Welcome to Jacob’s Go-To Reads and Apps—a collection of my top recommendations for books and apps that have truly shaped my coaching approach, boosted my productivity, and fueled my personal growth. Each of these resources offers something practical and impactful, whether you’re looking to strengthen your mindset, streamline your habits, or deepen your skills. Dive in, explore, and find something new to support your journey. Here’s to growing, learning, and making every day just a little more intentional!
Reads
A practical guide to habit formation, Clear’s book offers actionable strategies to make small changes that lead to significant results over time. Contains one of my favorite quotes, “We don’t rise to our goals, we fall to our systems.”
Timeless principles on personal and professional growth. My personal favorite – Seek first to understand then to be understood. Also has a great brief story on love.
Tons of insights around focus and productivity to achieve deep, meaningful work. Great in a world full of distractions.
Do you know what truly drives you? I mean drives you when the chips are down? Sinek will help you determine your why and purpose to drive meaningful change.
A game changer for those sales folks out there. Will help you identify your sales style and show you why pushing back on customers’ perspective can create value and trust
Profound reflections on finding purpose in the face of adversity. Tons of wisdom for resilience and personal growth.
Structured framework for setting and achieving goals with focus and discipline. Who new “WIGs” could be so impactful?
Insights on creating a resilient and sustainable business. Great for leaders that want to build something that lasts.
This is a classic and makes lots of list. Explore wealth and achievement principles. Foundational if you’re pursuing growth.
Another class and staple. Build relationships and communicate effectively. Valuable guidance for personal and professional life.
Bonus for Epic Fantasy Lovers – Just Because I Love It
I just HAD to throw in this “little” bonus. For all you epic fantasy readers out there, this is a must read. I LOVE these books. They are a little on the beefier side but it is soooo worth it. Check out the short blurb below. If you like this but aren’t quite ready to dive in the Stormlight, check out Mistborn. It’s a great gateway to the Cosmere.
This epic fantasy series isn’t just a thrilling adventure—it’s also filled with profound themes of resilience, personal growth, and the courage to face one’s inner battles. Through powerful characters and masterful storytelling, The Stormlight Archive explores the complexities of honor, responsibility, and transformation. It’s a captivating journey that offers both entertainment and deep insights, making it a perfect addition to your reading list for anyone who loves a story with heart and depth.
Apps
This one might seem obvious or maybe not. As a guy with a sales background, my calendar runs my life a little bit. Everything is on there – church, trainings, coaching appointments, dinner with my mom. But don’t underestimate the impact a well run calendar can have on your peace and your life. And how messy things can get otherwise. I don’t recommend a specific one over another. Use what you will use well. I use outlook.
Oooooh buddy! If my calendar runs my life, then Todoist keeps my life on track. This is a task app that allows me to set up recurring tasks with subtasks (so I never forget to clean my tub again!) You can also set up projects and tags to keep everything organized. It’s also great when work working with your team!
I don’t know about you but I love scratching something off my list or checking the box for the day. This app lets you set up a bunch of habits then check them off the schedule you want. Pairs great with Atomic Habits above.
This is a newer addition for me but can already tell it’s gonna be a gamechanger for me who can get sucked into funny videos on social. This lets you set a daily limit of times you can unlock your individual apps, for a specified amount of time. If you’re looking to try a new productivity app that lets you eliminate distractions, I would highly recommend ScreenZen.
Ok ok, I am cheating with a two for one here. If you have been following me for long, you probably know that I am a book NUT! I love to read. Maybe more than any other hobby. I really like listening to my favorite books when in the car or at the gym. Audible is Amazon’s version where you can buy your own audiobooks. Libby (I think people or sleeping on this one) is like audible but entirely free! Free Ninety-Nine is my favorite price. All you have to do is get a library card then plug in the number. Then you can ebooks and audiobooks! Ready can be a game changer. TIP: I love audiobooks. If you also love audiobooks, check out Graphic Audio. This is like the old radio stories from the 50s, where they have a full cast, sound effects, and music. Really magical for your favorite books.