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Ty Wilkins is one of those guys who always has his nose buried in a book. He reads the way the rest of use our phones, that is, all the time. Walking, eating, maybe sleeping, Ty's always reading.
Bear and I thought it would be helpful to get such a well-read guy to come on The Profit Roadmap and tell us a little about what he's reading and what he thought could help you as a business owner.
He recommended some stuff that was expected, but he also threw us for a couple of loops:
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*** by Mark Manson. This one is straight-forward if a little edgy. Business owners need to determine what's worth caring about and what's a waste a time. Manson helps you decide what's important and what's just noise.
User Story Mapping by Jeff Patton. This is a little closer to a textbook, but if you're interested in the AGILE process Ty was talking about and finding out what your user/client story should be this is the place to look.
The Martian by Andy Weir. A novel about an astronaut stranded on Mars. Ty said the intense problem solving and refusal to submit to analysis paralysis was the reason he recommended this one so strongly. And, let's be honest, you were sold on the promise of astronauts.
Ty's personal favorite (he frequently quotes this one around the office) is This is Water by David Foster Wallace.
You listen to our podcast, so I know you've got at least ~45 minutes a week to listen while you're working. There are a lot of great podcasts out there, but sometimes you need a more in-depth look at a particular topic (or want a less repetitive option than the same 20 songs on K101). Nothing's sadder than a silent truck or van cab on a long work day.
Use that time to grow your brain. You can use a service like Audible to get a new audiobook every month. Audible is around $15 a month and the books go wherever you go, on your phone.
Your local library may also have a subscription to a service like Overdrive that provides free audiobooks. Dust off your library card and check with a librarian or your local library's website for digital options.
"Summon the Rawk" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)