative emotions, on the other hand, “tend to narrow your focus and make you not want to get out of your comfort zone,” she says.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-don-t-be-too-hard-on-yourself">Don’t be too hard on yourself</h2>



There are two main types of motivation: intrinsic, which is doing something for the pure enjoyment of the activity itself (aka “flow”), not focused on the outcome, rewards or even punishments; and extrinsic, which is driven by external rewards or punishment.



“Your motivation can ebb and flow,” Park says. “So, you might start off very extrinsically motivated, but then over time as you get good at something, or it becomes part of your identity, then it becomes something that you truly enjoy.”



One thing that often gets in the way of motivation is when people internalize external pressure or feedback, and connect their performance to their self-esteem and ego, Park says. (In psychology, this is called “<a href="https://positivepsychology.com/self-determination-theory/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">introjected self-regulation</a>.) That’s because when your self-esteem and ego is wrapped up in your performance, negative feelings about yourself can hinder your ability to reach a goal.



So it’s important to acknowledge where pressure is coming from and not be so hard on yourself.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-know-your-triggers">Know your triggers</h2>



Everyone feels unmotivated sometimes, so it’s important to recognize what your triggers are, and adjust accordingly to help get your motivation back, Park says. For example, when you’re feeling overworked or burned out, and you’re lacking motivation, that can be a “screaming signal” that you need to slow down or take some time off, she says.



Another common trigger for a lack of motivation? Getting negative feedback. “It can be very demoralizing, in many fields, when things are rejected or you get negative feedback, criticism or bad evaluations,” Park says. In those moments, you may feel like your ego has been threatened. “One way to naturally rebuild the motivation is to put it away, do other things and then come back to it,” she says.



<a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1999-05760-004" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Research</a>&nbsp;has shown that having a very specific and concrete a contingency plan for these moments when you feel your motivation dip can be effective, Park says. “Create a script in your head of what you’re going to be doing,” she says. “It’s kind of automating your behavior so that you don’t have to like completely paralyzed in that moment.”



Check out:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2021/01/11/types-of-burnout-and-signs-and-symptoms-emily-ballesteros-coach-tips.html">There are 3 different types of burnout — these are the signs to look out for</a>



Don’t miss:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/select/the-best-credit-cards-for-building-credit/">The best credit cards for building credit of 2021</a>

mental-health-3337026_1280

How the pandemic killed your motivation, and 6 simple ways to get it back, according to science

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1110" height="740" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/GettyImages-638932749-1110x740.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-392880" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/GettyImages-638932749-1110x740.jpg 1110w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/GettyImages-638932749-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/GettyImages-638932749-820x547.jpg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/GettyImages-638932749-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/GettyImages-638932749-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/GettyImages-638932749-scaled.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1110px) 100vw, 1110px" /></figure>



Times of stress tend to amplify our human nature, including the way that we spend and save money.



While stuck at home during Covid-19, for example, some might be&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2020/04/09/its-easy-to-mindlessly-spend-right-nowheres-how-to-avoid-it.html">itching to spend</a>&nbsp;or take advantage of upcoming Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales — experts say that&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/23/should-you-stress-shop-online-right-now.html">stress-shopping</a>&nbsp;is one way we attempt to feel in control of our lives.



Others might be more <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2020/04/15/if-you-didnt-get-your-stimulus-check-already-heres-when-its-coming.html">anxious about finances</a> or worried about <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2020/04/17/what-to-know-about-severance-insurance-and-benefits-if-youre-laid-off.html">job security</a>.  



Even when there’s no pandemic, the way that people spend or save says more about a person than whether they have self control.



Experts don’t exactly how why you end up with a propensity to splurge or save, but part of it likely has to do with your&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/learnvest/2016/08/10/science-says-you-really-can-blame-your-parents-for-your-bad-money-habits/#43c9c37811e2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">family upbringing</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://michiganross.umich.edu/faculty-research/faculty/scott-rick" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Scott Rick</a>, associate professor at the Michigan Ross School of Business, whose research focuses on the emotional causes and consequences of consumer financial decision-making, tells&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/make-it/">CNBC Make It</a>.



