My Top Five Most Influential Resources From 2021
For me, 2021 was a year full of many transitions and life-changing events. I graduated from the University of Florida, took a summer trip to Yosemite and LA, and moved to a new city where I started my first job out of college. The year was full of highs and lows, but I am incredibly grateful for every moment for bringing me to where I am now. In these transformative times, I always look to books and other resources to help me stay grounded and constantly learning. In this blog, I wanted to share some of the most impactful resources I came across this year that shaped my mindset as I entered this new chapter of my life. My hope is that others going through similar transitional periods will find them just as valuable.
“I Will Teach You to Be Rich” by Ramit Sethi
I was gifted this book by my former boss when I was a social media intern at the University of Florida Athletic Association. Understanding personal finance is, in my opinion, once of the most important things people should learn about. Half a year ago, I was pretty embarrassed by how little I knew about this crucial topic. With my graduation date soon approaching and the start date for my job months away, I was determined to learn as much as I could so I knew what to do as soon as I received my first paycheck. However, I didn’t even know where to begin. Lucky for me, my boss gave me exactly the gift I needed. This book does a great job explaining things everybody should know when it comes to their personal finances, and the bare minimum that is needed in order to grow your money. I have never felt more confident about money management than I did after reading this book. I definitely recommend it for anyone who wants to take control of their finances, but especially those about to start their first job out of college.
2. The School of Greatness Podcast
The School of Greatness is the number one podcast I recommend for people to listen to. It covers a vast range of topics that I think are key to living an impactful, fulfilling life - health, relationships, productivity, entrepreneurship, and so much more. The goal of the podcast is to share advice from some of the world’s most successful people to inspire others to “unlock their inner greatness” and live their best lives. What I really like about the podcast is that the host, Lewis Howes, has such an interesting story. He had a challenging childhood, struggling with school as a result of his dyslexia. He compensated for this by focusing on sports, though his dream to play in the NFL was shattered after a career-ending injury. After a year and a half of sleeping on his sister’s couch and battling depression, he completely transformed his life. Since then, he played Olympic handball, published a book, started a business, and began his ultra-successful podcast. Guests that he has had on his show include Brene Brown, Kobe Bryant, Grant Cardone, Tony Robbins, Matthew McConaughey, Mel Robbins, and so many more.
If you are interested in listening but don’t know where to begin, I recommend you start with Episode 1,000: A Journey to Greatness. In this episode, Lewis compiles key lessons he learned from ten of his most impactful episodes. It is a great introduction to the content he discusses and serves as a highlight real of some of his best episodes. He also explains a lot about his own personal story.
3. National Geographic Magazines
I’ve had a subscription to National Geographic since 2018, and I don’t plan on cancelling it anytime soon. These magazines are the perfect ways to open your mind to different cultures and learn more about the world we live in. Each magazine provides an entirely different subject to learn about - snow leopards in Nepal, new discoveries in space, technological innovations, and so much more. National Geographic’s mission statement is to “illuminate and protect the wonder of our world,” which is reason enough for me to support the company’s work. I am currently reading an edition that recounts the stories of the last remaining survivors from World War II and gives a glimpse into their wartime experiences. It is incredibly eye-opening and gives you a profound appreciation for what people sacrificed to bring us to the world we live in today.
As a person working in the communications field, I also appreciate the innovative methods National Geographic uses to tell its stories. I recently read a magazine that explained the world according to our five senses which used QR codes to provide readers a more immersive experience. There was even a scratch & sniff in the “smell” section, which was such a unique way to bring the story to life.
4. Ali Abdaal’s YouTube Channel
When I first moved to NYC, I had an unexpected amount of down time and wanted to find ways to use my time productively. As I was researching things online, I stumbled upon Ali Abdaal’s YouTube channel. Ali is a doctor who started a business that helps prospective med school students. On the side, he is also a blogger, YouTuber, and podcaster. Much of his content revolves around things he does to be a successful entrepreneur, productivity tips, and overall life lessons he has learned along the way. I gained the inspiration to start a blog as a result of watching one of Ali’s videos. It also motivated me to want to learn how to code, which is one of my biggest personal goals for 2022. Ali also has an email newsletter I subscribed to that contains various snippets of the advice he shares in his videos and podcast/article/book/other recommendations. He also shares progress on his personal goals, which serves as great inspiration for goals I’d like to accomplish for myself.
5. The Four-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferris
I have not yet finished reading this book yet, but it is the single most common book I have seen referenced by many of the entrepreneurs/successful people I have read about or listened to in podcasts. So far, I don’t necessarily agree with all of the points Tim makes in this book, but it is still communicates an interesting message that challenges the mindsets that most people have on how they should live their lives. Tim compares the “New Rich” vs. “The Old Rich,” demonstrating that you don’t have to wait until you’re retired to enjoy the money that you make. He lists out steps you can take in order to create a more flexible lifestyle geared to your dreams and desires. Tim argues that instead of subjecting yourself to the grueling 9-5 for the rest of your life, individuals have the power to design their lifestyles and live their lives to the fullest in the moment. It has challenged me to stop and really think about what I want to accomplish in my life.
Tim Ferris also has a successful podcast called “The Tim Ferris Show”, where he interviews many successful people. He also wrote about these interviews in his book “The Tool of Titans.” Both are full of more insightful stories and bits of advice that are also worth checking out.