8 Books and Courses to Fuel Your Summer Learning

We all know that the pace of summer can provide the perfect opportunity to relax and enjoy leisurely vacations and weekend trips. But, summer can also be a great time to learn a new skill, create new personal and professional goals, or tackle that book collecting dust on your nightstand. At OpenSesame, we’re always interested in continued learning, including reading up on the latest advancements in business, marketing, technology, and workplace productivity. To help kick start your summer learning, we’ve compiled a few books covering our favorite subjects and a few related OpenSesame courses. Comment below and tell us what you want to learn this summer!

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2. Creativity, Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration by Ed Catmull

Ed Catmull, co-founder of Pixar Animation Studios, offers an unprecedented look into the workings of Pixar and the creative philosophies that have fueled the company’s success. A must-read for managers or anyone looking to successfully start and run creative companies.

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3. The Challenger Sale: Taking Control of the Customer Conversation by Matthew Dixon and Brent Adamson

The Challenger Sale investigates the skills and behaviors that drive successful sales and fuel high-performing companies. Based on exhaustive research, Matthew Dixon and Brent Adamson outline how to tailor your sales message and becomes a sales “Challenger” who leads customers to unique revelations and profitable sales.

THEN WATCH: Performance Driven Selling

4.  Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown

A respected and sought-after innovator in business leadership and strategy, Greg McKeown explains the “Way of the Essentialist” in this bestselling 2014 book and calls for businesses and leaders to rethink workplace time management and increase their productivity in the process.

THEN WATCH: Time management strategy courses

5. Likeonomics: The Unexpected Truth Behind Earning Trust, Influencing Behavior, and Inspiring Action by Rohit Bhargava

Rohit Bhargava’s book explores the current and future world of business where “likeability” drives relationships, success, and sales. Bhargava thoroughly researches a myriad companies and uncovers how business success hinges on their trustworthiness and believability.

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6. Things a Little Bird Told Me: Confessions of the Creative Mind by Biz Stone

Biz Stone, the co-founder of Twitter, shares his tips for savvy business practices and how to leverage the power of creativity and ingenuity to fuel established businesses and burgeoning startups.

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7. A More Beautiful Question: The Power of Inquiry to Spark Breakthrough Ideas by Warren Berger

In A More Beautiful Question, Warren Berger seeks to reclaim the importance of asking “why?” questions as they apply to business and entrepreneurship. A helpful guide to the practice of inquiry and innovative thinking.

THEN WATCH: Managing Change: The Psychology of Appreciative Inquiry

8. The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg

Charles Duhigg’s book spent over 60 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list and for good reason--it’s a fascinating and thought-provoking look into why and how we form habits. Duhigg helps readers recognize and readjust the patterns of their habits for maximum productivity, both inside and outside of the office.

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