The Books That Stayed With Me This December
Why December Reading Hit Differently This Year
December was a heavy reading month for me, not because I started a stack of brand-new books, but because I finally finished several that had been sitting with me for a while.
And by read, I mainly mean listened.
Between holiday errands, travel, and long stretches in the car, audiobooks became my constant companion. Reading continues to be my primary source of personal growth and professional development, and this month, a few ideas really stuck with me.
The Ideas I’m Still Thinking About:
The Gap and the Gain
Two books I’m still thinking about are by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy.
I had read Who Not How years ago, and recently, my dear friend and Exposing the Hidden Reality podcast co-host, Sandra Wint, gifted me 10X Is Easier Than 2X. The part that resonated most with me was Chapter 3, which explores the idea of The Gap and The Gain, naturally, which led me straight to The Gap and the Gain next.
I think these two books have inspired me to add a few options to my word-of-the-year target list… more to follow on that in late January.
What I appreciate about these books is the pairing: Dan Sullivan’s decades of experience as a serious business coach, paired with Dr. Hardy’s background as an organizational psychologist. The concepts are bold, but they’re also grounded in science, behavior, and real-world application.
10X Is Easier Than 2X — Dan Sullivan & Dr. Benjamin Hardy
“Anytime someone wants you to remain as you are, they do so for their own self-preservation.”
The Gap and the Gain — Dan Sullivan & Dr. Benjamin Hardy
“When you’re in the action, your life is based on actions and results… The gain is about real measurables, not ideals.”
What I Read and Reflected On in December
Here’s what else I read and reflected on in December, along with the quotes that stayed with me:
The Rules Do Not Apply — Ariel Levy
“Everybody doesn’t get everything… admitting it seems like the obvious and essential work of growing up.”
My Next Breath — Jeremy Renner
“This is the trick of life… to feel love, gratitude, fulfillment without having to die or resurrect.”
The New Age of Sexism — Laura Bates
“Technology itself is not the problem here… What matters is how we shape and use them.”
Secrets of the Career Game — Kendall Berg
“Stop gambling, learn the rules of the game, and start playing to win.”
A Year of Positive Thinking — Cyndie Spiegel
I read this book daily with my social media community. My favorite reminder came from September 12:
“The most important conversations you will ever have are the ones you have internally.
What you say to yourself becomes your truth.
Praise yourself often and share your success with others.
Speak about yourself with patience, forgiveness, and love.
Humility and pride are not at odds with each other; you can be humble and still be proud of your accomplishments.
What you say to yourself inwardly affects the way you experience life outwardly.
Be kind with your words to yourself, because they are incredibly powerful.”
Do Less — Kate Northrup
“Still not sure what you could possibly receive help around? My friend who is a master coach and spiritual guide, Laura Thompson Brady, has an excellent meditation for allowing and receiving. It goes like this: every day your mantra is, I am allowing this day to be easy. And then you ask yourself the following questions:
- What can I do to make this day easier?
- What can I allow in this moment to make this day easier?
- What can I let go of?”
Nobody’s Girl — Virginia Roberts Giuffre
“Because only by speaking out can we move ourselves and others to act.”
My Boss Is a Bitch — Marcy Moriconi
“If we don’t start to talk openly about the perception of women as ‘bitchy bosses,’ female leadership will not evolve.”
No Fear Networking — Michaela Alexis
“Your discomfort is not a sign of incompetency.”
That’s a Great Question, I’d Love to Tell You — Elise Myers
“When she imagined getting everything she’s ever wanted, she didn’t anticipate getting crushed by its weight.”
A Pattern I Can’t Ignore as the Year Closed
As I moved through the last month of the year, one theme keeps coming up again and again:
we rarely pause long enough to recognize what we’ve actually done, learned, or grown through.
An Invitation to Review Without Regret
That’s why I’m inviting you to join me for my upcoming workshop:
Review Without Regret
🗓 Thursday, January 15, 2026, Noon ET
🎯 A guided session to help you reflect on your year, recognize your progress, and prepare to advocate for yourself with confidence.
If you’ve been moving fast, getting it done, and rarely pausing to acknowledge your own effort and progress, this space is for you.
I hope one of these books meets you exactly where you are right now. Comment and tell me what you’ve been reading lately. I love hearing from you.
P.S. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