It’s topic researchers are currently studying in kids, but preliminary data suggests that people tend to pick up the spending habits of their mothers more than other family members.



Individual life experiences also play a role, Rick says. For example, if you lost a large amount of money at a key moment in your life, it might make you stingier about money. Or if you went through a period of time when your money was tight, you might hold onto those habits even when your situation improves.



Interestingly, the amount of money you make doesn’t impact whether you’re a spender or a saver, Rick says. (Although, obviously your propensity to spend or save does impact the amount of debt and savings you have.)



All of these factors make up your “money scripts,” or your beliefs and emotional connection to money, explains <a href="https://www.yourmentalwealth.com/about-us/dr-brad-klontz/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Brad Klontz</a>, psychologist and founder of the Financial Psychology Institute. “They get adapted as you go through life by watching other people, your culture, your neighborhood and your friend group,” he tells CNBC Make It.



Broadly speaking, your willingness to spend money seems to hinge upon one factor: how psychologically uncomfortable you feel when you have to part with your money, explains&nbsp;<a href="https://olin.wustl.edu/EN-US/Faculty-Research/Faculty/Pages/FacultyDetail.aspx?username=cryder" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cynthia Cryder</a>, associate professor of marketing at Washington University in St. Louis’ Olin Business School.



It “predicts things like how much money they have saved, and how much credit card debt they have,” Cryder tells CNBC Make It.



Here’s what your habits say about you and your personality.&nbsp;The good news, according to Cryder, is that no matter where you are on this financial spectrum, it is possible to adjust your ways.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-if-spending-money-stresses-you-out">If spending money stresses you out…</h2>



People who have trouble spending money “experience a lot of distress when they’re considering spending,” Rick says. “So, they don’t buy the things that they think they should buy or want to buy.”



They also tend to have more self-control, act more rationally and plan more, Rick says. They’re prone to overthinking things, says Rick, as well as being flustered by thoughts about money.



“For those people, spending money becomes excruciating because they feel like they’re making themselves vulnerable,” Dr. Klontz says.



Some people who have trouble spending don’t allow themselves the opportunity to enjoy their resources, Dr. Klontz says. “People can be so worried about future that they don’t allow themselves to have any joy in the present moment,” he says. Of course, if you’ve recently lost your job or had to close your business due to the pandemic, that can drastically skew the way you view your finances, too.



For these reasons, people who have trouble spending money may be a little less happy in their lives, because they’ve foregone some purchases or experiences that would’ve made them happy, Cryder says. (And they aren’t just skimping on indulgences; they don’t buy practical things such as financial advice and furniture, Rick says. “Some of tightwad-ism is penny wise and pound foolish,” he says.)



“But having a little bit too much money in your savings account is a much smaller problem than having too little,” she says.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-if-you-love-shopping-and-spending">If you love shopping and spending…</h2>



People who have trouble limiting their spending, on the other hand, are more carefree and focused on the present, so they&nbsp;only see green lights when it comes to shopping decisions. They don’t experience the same sting from making purchases, which is why they often buy more than they think they should, Rick says. There also seems to be a relationship between being a spendthrift and being bored and more materialistic, Cryder says.



But a person’s propensity to spend is deeper than just keeping up with the Joneses, Dr. Klontz says. Buying things can be fun, and it helps us connect with other people. Over time, you might develop a sense of pride or status around buying items that’s “totally linked into this psychological need we have to be accepted by our peer group,” he says.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-if-you-re-frugal-and-strict-about-saving">If you’re frugal and strict about saving…</h2>



“Frugal people love to save; they think it’s the right thing to do,” Rick says. Technically, there’s a difference between being frugal and actually having trouble spending money. Frugal people might go to great lengths to save and not waste. They may repair their clothes instead of buying new ones or get a kick out of shopping at secondhand stores, for example. People who are stressed out by spending don’t necessarily share the same quirks, they just don’t like spending money, period.



