20 BOOKS IN 2021: WE'VE HIT THE HALFWAY POINT
ARE YOU READY TO MAKE 2021 THE YEAR WHERE YOU GET MORE DONE, ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS, AND STILL HAVE TIME FOR YOUR FAMILY? LET ME HELP YOU GET YOUR TIME BACK WITH MY FREE PRODUCTIVITY PLANNER!
In 2020, I set a goal to read 20 books.
Of course, at the time, we had no idea that a global pandemic was going to force us into our homes with an abundance of time on our hands, yet busier than ever.
For people like me who work from home, we were pretty set in our ways. So, when our whole families were home with us, it messed up our entire rhythm and - for me - my reading time.
Sure, I know I could have found plenty of time to read more, even with my husband + kids at home with me, but I didn’t, and I ended up falling short of my goal.
So, instead of increasing my unreached goal by one to fit the new year or lowering it because I didn’t hit it, I decided to make my reading goal for 2021 to read 20 books again.
We are officially HALFWAY through 2021 (OK, I’m like a month late… don’t sue me please!), and I’m actually halfway through my reading goal! WOOHOO!
Reading this summer hasn’t been easy. With the whole family home, and a week at Disney World, reading sort of took a back seat. But, we have a summer reading club with our membership Content Made Easy that has helped to keep me accountable in what I’m reading and actually getting the book done in a reasonable time frame.
I haven’t added a lot to my list in the past 3 (ahem, 4) months, but what I’m learning as I’m learning how to ask questions and coach people is that PROGRESS should always be the main goal. I’m moving forward and that’s a GREAT thing!
My 2021 Reading List
(halfway through the year)
8. Standing Strong: A Woman’s Guide to Overcoming Adversity and Living with Confidence by Alli Worthington
If you want a book that’s going to empower you to live to your full potential, THIS IS YOUR BOOK!
I got to see Alli speak on stage in October 2019 at the Business Boutique, and started listening to her podcast not long after that. My favorite thing about Alli is how she takes the Bible and breaks it down so that we can not only understand it better, but USE it in our daily lives.
Alli shares her story about listening to God’s call for her life in this book, and I resonated with so much of it. If you’re a Christian woman who is running a business, I highly recommend this one!
9. Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds
I have SO much to say about this book (and beyond), but I also am not willing to get in a fight about things on the internet with people, so I just want to share my personal experience with learning more about black history and racism.
I’m still a baby in my learning about this, but thankfully, I have a husband how is VERY well versed in teaching about slavery and tough subjects, so he’s always my go-to person when I have questions. Actually, he’s the one that gave me this book to read because he knew I was starting to wake up to the oppression black people in America have faced and that I wanted to learn more.
If you have a heart for learning about racism and how to be more equitable in our world, I HIGHLY recommend this book. I learned a lot about historical facts that we aren’t necessarily taught in school. (And don’t come at me about what kids should or shouldn’t be taught in schools… you can have your own opinion + I can have mine.) This was eye opening, to say the least.
And - side note - this is actually the student version of the book. I’m not the world’s most intellectual person, so having this written for a middle school or high school student to understand was extremely helpful for me personally!
10. Hook Point: How to Stand Out in a 3-Second World by Brendan Kane
I had every intention of reading Brendan Kane’s first book, One Million Followers, first, but with Reels + video being the main marketing tool in business right now, I suggested we start with this book for our Content Made Easy book club.
This had a lot of valuable information in it about how to grab people’s attention and how to speak to ALL types of learning types, but I felt that it was geared more toward large, multi-million dollar businesses… and if you’re reading this, I have a feeling that’s not where you are! (But, if I’m wrong… WOW! Thanks for reading my not-million-dollar blog.)
Not sure I’d recommend this one as I feel there are much better “business” books out there you could read.
11. Soundtracks: The Surprising Solution to Overthinking by Jon Acuff
Winner, winner, chicken dinner! This is my TOP BOOK of the year so far! Especially after reading Hook Point, this was an EASY read.
Not only does this book have AMAZING info about how to overcome overthinking, but Jon Acuff makes learning about this entertaining and FUN!
Like you, I overthink EVERYTHING. But, after reading this book, I’m catching myself in my overthinking, and creating NEW “soundtracks” to help me move ahead with my life. Y’all, I cannot recommend this book enough!
UPCOMING:
Believe IT by Jamie Kern Lima
Rhythms of Renewal by Rebekah Lyons (already one section into this one)
Run the Mile You’re In by Ryan Hall
The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy
Forgiving What You Can’t Forget by Lysa TerKeurst
Four books in 3 (OK, 4) months… not too shabby! I’m definitely going to have to figure out how to get 9 more books read in just 5 months, but I’m positive I can do it… and am pretty excited about some of the upcoming books I have on my list!
If you missed my Quarter 1 books, be sure to go check out what I’ve read so far this year so you can add a few of these great ones to your list as well!
My goal in 2020 was also to read 20 books. While I didn’t quite make my goal (I was 3 or 4 short), you can check out the books I did read in 2020 and which ones I highly recommend adding to your 2021 book list!
