Earth Day Book Review
On Earth Day, when Shawn was about 7 years old, I was working from home for some reason (very rare) and Shawn ran by me and I noticed he had a shirt on with an animated cartoon of the Earth. I beckoned him over so I could get a better view and was horrified to see that he had a t-shirt on that read “SAVE THE TREES” on the front in bold letters. My immediate reaction was to tell him to get rid of that shirt because we (Clayco) are who the trees are being saved from. That was true then and it’s still true now. My company probably cuts down more trees that are “in the way” at our projects than any other building company in America. Although we now work hard to mitigate our footprint, we have...
Mindset by Carol Dweck
You can have the most sophisticated strategy in life or in business, but if you don’t have the right mindset and positive attitude, you can still prevent yourself from achieving to the height of your potential. Dweck details the difference between those with a fixed...
Nonviolent Communication by Marshall B. Rosenberg
Effective communication is everything. In times of crisis, in everyday relationships, and especially as a business leader. Rosenberg’s revolutionary text is one of the most insightful books of our times, offering stories, information, and exercises to change your...
The Uninhabitable Earth by David Wallace-Wells
Written as a portrayal of the future of humanity that is coping with the devastating effects of global warming, this book doles out a large dose of reality by describing our possible future in terms of what our daily lives might look like. While guiding us through how...
Death of a Riverguide by Richard Flanagan
I rarely dabble in fiction, but this book is beautiful and well-written. I really loved it. Through the death of the main character, Aljaz, the reader is taken through a journey of his ancestors, his life, and most of all—his resiliency and ability to push through...
My philosophy of surrounding myself with the best and the brightest extends to what I do beyond my work and other initiatives. Every morning, I make sure to spend time reading the work of great thinkers and writers. Here are some of my top picks.
Reading list
Earth Day Book Review
On Earth Day, when Shawn was about 7 years old, I was working from home for some reason (very rare) and Shawn ran by me and I noticed he had a shirt on with an animated cartoon of the Earth. I beckoned him over so I could get a better view and was horrified to see that he had a t-shirt on that read “SAVE THE TREES” on the front in bold letters. My immediate reaction was to tell him to get rid of that shirt because we (Clayco) are who the trees are being saved from. That was true then and it’s still true now. My company probably cuts down more trees that are “in the way” at our projects than any other building company in America. Although we now work hard to mitigate our...
Atomic Habits by James Clear
The writer, James Clear, and I both had traumatic and life-changing experiences in our formative years. And, for both of us,...
Unvarnished by Eric Alperin and Deborah Stoll
This book is an interesting behind-the-scenes look at bartending, but also gives great recipes and methodologies to please even the most...
Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker
Until reading this book, I was unaware of how truly critical sleep is, not only for the basic health of our bodies, but also for our...
Mindset by Carol Dweck
You can have the most sophisticated strategy in life or in business, but if you don’t have the right mindset and positive attitude, you...
Nonviolent Communication by Marshall B. Rosenberg
Effective communication is everything. In times of crisis, in everyday relationships, and especially as a business leader. Rosenberg’s...
The Uninhabitable Earth by David Wallace-Wells
Written as a portrayal of the future of humanity that is coping with the devastating effects of global warming, this book doles out a...
Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker
Until reading this book, I was unaware of how truly critical sleep is, not only for the basic health of our bodies, but also for our...
Mindset by Carol Dweck
You can have the most sophisticated strategy in life or in business, but if you don’t have the right mindset and positive attitude, you...
Nonviolent Communication by Marshall B. Rosenberg
Effective communication is everything. In times of crisis, in everyday relationships, and especially as a business leader. Rosenberg’s...
The Uninhabitable Earth by David Wallace-Wells
Written as a portrayal of the future of humanity that is coping with the devastating effects of global warming, this book doles out a...
Death of a Riverguide by Richard Flanagan
I rarely dabble in fiction, but this book is beautiful and well-written. I really loved it. Through the death of the main character,...