“It’s good to be frugal,” Rick says. And if you’re frugal and spending stresses you out, “that person is going to be particularly likely to have a large pot of savings and small or nonexistent credit card debt,” Cryder says. “Whereas if you have somebody who’s both a spendthrift and gets little to no pleasure from saving, then they’re likely to be spending more.”



However, there’s status associated with being frugal, which can add a competitive element that cancels out some of the benefits, Dr. Klontz says.



″We’re always thinking about status as being related to overspending or really beautiful watches,” he says. “Well, there’s an entire group that is trying to outdo each other on how frugal they can be.”

mother and daughter putting money in piggybank

The psychological difference between spenders and savers (and what your habits say about your personality)

Whether it’s building a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2020/05/28/billionaire-warren-buffett-teaches-this-20-slot-rule-to-getting-rich-at-business-schools.html">successful business</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2019/10/17/i-got-10000-more-when-i-negotiated-my-salary-offer-heres-the-exact-script-i-used.html">climbing the career ladder</a>, you can find inspiration from people who have done the seemingly impossible: Change the world and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2019/03/26/money-mistakes-millionaires-like-warren-buffett-bill-gates-google-eric-schmidt-never-make.html">become&nbsp;a billionaire</a>.



It’s unlikely that you’ll be able to have a conversation over dinner with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2019/04/12/microsoft-billionaire-bill-gates-these-5-books-are-so-good-they-kept-me-up-past-bedtime.html">Bill Gates</a>&nbsp;or Oprah Winfrey, but you can still learn their secrets and advice from the books they’ve written.



Below are nine must-reads by some of the world’s most influential billionaires:



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">1.&nbsp; “The Path Made Clear: Discovering Your Life’s Direction and Purpose”</h2>



<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Path-Made-Clear-Discovering-Direction/dp/1250307503" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">By Oprah Winfrey</a>



Committing to a life of purpose takes courage. “There was a time when I felt torn between who the world was telling me I should be, and what I felt to be the truth of myself,” media mogul Oprah Winfrey writes in the introduction of her 2019 book “The Path Made Clear.”



The chapters are organized to help you recognize your most important accomplishments along the road to self-discovery, laying out what you really need in order to achieve a life of happiness, significance and success.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">2. “Principles: Life and Work”</h2>



By&nbsp;<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Principles-Life-Work-Ray-Dalio/dp/1501124021" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ray Dalio</a>



Investor and entrepreneur&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2019/12/04/billionaire-ray-dalio-was-once-broke-and-borrowed-money-from-his-dad-to-pay-family-bills.html">Ray Dalio</a>&nbsp;shares the principles he developed while running Bridgewater Associates, which&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/ray-dalio-is-still-driving-his-160-billion-hedge-fund-machine-11580504150" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">manages about $160 billion</a>&nbsp;— making it the largest hedge fund firm in the world. The book offers hundreds of practical lessons that can help individuals and organizations make smarter decisions and build stronger teams.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">3. “Shoe Dog: A Memoir By the Creator of Nike”</h2>



<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Shoe-Dog-Memoir-Creator-Nike/dp/1501135910" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">By Phil Knight</a>



In “Shoe Dog,” Nike founder Phil Knight offers a refreshingly honest memoir about how he built a shoe empire that earned him the nickname “the man behind swoosh.”



Bill Gates named it one of his five favorite books of 2016,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gatesnotes.com/Books/Shoe-Dog" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">calling</a>&nbsp;it a “reminder of what the path to business success really looks like. It’s a messy, perilous, and chaotic journey, riddled with mistakes, endless struggles, and sacrifice.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">4. “Losing My Virginity: How I Survived, Had Fun, and Made a Fortune Doing Business My Way”</h2>



<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Losing-My-Virginity-Survived-Business/dp/0307720748" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">By Richard Branson</a>



“Losing My Virginity” is an autobiography of how Virgin Group founder Richard Branson found success by doing things his own way. The internationally best-selling book describes the many life events that shaped Branson’s character&nbsp;— his naivety, his sense of adventure and steely resolve — and led him to revolutionize the music and airline industries.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">5. “Business @ the Speed of Thought: Succeeding in the Digital Economy”</h2>



<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Business-Speed-Thought-Succeeding-Digital/dp/0446525685" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">By Bill Gates</a>



Although published more than two decades ago, the Microsoft co-founder’s examples about how to use information flow to gain a competitive edge are still relevant today.



