Sporty Business Women: A Winning Combination?

A recent article from the BBC Do sporty women make better entrepreneurs? caught our eye here at Portfolio Penguin.

Sport has been credited for the skills and personality traits it creates within people from confidence to resilience, to a healthy competitive nature and the ability to aim for goals. (Pun intended)

So not exclusively for our female audience here are 3 top books Portfolio Penguin recommends for going that extra mile to achieve success and ambitions.

Firstly, if you are intrigued by this article then perhaps you are now motivated to start playing a new sport to see if you too can become a more confident and ambitious business person or maybe just try something new to meet people. The time and effort though may be a daunting thought though, but here at Portfolio Penguin we have the perfect book for you:

The First 20 Hours: How to learn anything FAST…, Josh Kaufmann

Josh Kaufman’s The First 20 Hours is a systematic approach for acquiring new skills quickly with a small amount of practice each day. Kaufman outlines a practical process to deconstruct complex skills, maximize productive practice, and remove common learning barriers, creating a realistic and achievable approach. No longer do you have to devote 10,000 hours to master a skill that Malcolm Gladwell claims you need. If you aren’t looking to be a professional sports person but just try something new, this book is the perfect guide to achieving this concisely and efficiently.

Kaufman invites the reader to join him as he field tests his approach in his own personal ventures. Check out his chapters on learning yoga and wind surfing to see how you too can pick up a new sport.

Read more at http://www.penguin.co.uk/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780670921911,00.html#HoXVKdPUSToMgXxW.99

…But alas as nice as this all sounds perhaps you just aren’t a massive sports fan or perhaps you really do have too hectic of a life to fit more in your day. Well never fear, we still have a literary guide that can teach you to be a more confident and out going person:

The Charisma Myth, Olivia Fox Cabane 

In her new book, The Charisma Myth, Olivia Fox Cabane dispels the myth that charisma is inherent and provides you with practical skills to master the hitherto elusive trait. Charisma CAN be taught, and this book is your guide.

Charisma can be a huge asset if you’re applying for a job, improving your relationships, or leading other people. The Charisma Myth shows you how to become more influential, more persuasive, and more inspiring. Soon you’ll be able to move through a room and have people say: ‘Wow, who’s that?’

Olivia Fox Cabane helps some of the world’s best-known people become more charismatic. Here she breaks charisma down into its fundamental components, revealing the secrets to how it works. Improving your charisma doesn’t mean transforming your personality: it’s about adopting a series of practices that suit you. So what are you waiting for?

Find out more: http://www.penguin.co.uk/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780670922871,00.html

…AND last but not least, this one is more for the female reader (though still contains some useful life skills and tips for ALL) looking to advance her career in general:

Mrs Moneypenny’s Career Advice for Ambitious Women, Mrs Moneypenny

In this incisive, hilariously frank book, Mrs Moneypenny tells you everything you need to know, from nurturing your network to the art of outsourcing. Whether you’re just starting out or a rung from the top, let Mrs Moneypenny be your ultimate mentor.

‘Ambitious or not this book will amuse you, provoke you, challenge you, help you and cheer you up’ Jeanette Winterson’ The Times

‘A masterclass in how to succeed and stay sane… incisive, self-deprecating and hilarious’ Management Today

‘This wisdom-filled guide obliterates the myth that women can “have it all”… and redefines success and happiness for everyone’ Arianna Huffington, President and Editor-in- Chief of The Huffington Post

Find out more at http://www.penguin.co.uk/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780670920846,00.html#i1DcOZLOo0gA8Guy.99

Related articles

• How You Can Be Charismatic (thirdiradio.wordpress.com)
• Which books can teach you how to be the best you? (bakadesuyo.com)
• Charisma: who has it, and how to get it (3quarksdaily.com)