If you had asked me years ago whether I enjoyed reading, my answer would’ve been something like:
“If I never read another book again, it would be too soon.”
When I earned my master’s degree in business, I was done. Read. Highlighted. Took in information only if absolutely required for my job. And I took that stance pretty literally for more than a decade.
Then something shifted.
As I grew in my professional development and spent more time around other business owners and leaders, I kept hearing one question come up again and again:
“What are you reading right now?”
At first, it was just noise. But over time, curiosity crept in. Not pressure—curiosity. I started noticing how often people tied real growth, clarity, and peace back to what they were intentionally consuming. That planted a seed.
It took a while for that seed to grow.
From Avoidance to Intention
When I finally decided to start reading again, I set the bar low. One book a month. No heroics. No pressure. I hit that goal. So in 2025, I stretched it to two books a month—24 books total. At the time, that felt ambitious. Maybe even unrealistic. And then something unexpected happened. I stopped fighting I read. I had resisted audiobooks for years because, in my mind, “reading” meant holding a physical book. Listening felt like cheating. But once I gave Audible a real chance, everything changed.
I realized I wasn’t trying to win a reading contest—I was trying to intentionally ingest information that was healthy and aligned with where I was going. By midyear, I had already surpassed my goal. As I close out 2025, I’ve read 28 books. And instead of glossing over that or immediately focusing on what I didn’t do, I’m choosing to do something different: acknowledge it, celebrate it, and build from it.
Reading With Discernment (Not Just Recommendations)
This year, I was incredibly intentional about what I chose to read.
Not everything that’s popular belongs in your head.
Not every recommendation fits your season.
Before starting a book, I began asking:
- Does this align with where I’m going professionally?
- Will this support me personally and spiritually?
- Does this contribute to my health and well-being?
- Is this feeding growth—or just noise?
My word of the year is Engaged, and reading became one of the ways I practiced that engagement—with my leadership, my life, and myself.
I also gave myself permission to read beyond business. I wanted to learn how to dream again. To enjoy story, imagination, and curiosity—not just strategy and systems.
The Books That Truly Moved the Needle
I won’t list all 28 here—the visual does that—but a few books shaped this year in meaningful ways.
The Gap and the Gain
This book stopped me in my tracks.
One concept hit hard: how often we measure ourselves by the distance we haven’t traveled instead of acknowledging how far we’ve already come.
If the goal is ten units away and you’ve made it four, most of us emotionally live in the missing six—completely discounting the four already achieved.
I realized I’ve lived my entire life that way.
I’m a task checker. I finish something, move on, and immediately focus on what’s next. This book helped me see how much progress I’ve been dismissing—and how exhausting that mindset really is.
Learning to celebrate distance traveled while still striving forward. And I’m encouraging the people around me to do the same.
The Miracle Morning → Miracle Moments
I have never been a morning person. Ever.
The traditional miracle morning routine didn’t magically transform me—but the idea behind it did. Instead of forcing someone else’s system, I started asking myself:
What actually creates a miracle day for me?
That led me to something much more realistic and sustainable: miracle moments.
I’m still refining what those are. I’m still learning myself. But I’m done borrowing other people’s routines without reflection. By the end of 2026, my goal is to have habits that are ingrained, aligned, and truly mine.
These two books changed everything.
A year ago, I had one support person and a contractor. Today, I have a team of six—employees and consultants working together toward a shared mission.
That didn’t happen accidentally.
These books helped me step out of burnout and into leadership. They reframed delegation, team building, and capacity in a way that felt doable—not overwhelming. If you’re stuck in the “How am I ever going to do all of this?” phase, these are game changers.
The Power of One More
I loved the concept—and I’m still growing into it.
As a recovering perfectionist, the idea of “just one more” can feel intimidating. But the seed has been planted. I trust that in the right season, this lesson will fully take root.
What Happened to You
This book was powerful confirmation.
It reinforced much of the mindset and neuro-linguistic work I’ve done this year and deepened my understanding of how profoundly our minds shape our lives. It reminded me how impactful it is to do that work intentionally, with support.
Finish
Entrepreneurs are excellent starters.
This book reminded me that finishing is a skill—and one worth practicing. It was the right book at the right time.
The Constant That Grounds It All
Every year, my husband and I read the Bible together.
That rhythm didn’t start this year, and it isn’t tied to a numeric goal—but it remains the foundation underneath everything else. Reading Scripture together has brought clarity, peace, and a deeper understanding that continues to shape how I live and lead.
It’s the anchor I return to, year after year.
Looking Ahead: A Clear Declaration for 2026
2025, I read 28 books.
2026, my goal is 36.
That’s not a hope or a maybe—it’s a declaration. Not driven by hustle or pressure, but by confidence in what’s already working and clarity about where I’m going next.
As I look ahead, I’m especially interested in:
- Books that help leaders grow teams with integrity
- Work that supports impact without burnout
- Perspectives on detaching identity from productivity
- Thoughtful fiction that stretches imagination and restores creativity
- Stories that challenge how we think, lead, and live
Let’s Talk Books 📚
Now I’d love to hear from you.
- Have you read any of these books?
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Tell me about a shift you’ve experienced.
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Which books are on your reading list right now?
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Share a book that sparked a real aha moment in your leadership, business, faith, or life.
Share what’s impacted you—and if you have a recommendation that feels aligned with where I’m headed, I’m listening.
Because reading, I’ve learned, isn’t about checking boxes.
It’s about becoming more engaged with who we’re becoming next.