If you run your own business, Gates’ book will prompt you to think about how you can improve your company’s work process and whether your managers have the right tools to get the information they need to make smart decisions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">6. “Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead”</h2>



<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Lean-Women-Work-Will-Lead/dp/0385349947" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">By Sheryl Sandberg</a>



Sheryl Sandberg’s “Lean In” became a massive cultural phenomenon when it released in 2013, sparking conversations about women and ambition in the workplace.



Inspiring and well-researched, the Facebook COO offers advice&nbsp;on how to combine professional achievement with personal fulfillment, as well as how men can benefit by supporting women both in the workplace and at home.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">7. “How to Win at the Sport of Business: If I Can Do It, You Can Do It”</h2>



<a href="https://www.amazon.com/How-Win-Sport-Business-Can-ebook/dp/B006AX6ONI" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">By Mark Cuban</a>



Incorporating some of his best advice from his popular&nbsp;<a href="https://blogmaverick.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Blog Maverick</a>, “Shark Tank” investor and Dallas Mavericks owner&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2020/05/21/billionaire-mark-cuban-advice-to-college-grads-most-comforting-thing-you-hear-today.html">Mark Cuban</a>&nbsp;gives readers some insider knowledge on what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur.



If you haven’t heard Cuban’s rags-to-riches story (he was selling powdered milk and sleeping on friends’ couches before reaching billionaire status), this book will be the inspiration you need to push forward during hard times.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">8. “Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future”</h2>



<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Zero-One-Notes-Startups-Future/dp/0804139296" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">By Peter Thiel</a>



Peter Thiel has a history of building and investing in breakthrough companies. A co-founder of PayPal and Palantir Technologies, Thiel was the&nbsp;<a href="https://money.cnn.com/2012/08/20/technology/facebook-peter-thiel/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">first investor in Facebook</a>.



In “Zero to One,” he explains the philosophy he used along his path to financial success and offers a new way of thinking about innovation: It starts by learning to ask the questions that lead you to find value in unexpected places.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">9. “The Power of Many: Values for Success in Business and in Life”</h2>



<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Power-Many-Values-Success-Business/dp/0307591220" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">By Meg Whitman</a>



Meg Whitman, former president and CEO of eBay, writes about the core values&nbsp;—&nbsp;such as trust, authenticity, courage and validation — that steered her to success without ethical compromise.&nbsp;



One of my favorite lines from the book:&nbsp;“The difference between a competent executive and a superstar often boils down to the willingness to decide to move forward, even when the path is not crystal clear.



<a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.linkedin.com/in/tpopomaronis/__;!!PIZeeW5wscynRQ!-yxevb0q1Zq7aZKC07Qq8U1Qg8X-W_L_2SjyDtzpjHBU7X04MhOWDyRqw6_KBj8$" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom Popomaronis</a>&nbsp;is a leadership expert and vice president of innovation at&nbsp;<a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.massivealliance.com/solutions/elb/__;!!PIZeeW5wscynRQ!-yxevb0q1Zq7aZKC07Qq8U1Qg8X-W_L_2SjyDtzpjHBU7X04MhOWDyRqp-WuWVU$" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Massive Alliance.</a>&nbsp;His work has been featured in Forbes, Fast Company, Inc., and The Washington Post. In 2014, Tom was named one of the “40 Under 40” by the Baltimore Business Journal. Follow him on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/tpopomaronis" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LinkedIn</a>.

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