Books to Read in the New Year

While there?s rarely a shortage of equipment to fix, snow to plow, or meetings to attend during the winter, things tend to be a little more relaxed than during the frantically paced growing season. If you find yourself sitting by the fire with nothing to do on a cold winter night, why not invest a little time in yourself? Pick up one of these books to learn something new about leadership and management to bring more value to your business.

Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us ? Daniel Pink
What motivates your employees the most? Is it that monthly milk quality bonus? Is it the lunch you buy them every once in a while? Or is it the word of thanks you offer them for a job well done? In this book the author shares his belief that what really motivates people is ?the deeply human need to direct our own lives, to learn and create new things, and to do better by ourselves and our world?.

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change ? Stephen R. Covey
We all experience personal and professional problems, no matter how successful we are. This book discusses the way that people perceive and act regarding productivity, time management and positive thinking, then guides you through the seven habits to ?give you the security adapt to change and the wisdom and power to take advantage of the opportunities that change creates?.

An Astronaut?s Guide to Life on Earth: What Going to Space Taught Me About Ingenuity, Determination, and Being Prepared For Anything ? Col. Chris Hadfield
While the story of a Canadian astronaut might not seem all that applicable to your own life, anyone involved in agriculture could benefit from learning something about ingenuity, determination and being prepared for anything. I would argue that these are three traits necessary for being a successful farmer!

Outliers: The Story of Success - Malcolm Gladwell
The author of the bestsellers The Tipping Point and Blink delves into the question of what sets high-achievers apart from everyone else. Are they successful because of what they do or where they come from? This book will transform the way you think about success.

How to Win Friends and Influence People ? Dale Carnegie
This book is certainly the oldest on the list, since it was first published in 1937, yet its message is just as relevant today as it was then. Carnegie believed that financial success is due 15 percent to professional knowledge and 85 percent to ?the ability to express ideas, to assume leadership, and to arouse enthusiasm among people?. Whether you?re dealing with business partners, employees or salesmen, learning to deal with people so that they feel important and appreciated, and without making them feel manipulated, could definitely improve your working relationships.