NEW YEAR, NEW YOU is the repetitive theme of every January since humans discovered the trip around the sun. It is a BIG FAT LIE. NEW YOU isn’t something that is automatic starting January 1st or even something that you can create in a month. I mean look at you, it took a lifetime to get where you are now. If you are looking for change, improvement, renewal- one thing you will find is that it takes work, time and support.

       Sometimes in the shop, girls will ask how did I even get started opening a boutique. It is a lot easier than you think once you stop thinking. I know, what the hell does that mean Margaret. Well, the hardest part about change is thinking about it. Once you get past the thoughts and just DO, it gets a hell of a lot easier and the pieces fall into place once you figure out how to tackle the puzzle (in my case running a retail store). January’s blog- tackling the puzzle and the key is education.

           

My Background

      For those who only know me as MM, before my life here at TLB, I was Mrs.
Miller at Milton Hershey School. I was an 8th grade reading and English teacher, so of course education is high on my list of values. The coolest aspect of being a millennial is that we have no excuses when it comes to knowledge. We have an incredible source of information and can get it and exponential rate. The terrible thing is that because the information is vast; we have trouble sifting through the shit to find what is best and most useful tools for us.

Knowing the Difference Between Surface Substance, and Educational 

            What I feel is your strongest power to create a new you (or having at least a new part of you) is the ability to educate yourself. The problem is, there are too many proclaimed people and books who serve surface substance as actual help. Have you ever bought a book and about four pages in, you think well hell I already know this. I just wasted 17.99. I can’t tell you how many times this has happened, and yep, I’m going to say it, prepare yourself now swallow whatever is in your mouth so you don’t spew it all over your screen; Girl, Wash Your Face was one of these waste of money books. You need to find educational books that will give you skills, advice, explanations and anecdotes that go beyond casual girl power talk- those are what your friends are for- they are not experts in the subject you seek but they are experts on YOU. Use them for that surface level YOU GOT THIS motivation and dive deeper into books for professional and expert help in the topic you seek.

          I have a masters in Teaching Leadership aka teaching adults. The number one take away from my degree is: don’t waste people’s time, explain the skill and why it is important and how to implement it. The degree itself is just being cognizant that time is more costly than money so we need to give people the biggest bang for their buck. So after my many failed attempts of buying books what my New Years gift to you is the books that I feel are worth the time and money. Not all books may pertain to what you want to change directly, but they do help shape a mindset of change and growth.

 The Best Books for Furthering Your Education in Business, and Personal Growth 

 

            My favorite word in school both as a student and as a teacher was catalyst. Catalyst is described as a substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without itself undergoing any permanent chemical change and the second definition is that it is an agent that provokes or speeds significant change or action, long definition short- something has to drive you to change, your Why. The book, Start with Why by Simon Sinek is a great tool to use to enforce the need for the difference in your life. If you understand your why, your attachment to the dedication runs deeper impacting a stronger change. I have graduated to more recently reading The Infinite Game which strengthens your understanding that you are playing a never ending game and this idea is helping continue to dive me deeper into what we are trying to build at TLB.

             Daniel Pink is one of my favorites as an educator and continues to spark interest as

a business owner.  He has several books with different topics but each one is intriguing with stories and studies that explain how complex and simple creatures humans can be (A Whole New Mind).  These books are great when trying to understand what motives others (Drive) and ourselves and how the world around us impacts possible outcomes.  His latest book When demonstrates how influenceable time can be.  For a sample of Daniel Pink before the buy, he has a podcast called 1-3-20.  For more business focused book he also wrote, To Sell is Human.

             The most recent book bought on my amazon list is Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know about the People We Don't Know by Malcom Gladwell. If you haven’t heard this name ask around, someone is bound to have read, Outliers, a standout book that shows incredible things can happen outside of what statistics promise. The knowledge that is demonstrated through different studies helps ignite the grit that you need to prove the impossible.

          The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck is a nice little pocket read to help you say, fuck No. Just kidding, its more like, no thank you. It really helped me take toxic people and experiences out of my life and the biggest feeling of obligation. I now control my feeling of obligation which as freed up much of my precious time.

          Doing too much and want to cut down the signup sheets- read this book and as you take on the new year and use key reference pages to help guide you to that two letter no shits given word, NO. So the next book title is not enthralling, it was a don’t judge a book by its cover, but I went for it and clicked buy now. Listen, I was desperately excited to start my business. So, Business Boutique: A Woman's Guide for Making Money Doing What She Loves showed up two days later and I loved it. For those of you who have a business or the side hustle or the occasional hobby, this book helped my discover that it is okay to make money as a woman. There is a stigma with women being successful in business. If you need to support in understanding your worth, read this book. It also provided me with the understanding no friends and family discount.

          There are many other books I have read in the concentration of business
and psychology. One including the Nordstrom way, so if you need more book
recommendations reach out to me and I can share! I saved my last motivational
writer/speaker for last.

          Mr. Gary V. I will warn you he says fuck a lot. A LOT. Like way more than me. However; he makes a lot of sense and is a no excuse no bull shit, just do it mentor. His thing is social media, so if you want to investigate before buying, youtube! Sometimes you just need to hear the words, just go out and do it and he does this in a way that just makes sense. His wisdom comes with his own entrepreneurial adventure turning his dad’s wine business into something more and all the sacrifices that came with it.

          You don’t have to take any of these recommendations of course, but I do encourage any goals or aspirations to be supported by more than just your words and determination. Although they can be fierce, it is best to have someone who has been there to help validate your feelings through frustration and give you techniques to persevere through the times of anguish.

Chase those goals big and SMALL!

Stay stunning,
MM