3 BOOKS THAT WILL GUARANTEE YOU RESULTS (AND THEY AREN’T FITNESS RELATED!)
In my early years of becoming a PT, I would study and research every single day without fail. I was new to the game and I needed to know HOW to get my clients results and at the time one of the best ways to do this was to LEARN. Learn as much quality information as possible to help me become a better coach and ideally guarantee my clients the best results. By the time I was 19 I had already studied enough to clearly identify what works and what doesn’t work, which is a very important factor to helping someone achieve great results. However, I encountered a slight problem…
You see, I had all this knowledge of what is needed to be done to transform your body: To build muscle, lose fat, build strength, run faster, jump higher, swim longer etc… yet actually getting someone to implement the science-based training methods I was providing as the foundations to their training programme was a completely different challenge all together.
I realised that in order for someone to transform or to achieve any challenging goal, they need to be in the right mindset, have the right habits, emotionally and logically understand what they are doing, why they are doing it and how they need to do it. Now, that’s where the real challenge comes in.
Luckily, I’ve overcome that challenge. In fact, I’m one of the best people to help other people OVERCOME that challenge but it took a lot of trial and effort. A lot of blood, sweat and tears. A lot of fucking up and working hard in order to find a solution.
You see, as much as I think that going through the strenuous journey to figure out HOW to actually get results is great for character building, I personally don’t want you to waste your time doing that. I’ve already done it, so you don’t have to. That’s why right now I’m going to recommend 3 books that instil the habits, traits, values, morals and passion you need in order achieve anything you want. They might even inspire you to help others do the same too.
The 3 books are as follows:
1. ATOMIC HABITS by James Clear
WHAT. A. BOOK!
One of the problems you face when trying to achieve a goal (especially if it’s a big one) is your ability to stay consistent and steadily chip away at it day after day without fail, until, before you know it, boom you’re there at the finish line! Like the tortoise and the hare (although I would argue that developing good habits is more like the speed of the hare when they get in motion, except the hare wins).
Humans are habitual creatures. Our ability to burn fat, build muscle, run faster, jump higher etc all relies on our habits. Our habits to train multiple times per week, habits to eat healthy food, habits to hit our calorie requirements, habits to sleep well, habits to stay hydrated, and so on. Without consistent good habits that contribute to our end goal, we can’t even come remotely close to what we are trying to achieve. In-fact, it’s more likely you will REGRESS, rather than PROGRESS.
“Atomic Habits is the most comprehensive and practical guide on how to create good habits, break bad ones, and get 1 percent better every day. … Bad habits repeat themselves, not because you don’t want to change but because you have the wrong system for change”
And this book provides you with the RIGHT system for positive change!
2. 12 RULES FOR LIFE by Jordan B. Peterson
This book provides you with 12 rules to help you function efficiently in life. It also helps you become a more confident, empowered, sympathetic, and trustworthy person.
I often find it hard to help people achieve results when they don’t have sufficient and efficient rules to follow that help set boundaries but also aspirations on how they live their life. Looking back, I really wish I read this book earlier (if I knew about it) as I believe it helps give direction and understanding in life.
“12 Rules For Life is a stern, story-based, and entertaining self-help manual for young people that lays out a set of simple principles that can help us become more disciplined, behave better, act with integrity, and balance our lives while enjoying them as much as we can.”
I know it says “young people” in that write up, but I would strongly disagree with that. I believe this book is vital for anyone and everyone.
3. GREENLIGHTS by Matthew McConaughey
Now that you have structure and values from reading Atomic Habits and 12 Rules for Life, you now need some INSPIRATION, some fire, some passion. Who better to bring you that than an incredibly successful, intuitive, inspiring, intelligent individual such as Matthew McConaughey? Some people in life have experienced a hell of a lot. Their story’s and life experiences can teach you invaluable lessons. There is an art to storytelling and Matthew McConaughey is a master of that art.
I’d recommend listening to this book on audible as you can hear him act out and passionately describe his life in a way that can only inspire the listener. Even better, he’s had quite the life.
Let’s face it, do you remember that boring teacher you had in school who would speak in a monotone voice all lesson? You would probably fall asleep or daydream for hours on end because anything would be better than listening to what this monotonous voice had to say? However, if you had a teacher that was energetic, passionate, motivational, exciting and inspiring, you would listen to every word. You would engage in conversation, feel the energy, consume it and pass it on. You would learn, not because of the value of the lesson, but because of the excitement and skill of your teacher teaching that lesson. That’s what listening to Matthew McConaughey reading Greenlights is like.
“This book is an unconventional memoir filled with raucous stories, outlaw wisdom, and lessons learned the hard way about living with greater satisfaction.”
If you can live with greater satisfaction, you’re guaranteed to be looking after yourself and get into the shape you want to be in!
SUMMARY
So, those are 3 books I highly recommend as they will help you to achieve great results in any and every aspect of your life. These books supply you with the tools you need in order to deal with the problems you face when trying to achieve your goals. Sure they do not directly talk about nutrition and training (although you’ll find that they touch on these topics in all 3 of these books), but if you apply the tools given to you from these books, you will RECEIVE MORE from reading the nutrition and training books that will help contribute to your goal.
In my experience, having knowledge on a topic is important but actually having the tools to implement that knowledge and put it into action is by far the most valuable thing you can have/do.
As usual, I hope you’ve enjoyed this blog, and if you want more help in achieving your goals, then you know what to do.
Much Love,
Ricky Gibbins
