7 Books That Will Change the Way You Think About Work and Life

If you’ve ever heard a coworker complain about a new computer system, badmouth a leader, or sabotage someone else to get ahead, you know how destructive a poor attitude can be. But when someone gets an attitude shift, it changes who they are and how they operate. And as Zig Ziglar famously said, “Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude.”

Here at Dave Ramsey’s office, we agree. The right attitude makes all the difference. That’s why every new hire reads a stack of books within his or her first 90 days on the team. These books aren’t picked at random—they’ve been purposefully handpicked by Dave to teach his team what it takes to win.

A proper perspective can make the difference between a champ and a chump. We believe it. These books will help you get there.

1. Who Moved My Cheese? An A-Mazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life

(By Spencer Johnson, M.D.)
Your cheese is your comfort zone, and when it gets moved, you can either sit and wait for it to come back or get up and find some tastier cheese. Change is a scary part of life, but it’s inevitable. When you learn the art of adaptability, you can succeed almost anywhere. Get the book.

2. Rhinoceros Success: The Secret to Charging Full Speed Toward Every Opportunity

(By Scott Alexander)
Rhinos chase after what they want. Cows stand around and chew their cud all day. Which would you rather be? Hopefully the one that gets stuff done! Attack your goals with the untamable passion of a rhino. Get the book.

3. The Legend of the Monk and the Merchant: Twelve Keys to Successful Living

(By Terry Felber)
Can your desk job serve a higher calling? Of course it can! Christians don’t have to choose between the secular and the spiritual. Any talent can bring glory to God—whether it’s in the church or in the marketplace. Treat all your work as holy. Get the book.

4. The Go-Getter: The Timeless Classic That Tells You How to Be One

(By Peter B. Kyne)
Obstacles are no match for the Go-Getter. He does what it takes (short of theft) to finish a task most would have quit almost immediately. Perseverance is what separates the button-pushers from the go-getters. So set big, aggressive goals for yourself and refuse to let anything stand in your way. Get the book.

5. Building a Non-Anxious Life

(By Dr. John Delony)
Dr. John Delony walks you through the Six Daily Choices you need to make to build a non-anxious life. If you create a life of intentionally living out the six choices outlined in this book, you’ll be able to better respond to whatever life throws at you and build a more peaceful, joyful, non-anxious life. Get the book.

6. EntreLeadership: 20 Years of Practical Business Wisdom from the Trenches

(By Dave Ramsey)
This is our company playbook. It explains what we do and why we do it. And it’s pretty far from business as usual. We’re not perfect by any means, but we’ve learned a lot from our mistakes, and we’ve built a world-class culture because of it. Make it your business to learn from ours. Get the book.

7. The Go-Giver: A Little Story About a Powerful Business Idea

(By Bob Burg and John David Mann)
Are you a giver or a taker? In business, we often only give to get. But when you’re generous with your money, time and talents, you’ll help others succeed while you build character. You can’t lose by helping others—you can only increase the winning. Get the book.