As an English major who regularly meditates, there are few combinations I love more than New-Agey stuff and books. Do I check my horoscope every day before I leave the house? No. But do I love the idea that doing your job better could be as simple as getting in touch with your star sign? You bet.
While I haven’t actually let astrology dictate my decisions since third-grade (when I was certain my crush was going to propose), I do still think it’s fun to reference them from time to time. Why not, when it comes to work ethic? After all, the position of the stars tells me that, as a Capricorn, I’m super motivated and way too much of a perfectionist — so much so that I have a tendency to be a little bossy sometimes, and that’s more than true. (Case in point: The Post-It notes I’ve stuck around the house that say things like, “If you change the shower setting to jet, change it back, as I don’t appreciate water-based punches to the stomach first thing in the morning”).
But I digress: If you’re wondering where there’s room for improvement in your work life, and you’re looking to the stars to tell you, just find your sign, and read your way to professional success.
Taurus (April 20 - May 20)
Living Well Spending Less, $13, Amazon
While often dependable and persistent, a Taurus can also be a little materialistic and self-indulging in nature, and where there’s excess, there’s often chaos. Living Well Spending Less is a book about simplifying in all areas of your life. Author Ruth Soukup teaches you how to clear out clutter, reduce stress, downsize, and shift your priorities, so you have more time, more money, and less tension. She uses personal stories and practical suggestions to cleanse your life of all the extra stuff that’s complicating things, and this call for contentment will most definitely free up space for improvement in your professional life.
(Psst! Listen to this title on Audible with a free 30-day trial, and get two free audiobooks.)
Aries (March 21 - April 19)
Why You’re Stuck , $13, Amazon
While an Aries is more than willing to jump into any challenge at work, the second they run into a roadblock, they’re known to lose interest. Written by best-selling self-help author Derek Doepker, Why You’re Stuck helps you figure out what, exactly, is holding you back, and then works to help you find the motivation and fulfillment you need to keep moving forward. It’s an invitation to stop making excuses and unlock your full potential, even in areas that’ve always stopped you dead in your tracks. Reviewers say they love Doepker’s wide-open attitude, and this book’s definitely worth it, if you want to analyze and resolve your tendency to stay trapped.
(Psst! This title is also available on Audible.)
Gemini (May 21 - June 20)
The Practicing Mind , $9, Amazon
When it comes to work, Geminis are clever and innovative, but they can also become scatterbrained. Their inability to focus often leaves projects unfinished and forgotten. The Practicing Mind is a book that teaches you how to stay focused and disciplined about any one skill, as well as demonstrates how to fall in love with the process of learning itself. The book has roots in the study of how we as humans learn, and Thomas Sterner uses practical and effective suggestions to create a fulfillment within yourself that makes you want to keep on going. Reviewers have consequently called this, “The last self help book you’ll need.”
(Psst! This title is also available on Audible.)
Cancer (June 21 - July 22)
Cancers are very often emotionally driven and sensitive, but sometimes it can be a slippery slope that leads to self-pity and preoccupation with one’s own problems. That tendency can really get in the way when it comes to healthy work practices and relationships. Empathy is a book all about feeling for other people, and how to get to a state where you can focus on the needs and emotions of others instead of your own. Founder of the School Of Life, Roman Krznaric argues that we’re hardwired for social connection instead of self-centeredness, and by presenting readers with six essential skills, states that anyone can surpass self-pity and connect with others in extraordinary ways.
(Psst! This title is also available on the free Kindle app.)
Leo (July 23 - Aug. 22)
How Google Works, $17, Amazon
A Leo won’t stop until they’re at the top. They’re hardwired for positions of control and command, and that’s why How Google Works is a must-have guidebook for this sign. It’s an insight into the way the Google Corporation functions through new and innovative practices, and is consequently a super interesting read, as well as a what-to-do and what-not-to-do when you’re in a position of power. This book, written by Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt and former SVP of Products Jonathan Rosenberg, also serves as a bit of an ego-check for the Leo, as delegation and surrounding yourself with smart, creative people are essential to this business model.
(Psst! This title is also available on Audible.)
Virgo (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22)
The Joy Of Work , $12, Amazon
Virgos make great employees because they’re super intelligent and really good at critical thinking, but they can be so logic-based that emotion often gets left behind. The Joy Of Work by Stephen G. Payne is a book all about building emotional meaning within your career. It uses practical concepts and testimonials to teach you how to focus less on external events and more on your own reactions and fulfillment. Reviewers say it’s just the thing they needed to shift their focus so they could experience emotional connectivity in all areas of life.
