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8 GOOD READS EXPAND YOUR SKILLS, GAIN INSIGHT, AND GET INSPIRED WITH THESE TOP PICKS. Grinding It Out: The Making of McDonald's by Ray Kroc Ray Kroc turned a small hamburger chain into one of the largest business empires in the world, and in Grinding It Out, Kroc talks about how his revolutions in food-service automation, franchising, shared national training, and advertising have carved out his place in history. Kroc discusses both his success and his mistakes, across both his business and his personal life. Kroc didn't open his first franchise until he was 52, making this book not only motivational but also a call to action for those who have yet to make the mark they dream of leaving within in their field. Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown Essentialism invites you to simplify your life, discerning what is vital and eliminating the rest. In Greg McKeown's New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller, find out why the "Way of the Essentialist" isn't about getting more done in less time, but rather about getting the right things done. It is not about time-management strategies or productivity techniques, however. Rather, McKeown presents a systematic discipline for discerning what is absolutely essential, then eliminating everything that is not, so you can then make the biggest contributions to the things that really matter. Essentialism is ideal for any leader, manager, or individual who wants to do less, but better, and declutter and organize their own their lives. Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World by Cal Newport In Deep Work, Georgetown University professor Cal Newport discusses the importance of focus. "Deep work" is the ability to focus without distraction on a cognitively demanding task, making you better at what you do and providing a sense of true fulfillment that comes from craftsmanship. Newport doesn't argue that distraction is bad but rather celebrates the "power of its opposite." Dividing the book into two parts, he first makes the case that in almost any profession, cultivating a strong work ethic will produce massive benefits. He then presents a rigorous training regimen, offered as a series of four rules for transforming your mind and habits to support this skill. Getting Past No: Negotiating in Difficult Situations by William Ury Sharpen your negotiation skills with of William Ury's Getting Past No. Ury, from Harvard Law School's Program on Negotiation, discusses what to do when dealing with difficult negotiating partners, teaching readers how to stay cool under pressure, defuse anger and hostility, find out what the other side really wants, counter dirty tricks, use power to bring the other side back to the table, and reach agreements that satisfy both sides' needs. Ury offers advice that will help you become a more effective negotiator, even in the toughest situations, showing you how to determine what your opponent truly wants and use that to move towards an agreement.