There are many self-improvement books out there. But if you only have time for one book, I highly recommend a classic book by Stephen R. Covey “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People“. Over the years, I found myself keep going back to the principles and recalibrate my expectations for myself. Here is the “espresso” version of the book summary below (the longer version is here)
“…The way you see the problem is the problem, so you must allow yourself to fundamentally change the way you think in order to see a true change in yourself.”
– The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey
Be proactive. Stop reacting and begin taking action. Instead, take control and assume responsibility for your life.
Begin with an end in mind. Stop working aimlessly on whatever job pops up. Instead, have a vision for your future, and align your actions to make that vision a reality.
Put first things first. Stop wasting your time on tasks that seem urgent at the moment, but don’t align with your goals. Instead, prioritize your tasks and focus on the non-urgent, important items.
Think win-win. Stop thinking that you must win or lose. Instead, come up with a mutually beneficial solution for both parties.
Seek first to understand, then to be understood. Stop jumping to provide a solution or a response. Instead, listen emphatically to understand others around you, then communicate ideas that align with another’s feelings.
Synergize. Stop working independently. Instead, use the strengths of others around you to create something you could have never created by yourself.
Sharpen the saw. Stop working too hard. Instead, continue to work on yourself mentally, physically, spiritually, and socially.