(Psst! This title is also available on the free Kindle app.)
Libra (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22)
The Great Work Of Your Life , $12, Amazon
With their love of adventure and socializing, Libras are definitely great friends, but they tend to lose interest and get bored with hard work and concentration. Psychotherapist, author, and yogi Stephen Cope wrote The Great Work Of Your Life to help everyone find their one true calling — something that you’re so passionate about, you don’t even mind the hard work that accompanies it. Cope takes ancient spiritual texts and ties them into a contemporary context using luminaries like Walt Whitman and Susan B. Anthony, and reviewers say that it’s inspirational, motivational, and a rare gem of a book.
(Psst! This title is also available on the free Kindle app.)
Scorpio (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21)
How To Win Friends And Influence People, $9, Amazon
Scorpios make brilliant leaders, and they're great at making a difference in the world, but they can also turn people off with their competitiveness and extreme personality. How To Win Friends And Influence People is a book by Dale Carnegie that was written more than 60 years ago, and its message still rings true today. The main idea? We can’t get anywhere without the help of other people, so we might as well learn to empathize, make meaningful connections, and learn to communicate effectively. It’s been read and applied by some of the greatest thinkers in recent history, and reviewers say they recommend reviewing it at least once a year.
(Psst! This title is also available on Audible.)
Sagittarius (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21)
How To Improve Your Emotional Intelligence At Work & In Relationships , $13, Amazon
This astrological sign is often imaginative, creative, and adventurous, and that’s why they make great writers and entertainers. However, too much commitment scares them, and that makes them a little aloof or unemotional with people. How To Improve Your Emotional Intelligence At Work & In Relationships teaches you how to build meaningful connections, while also setting the healthy boundaries you need to keep your individuality. Best-selling author Shawn Kent uses hands-on exercises, a relatable tone, and an included journal to teach you how to strengthen your empathy. The guide will help you hone your social skills and acknowledge your emotions, so you can use them to your benefit — both professionally and personally.
(Psst! This title is available on Kindle Unlimited, which you can try 30 days, for free.)
Capricorn (Dec. 22 - Jan. 19)
The Fringe Hours, $9, Amazon
Capricorns throw themselves headfirst into their work. They make great employees because of their perfectionist nature and desire for achievement. Because of this, it’s also really easy for Capricorns to lose themselves, putting their health, happiness, and relationships on a back burner, which eventually comes full circle to hinder productivity. The Fringe Hours is a book for anyone who feels like they get to the end of the day and have done nothing for themselves. It’s a practical and easy-to-apply guide to taking back the little bits of time you do have, and using them for activities that promote relaxation, self-development, and happiness. Lifestyle blogger Jessica N. Turner speaks in a tone that’s liberating and relatable, and readers have called it “life-changing.”
(Psst! This title is also available on Audible.)
Aquarius (Jan. 20 - Feb. 18)
This astrological sign is clever and inventive, but they don’t like restriction; rules can make them stubborn, rebellious, and sarcastic. #Girlboss is a New York Times best seller by and about Sophia Amoruso, who spent her teenage years hitchhiking, committing petty theft, blowing off responsibilities, and being a free spirit. This novel is all about her climb to the top of the career ladder, as she’s now the founder and executive of a multi-million dollar fashion company — but she did it all her own way. This book’s an awesome read for anyone who’s never been the CEO-type, and instead wants to use their creativity, instincts, and adventurous nature to do something great.
(Psst! This title is also available on Audible.)
Pisces (Feb. 19 - March 20)
Laser-Sharp Focus , $10, Amazon
Pisces are sensitive and loyal, but because they run mostly on emotion, they often lack the confidence, concentration, and self-discipline it takes to really make things happen. Laser-Sharp Focus is a practical and no-nonsense book that features tips and tricks to maximize productivity and speed up success. It helps you hone your ability to focus by first pinpointing the things that are getting in your way, like distractions, lack of motivation, or emotional roadblocks. Joanna Jast is a trained doctor who uses straightforward and scientifically-proven methods for cultivating concentration in your life, and reviewers say this book is guaranteed to help anyone who reads it.
(Psst! This title is also available on the free Kindle app.)
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