The best tools for learning
How To Expand Your Business Skills
Discover the top courses, books, podcasts, and products for expanding your business & leadership skills. Each tool in this collection is handpicked by our personal growth experts.
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Curio: hear great journalism
Curio is the best way to listen to audio journalism from leading newspapers and magazines, keeping you connected to the world and yourself. Enjoy short listens, long-form journalism, business insights, philosophy, fashion, world news, and much more.
With little more than an idea and a drive to find her way, Sara Blakely went from selling fax machines door-to-door to becoming the world’s youngest female self-made billionaire in 2012. Now the inventor, entrepreneur, and founder of Spanx teaches you to open doors and close deals. Learn Sara’s customer-first approach and her tactics for prototyping, branding and building awareness, and bootstrapping your way to success.
In Way of the Wolf, Jordan Belfort (the real-life Wolf of Wall Street) shares his proven principles for selling, persuading, and building unshakeable confidence — this time for the good of others.
Whether you’re growing a business, leading a team of people, or simply trying to get a good deal on a car — negotiation is a task we all must engage with from time to time. Contrary to popular belief, the goal of negotiation shouldn’t be about winning, but rather winning someone over on common ground. It’s a fascinating read that’s even better when you listen to Chris Voss deliver it audibly.
If you love Disney and Pixar, you’ll love this book. It contains several tales of the early days of Toy Story, but where it shines is in the leadership advice of Ed Catmull that was discovered through the blood, sweat, and tears of the teams he led.
A fashion and media icon, Anna Wintour has been driving our cultural conversation for more than 30 years. The Vogue Editor-in-Chief and Artistic Director of Condé Nast takes off her signature sunglasses and gives you unprecedented access to her world. See how Anna nurtures talent, makes bold decisions, and evolves a brand. Learn how to lead with impact from a visionary creative leader.
A strong online business strategy is vital for every business to grow its revenue and reach. Learn the step-by-step process of launching a profitable online business in this class. Podcast host and business entrepreneur Lewis Howes along with James Wedmore and Derek Halpern, will show you how to turn your passion project into a successful online brand.
Just a portable monitor? No way. Desklab is an entire suite of office and entertainment features packed into the lightest portable touchscreen monitor ever. It’s your 4K screen, it’s your dongles, it’s your charger, it’s your speakers, and it’s fully customizable to be whatever else you need.
A memorable speaking engagement can transform a career – learn how to tell stories that stir up emotion and move listeners to the edge of their seats. Join Michael Port and Amy Port for the most engaging public speaking course you’ll ever encounter, Heroic Public Speaking.
You’ll never know where to start…until you start. This gutsy guidebook will help anyone who’s procrastinating on a goal, career change, or business idea stop the obsessive worrying and leap into action.
A one-page weekly planning tool designed to optimize your week and maximize your output. 52 tear-off sheets. Lasts an entire year.
It’s hard to be successful without a clear understanding of how business works. These 60 daily readings by story expert, Donald Miller, are crucial for any professional or business owner who wants to take their career to the next level.
The Decision Deck is there for those times when you don’t want to rely on instinct or a hunch. Built around a comprehensive framework, these proven tools guide you to thoroughly think through any dilemmas – so you can decide your next steps confidently.
Knowable – Audio Courses
Knowable is a growing library of audio courses led by the world’s most trusted experts. We aim to help you get motivated and accomplish your goals by learning new things through audio.
Optimism, Contending with Anger, and Finding Peace Through Exercise – Bob Iger (Episode #406)
Bob Iger shares his experiences working with Steve Jobs, his personal values, and his approach to leadership as CEO of Disney.
Listen App: Social Podcasts
Listen App is the first community platform where podcast listeners and creators can connect.
Sipreads
Takeaways from the best books for free.
Blinkist: 15min Book Insights
Boost your knowledge and discover new perspectives to become a better, smarter you with the Blinkist app. Get the key insights from 3000+ bestselling non-fiction books that cover leadership, history, psychology and more.
The Rocketbook Core notebook provides a classic pen and paper experience, yet is built for the digital age. Although it feels like a traditional notebook, the Core is endlessly reusable and connected to all of your favorite cloud services.
The entrepreneur, angel investor, and bestselling author of Choose Yourself busts the 10,000-hour rule of achieving mastery, offering a new mindset and dozens of techniques that will inspire any professional—no matter their age or managerial level—to pursue their passions and quickly acquire the skills they need to succeed and achieve their dreams.
How strong is your first impression? In this course, body language expert Vanessa Van Edwards explains how to use non-verbal communication to become the most memorable person in any room.
Walling
Walling is an easy-to-use tool that will help you capture ideas and visualize them into collaborative Walls. The workflow on Walling makes it super easy to save any idea now and put it to work later.
In this candid and riveting memoir, for the first time ever, Nike founder and board chairman Phil Knight shares the inside story of the company’s early days as an intrepid start-up and its evolution into one of the world’s most iconic, game-changing, and profitable brands.
