Note from Kirsi: This article is from a participant in a recent Leadership program I facilitated. He wrote about the first concept discussed in class - the Results Model. What I love about this is the positive ripple effect that can occur when someone connects personally with a concept. Read on...

Where do you start to fix a bad habit?

If you’re like me, your gut instinct might be to focus on changing your behavior. It seems like a simple equation; change behavior to achieve different results. But why is it so difficult to break bad habits? Why do we reach for a second (and a third) cookie from the jar when we know that this is not good for us? 

There is something else at play here. Often, we do not understand the source of our behavior. If we can understand the source of our behaviors, we can gain insight into why we are exhibiting them; this gives us a much better chance to effect long-term change in our lives and achieve the things that we hope and long for.

Focusing on the source of my behavior was a lesson that took me a long time to learn. Many of my bad habits took years to break. When I look back on the major shifts that I have made in my life, I can observe the pattern that causes long-term change.

Some of the most influential leaders are both well read and constantly learning. Both powerful and empowering, books can serve as a source of inspiration for those looking to grow and take action

At leadership training events, I often offer extensive book lists to the class participants, and I have found that, years later, former students reach out to me for more recommendations.

Personally, I love that feeling I get inside when I’m reading and come across an idea that inspires me to think, “Yes, I’m going to try that!”

Here are three books that have recently harnessed those reactions in me: