There's no doubt that Audible Books have changed my life. From being completely broke and depressed mentally and financially a few years ago to living fully and finally believing in myself and what I'm capable of. I have never really liked reading. I find my inner reading voice to be quite boring and can lose my train of thought easily. But Audible books, especially with an enthusiastic narrator is convenient for my long road trips, commuting, and even while cooking. I like the ability to listen to an entire book in a few days and if it's really good, then I'll order the actual book and do some highlighting. Below are the top 5 books that changed my mindset forever.

1. The 10X Rule by Grant Cardone

The 10X Rule by Grant Cardone helped snap me out of my own mental disaster. You see like most of us, I had a rough start to life. I dropped out of high school, didn't go to college, and worked dead end jobs at warehouses and factories in my late teens. I made a major move from Pennsylvania to Florida when I was in my early 20s where again I worked dead end telemarketing jobs selling products I wouldn't even buy myself. When I was 22 I found the oilfields and went up to North Dakota to work as a truck driver making great money. 

Things were going great for about 7 years and then I hurt my back. I was in pain for 2 years straight while going through several surgeries. The doctors had me on the highest doses of narcotics for 2 years straight and stopping them abruptly turned into a year of severe depression and anxiety. I was always thinking negative thoughts and how no positive outlook on my life. I would go to doctors and psychologists who would only want to bring up my past or prescribe pills.

Then I found Audible and The 10X Rule which completely rewired my brain. I would listen to this book over and over again and it brainwashed me into believing in myself. It taught me principles I was aware of but needed to hear them again. The problem is we live in a society of average, where the shortage mindset concept is all around us. People are just getting by and they complain about it. I listened to The 10X Rule 5 times in a month and the mindset it teaches helped me start my business as a real estate investor with no money and no knowledge. Got me thinking abundance instead of shortage. It was the medicine I needed and taught me how to use the feelings of depression and anxiety to create success.

5 Favorite Quotes of The 10X Rule:

• “As long as you are alive, you will either live to accomplish your own goals and dreams or be used as a resource to accomplish someone else’s.”
• “Weak and overwhelmed individuals respond to others’ success by attacking it.”
• “I suggest that you become obsessed about the things you want; otherwise, you are going to spend a lifetime being obsessed with making up excuses as to why you didn’t get the life you wanted.”
• “Massive thoughts must be followed by massive actions.”
• "All the excuses in the world won’t change one simple fact: that fear is a sign to do whatever it is you fear and do it quickly."

2. The Magic of Thinking Big by David Schwartz

The Magic of Thinking Big by David J. Schwartz, Ph.D is a book that I recently listened to and I believe it's a necessity for anyone who is out there to accomplish big dreams. Entrepreneurship can be a lonely road especially when you surround yourself with an environment who is not making monumental shifts within their life.

The Magic of Thinking Big was first published in 1959 and what amazes me is that the rules of success have not changed one bit since then. If Elon Musk, Steve Jobs, Lebron James, and many others before us are able to achieve success and happiness within their lives, we are able to learn from their experiences to help us on our journey. Almost every problem that anyone else has had on Earth, is a problem that someone else has experienced as well. You can't think 6 Billion people on Earth and someone hasn't experienced the problems you face.

5 Favorite Quotes from The Magic of Thinking Big:

• "Most of us make two basic errors with respect to intelligence: 1. We underestimate our own brainpower. 2. We overestimate the other fellow’s brainpower."
• "Action cures fear. Indecision, postponement, on the other hand, fertilize fear."
• “Defeat is only a state of mind, and nothing more.”
• “We learn nothing from telling or talking, but we learn by asking and listening.”
• “Those who believe they can move mountains, do. Those who believe they can’t, cannot. Belief triggers the power to do.”

3. Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin

Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin: Not all of us have had the honor to serve in the United States Military. The authors of this book spend their time coaching business owners on how to become great leaders. 

5 Favorite Quotes from Extreme Ownership:

• “There can be no leadership when there is no team.”
• “Extreme Ownership is a mind-set, an attitude.”
• “To implement real change, to drive people to accomplish something truly complex or difficult or dangerous — you can’t make people do these things. You have to lead them.”
• “Leadership is the most important thing on the battlefield and the principles of good leadership do not change regardless of the mission, the environment, or the personalities of those involved. Leading is leading.”
• “Our freedom to operate and maneuver had increased substantially through disciplined procedures. Discipline equals freedom.”

4. Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill

Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill

5 Favorite Quotes from Think and Grow Rich:

• “The starting point of all achievement is DESIRE. Keep this constantly in mind. Weak desire brings weak results, just as a small fire makes a small amount of heat.”
• “There are no limitations to the mind except those that we acknowledge.”
• “You are the master of your destiny. You can influence, direct and control your own environment. You can make your life what you want it to be.”
• "If you do not see great riches in your imagination, you will never see them in your bank balance."
• "Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe it can achieve."

5. Be Obsessed or Be Average by Grant Cardone

Be Obsessed or Be Average by Grant Cardone

5 Favorite Quotes from Be Obsessed or Be Average:

• "Approach each circumstance with a whatever-it-takes outlook."
• "Leaving your usual range of familiarity is hard. Remaining broke is hard. Pick your hard."
• "I had to stop focusing on where I had been and start looking toward where I wanted to go."
• "If I could go that low and survive, I thought, how high could I go in the other direction?"
• "In my life being obsessed with success has never created problems for me. Denying my obsession is what caused me problem."