In Master Your People Skills, Vanessa will teach you the communication methods and relationship-building strategies that will transform your interactions. You will learn how to increase your likability, deal with difficult people, be a master conversationalist, and quickly identify personality types.
MuchSkills
MuchSkills helps you look into your skills and your team’s in a new way, for a more productive, engaged and happier work life.
Be more effective with less effort by learning how to identify and leverage the 80/20 principle: that 80 percent of all our results in business and in life stem from a mere 20 percent of our efforts.
Sparks – Learn from podcasts
The Sparks podcast app helps you maximize your learning from your listening; take notes and capture all those fleeting insights from your favorite podcasts.
Ready to define success on your own terms? Join creative star Emma Gannon to workshop your past, dream your future, and seize today for your first step!
New York Times best-selling author Tim Ferriss, author of The 4-Hour Workweek, introduces a new holistic life strategy. This course features the best of mind, body, and enterprise strategies that Tim Ferriss has to offer. In the footsteps of the infamous scientist/sociologist Ben Franklin, Tim presents his best lessons, principles, and hacks for becoming (and remaining) “healthy, wealthy, and wise.”
Leaders Listen with Simon Sinek
Simon Sinek and John Maxwell discuss the importance of listening and empathy when it comes to leading and connecting with people––especially those unlike us.
After retooling every piece of his life, Peter Voogd went from broke to a 6-figure income and a best-selling book under his belt. But you don’t have to learn things the hard way — Peter’s pain can be your gain.
The minute you step on to the Original’s top deck and start moving, you’ll notice a difference in how you work. Your mind will focus, while your body will respond with natural micro-movements that will soothe stiff joints, burn calories, keep you awake and alert (yes, you can avoid those afternoon snoozies!), and strengthen and stabilize your body.
Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz rose from a childhood in public housing to leading a company that revolutionized the way the world drinks coffee. With no formal business education, he relied on his values while growing a 13-store chain into a global brand with more than 250,000 employees. In his 90-minute video series, Howard shares what he’s learned about business leadership and being an entrepreneur.
Think Board X
This peel-and-stick dry-erase surface comes equipped with built-in Rocketbook Beacons, so you can scan and send your notes to the cloud in an instant. Peel and stick the Think Board X2 to any flat surface, and use the free Rocketbook app to scan brainstorms, lessons, to-do lists, and beyond.
Big goals and major responsibilities require a massive amount of action. Unfortunately this can often cause well intentioned people to become paralyzed. If that’s you, consider this book to be your antidote to overwhelm.
BestSelf Planner
A six-month life planner designed to help you manage your time and plan your life. Undated. Start anytime.
This isn’t some “guru” who hasn’t done what he’s teaching you. This is the exact “Side Hustle System” Daniel DiPiazza used to go from being a 20-something steakhouse server starting from scratch… to a Foundr Cover story that’s created profitable 7-figure side-hustles and escaped the rat race.
Packed with 150 ‘uncomfortable’ challenges, the Courage over Comfort Deck inspires you to face your fears by doing new things. Simply pick a card, push yourself to step up, and enjoy the feel-good boost that comes from doing things you didn’t think were possible.
In Principles, Ray Dalio gives us a look at what he’s learned over the course of his incredible career. He makes the argument that life, management, economics, and investing can all be systemized into rules and understood like machines. We’re still trying to figure out if Ray Dalio is part robot, but the book is definitely solid. There’s even a free Principles app that’s definitely checking out as well!
Lucid: Visual Book Insights
Lucid is your visual guide through key ideas from the world’s greatest nonfiction books. Read key insights and analysis from expertly curated classic and/or bestselling books. Learn from fun, engaging visuals that break down complex information.
How I Built This with Guy Raz
Guy Raz interviews John Mackey, the founder of Whole Foods Market. In this episode, John Mackey shares the origins of Whole Foods and the organic food revolution he initiated.
Stand comfortably for longer on the Plane Cloud’s cushy, textured foam top. Your natural micro-movements on this board will strengthen and stabilize your body, soothe stiff joints, burn calories, and keep you awake and alert — even through the overwhelming urge to curl up under your desk after lunch.
Bookly – Read More Books
Track your books, read more, and improve your reading over time. You can scan your books or simply search for them online to add them to the app, from there you can track to whom you lend them, add favorite quotes and thoughts, and see insightful data that can help you improve or read even more.
As a human behavior hacker, Vanessa Van Edwards created a research lab to study the hidden forces that drive us. And she’s cracked the code. In Captivate, she shares shortcuts, systems, and secrets for taking charge of your interactions at work, at home, and in any social situation.
This book is an instant classic written by the greatest marketing mind alive. Instead of the gimmicks and slimy, selfish tactics of many marketers, Seth Godin asserts that real marketing should simply be about helping others become who they seek to become. If you’d like a masterclass in the kind of marketing that matters, there’s no better place to start than here.
This ability to put together winning deals is something that Daymond John has mastered in his business empire, and also understands extraordinarily well from reviewing 1000’s of pitches and business deals on ABC’s Shark Tank – every single week. This is a 100% free and actionable mini-course where you’ll learn about deal flow, influence, and negotiating.
It’s important to know what you want to accomplish, but if you want it to last, Simon Sinek explains you need to know your why. Published over a decade ago, this book might just be the most important business book written in recent history.
Highlighted: Book Highlighter
Stop forgetting what you read. Capture, organize and revisit important parts of your books.
The art of productivity | Entrepreneur Jenna Kutcher on how to achieve work-life integration
In this episode, Jenna shares her approach to work-life integration and productivity – and how she took her business, something that relied on her own personal involvement to be successful, and diversified it to the point where it runs even when she’s not there, and generates revenue 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Break Your Time-Wasting Habits And Learn To Make The Most Of Your Days with Laura Vanderkam.
Learn how living with less can unlock a life of more—more energy, more savings, and more time to do the things you love! Life isn’t always simple, but by the end of this 35-minute class you’ll have a personalized action plan that is. Tap into your creativity, unlock your confidence, and discover the power of doing more with less—for yourself, your loved ones, and the planet!
TickTick: Things & Tasks To Do
Ranked as “the best to-do list app” by Wirecutter (A New York Times Company), loved by MKBHD as his favorite productivity tool, TickTick is trusted by tens of millions of people to organize, manage and collaborate on tasks, both at life and work.
Tim Ferriss is the godfather of life hacking and this book helped forever cement his footprint in this space. The advice given in this book is timeless and a great starting point for upgrading your approach to work.
Patagonia: Yvon Chouinard
Guy Raz interviews, Yvon Chouinard, who in 1971 started Patagonia to make climbing gear he couldn’t find elsewhere. Over decades of growth, he has implemented a unique philosophy about business, leadership, and profit.
Make your next presentation unforgettable — and banish fears of public speaking! Learn how to deliver an effective oral presentation with this popular class from Simon Sinek, the thought leader whose TED talks have 20+ million views.
Millions of people spend their mornings with Robin Roberts, one of today’s most beloved broadcasters. Now the Emmy-winning “Good Morning America” co-anchor is sharing how she creates unforgettable moments through human connection. Learn how to communicate effectively, whether it’s in front of an audience, at work, or with those you love. Start embracing vulnerability, building resilience, and living life with optimism.
Strategy: Essential Foundations for Management, Consulting and Startup Success is a complete, comprehensive introduction and overview of strategy, taught by Chris Bolman, an entrepreneur, startup advisor and former VP of Marketing at Percolate.
Tim Ferriss, the #1 New York Times best-selling author of The 4-Hour Workweek, shares the ultimate choose-your-own-adventure book—a compilation of tools, tactics, and habits from 130+ of the world’s top performers. From iconic entrepreneurs to elite athletes, from artists to billionaire investors, their short profiles can help you answer life’s most challenging questions, achieve extraordinary results, and transform your life.
Horst Schulze knows how to win. In Excellence Wins, Schulze, in his absolute no-nonsense approach, shares the visionary and disruptive principles that have produced immense global successes over the course of his still-prolific fifty-year career as the former president of Ritz-Carlton hotels.
Leadership Lessons from Michael Jordan’s “The Last Dance”
John Maxwell shares leadership lessons learned from ESPN’s 10-part documentary on Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls entitled “The Last Dance.”
Just Work is a practical framework for both respecting everyone’s individuality and collaborating effectively. This is the essential guide leaders and their employees need to create more just workplaces and establish new norms of collaboration and respect.
Noto
A modern, sleek note taking and writing app.
For more than 50 years, historian Doris Kearns Goodwin has studied great American presidents. Now the Pulitzer Prize winner teaches you leadership through the lens of U.S. presidential history. With timeless stories of Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, FDR, and LBJ, Doris shares practical wisdom and a template for honing leadership skills. Manage a crisis, craft a message, and guide a team like extraordinary leaders of the past.
BestSelf Edison Idea Deck
The Edison Deck contains 150 prompt cards that inspire you to solve problems, think laterally, and innovate ideas. Easy to use – simply pick a prompt and sit tight until you generate at least 10 ideas. It doesn’t matter if some are rubbish, it’s more important to capture your thoughts because the more you think, the more innovation flows.
A huge book filled with the most actionable insights taken from over 2 years of interviews with some of the world’s highest performers and earners.
A memoir of leadership and success: The executive chairman of Disney, Time’s 2019 businessperson of the year, shares the ideas and values he embraced during his fifteen years as CEO while reinventing one of the world’s most beloved companies and inspiring the people who bring the magic to life.
A powerful project management tool that helps you strategize complex goals and enjoy project success.
Are we missing a good one?
If you know of an awesome business tool we didn’t include, let us know and we’ll consider adding it to our recommendations.
