The Dala Group's 2022 Summer Reading (and Listening) List
Summer is here, and that means time for relaxing, kicking back, and maybe even taking a vacation or two! A common goal for many people in this season is dedicating time to reading and learning. There’s a particular joy in learning something new, understanding a concept in a unique way, or getting lost in a story. In this day and age, there’s a never-ending menu of content. Like picking a meal at your favorite restaurant, it can be challenging to decide what to read or listen to—so, where do you start? We’ve got you covered with our 2022 summer reading list!
What We’re Reading (and Listening) To
At The Dala Group, we are voracious readers, podcast listeners, and overall life-long learners. Below is a list of several books and podcasts that we highly recommend for your summer reading adventures:
What's On Our Bookshelf
Building A Story Brand (by Donald Miller) | Business & Marketing
Join Donald Miller in a deep dive into “The Story Brand Framework.”
This framework “teaches marketers and business owners to use the seven universal elements of powerful stories to dramatically improve how they connect with customers and grow their businesses.
“No matter who you are, what you do, the type of business you own, building a StoryBrand will forever transform the way you talk about who you are, what you do, and the unique value you bring to your customers.”
Who Not How (by Dan Sullivan) | Business
If you are looking for a book that helps you make a significant mindset shift, impacting your business and life, you’ve found your match!
Dan Sullivan helps you shift from asking the question of “How can I do this?” to “Who can do this for me?”.
We highly recommend this book to anyone that finds themselves in the shoes of a business owner, entrepreneur, or people who struggle with delegating tasks.
When Breath Becomes Air (by Paul Kalanithi) | Personal Memoir
“When Breath Becomes Air chronicles Kalanithi’s transformation from a naïve medical student “possessed,” as he wrote, “by the question of what, given that all organisms die, makes a virtuous and meaningful life” into a neurosurgeon at Stanford working in the brain, the most critical place for human identity, and finally into a patient and new father confronting his mortality.”
When we think about financial planning and achieving our life goals, this book is an excellent perspective-shifter to ensure that we purposefully align our time, resources, money, and talents with what is truly most important.
Baby Steps Millionaires (by Dave Ramsey) | Personal Finance
Directly from the Ramsey Solutions website, “Baby Steps Millionaires isn’t a book that tells the secrets of the rich. It doesn't teach complicated financial concepts reserved only for the elite. As a matter of fact, this information is straightforward, practical, and maybe even a little simple!”
We know that Dave Ramsey may not appeal to everyone, but there are many essential personal finance teachings that anyone could benefit from in this book.
The Psychology of Money (by Morgan Housel) | Personal Finance
In The Psychology of Money, “award-winning author Morgan Housel shares 19 short stories exploring the strange ways people think about money and teaches you how to make better sense of one of life’s most important topics.”
We know that money, investing, personal finance, and business decisions are not only math-based. There is always nuance, preferences, emotions, values, behavior, and psychology involved.
We strongly believe that most investors have more control over some of these more nuanced areas that impact achieving financial goals.
This book is the cream of the crop when it comes to understanding and strengthening the emotional or behavioral side of personal finance.
I Guess I Haven’t Learned That Yet by Shauna Niequist | Personal Growth
As humans, some people thrive on the unexpected; others are thrown off when things don’t work out the way they thought they would.
In this book, Niequist takes the reader on her journey to unlearning what no longer serves her, discovering new ways of living, embracing challenges that come with releasing our life expectations, and using faith to practice courage when it seems impossible.
Readers praise this book for being an intimate look into Niequist’s life while asking the reader to come along the journey with her. “Find joy in being a learner, no matter your stage of life. Rediscover your sense of curiosity. [and] Understand why you are thrown by the unexpected in your life.”
What's in Our Ear
Motley Fool Money | Personal Finance
This podcast covers “the day’s top business news and financial headlines while breaking down the stock market implications for long-term, business-focused investors.” In addition, this show delivers special weekend episodes focused on providing “the greatest investing classes you never got the chance to take in school.”
What we love about this show is that they release short, about 30-minute episodes almost daily. Additionally, the topics are in sync with current market trends and the economy, emphasizing long-term investing.
The Journal | Daily News & Hot Topics
This podcast covers “the most important stories, explained through the lens of business.”
We love this show because it highlights the most news-breaking stories (similar to the actual Wall Street Journal) in finance. Episodes are even more bite-sized and easily digestible (at about 15-to-20-minutes), yet the quality and depth of each set a high bar.
Business Made Simple | Business
Are you having deja vu? This is our second recommendation from Donald Miller!
This podcast helps identify where your business is blocked and the steps you can take to help it grow. “You don’t have to fake it till you make it!”
“If growing and scaling your business feels like a permanent guessing game, Don can help coach you through it on the podcast.”
We love this show because it helps the listener become a competent business professional. You will gain the knowledge of knowing how a business works and ways to grow it effectively.
Read (and Listen) On!
As you find yourself enjoying these summer days, we hope that you get a chance to read or listen to one (or many) of our suggestions. We’d love to hear your feedback on our picks and if you have any suggested reading for us this summer! Reach out today.
This commentary reflects the personal opinions, viewpoints, and analyses of The Dala Group, LLC employees providing such comments. It should not be regarded as a description of advisory services provided by The Dala Group, LLC or performance returns of any The Dala Group, LLC client. The views reflected in the commentary are subject to change at any time without notice. Nothing in this commentary constitutes investment advice, performance data, or any recommendation that any particular security, portfolio of securities, transaction, or investment strategy is suitable for any specific person. Any mention of a particular security and related performance data is not a recommendation to buy or sell that security. The Dala Group, LLC manages its clients’ accounts using various investment techniques and strategies, which are not necessarily discussed in the commentary. Investments in securities involve the risk of loss. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
