In today’s post, I’ll be explaining a tool that I use to read each month: here’s my LeaderBox unboxing!

So,I try to read 4 books a month, but sometimes it’s 3. MOSTLY I hit 4 however, and that’s been in big part to Michael Hyatt’s subscription box called Leaderbox.

In the morning, after I finish my quiet time, I read more heavy or personal development books—nothing crazy, just about 20 minutes (sometimes 30!). I read lighter books and fiction at night before I go to bed.

I’ve got my whole digital bookshelf here if you want to shop around, but for business books, I LeaderBox it. 😉

In this post, you’ll see me unbox one, hear about my thoughts on the SEVENTY-NINE DOLLAR (!) price tag and how I justify it, and get a bit more insight on how I decide which books are worth my time and where they go on my schedule.

Let’s go!

 

p.s. If you ever wonder WHAT books I read and recommend, here’s how to head straight to my bookshelf!

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What is Leaderbox (& Why You Should Read as a Creative Entrepreneur)?

Michael Hyatt is a leadership development expert and entrepreneur, with a ton of experience. I really admire the way his brain thinks about business and money and faith and the intersection of those things—I totally recommend his podcast, Lead to Win. 

Maybe there are no more company-wide lunch n’ learns, wellness programs, or margarita ????machines brought into the office (true story), or book clubs once you start working for yourself … OR maybe there are and you get to make THEM UP YOURSELF! ????????????

Related: How to Become a Better Reader: Tips for Creative Entrepreneurs

LeaderBox is one way I’ve entered into the Book Club space as an entrepreneur. This is the most expensive monthly subscription I do—like, more than our HelloFresh weekly food supply subscription.

So, I want to first break down what it is, then I’ll get into my positives and challenges.

In a nutshell, it’s basically a curated monthly subscription box reading experience that comes with:

• 2 leadership-focused books
• A 21-day guide so you can finish them in 30 minutes of reading a day
• A workbook to write your insights, with a summary/cliff notes, action steps,  & a list of blogs or videos to take you deeper
• Access to private Facebook community

 

It renews every month, and if you’re just getting started, I think you have to order by mid-month to get the next month’s box.

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So Do I Think It’s Worth the Money?

Here are my unadulterated thoughts on LeaderBox. Could you get these books each month cheaper on Amazon? One hundred percent. But, as entrepreneur James Wedmore has said, the transformation is in the transaction.

[bctt tweet=”The transformation is in the transaction.” username=”via AshlynSCarter”]

For me, I show up for things I buy. I will pay for accountability because … otherwise, I’m lazy.

Okay, I’ve been getting Leaderbox for 8 months now, and I’m actually PAUSING my subscription to read some other books for the summer, BUT, I want to renew it. Before Iget into why I think it’s worth it, lemme give some cons—challenges about it. I go over it in the video, but:

1. It’s not for everyone. Definitely not for ALL creatives, because I think a lot of creatives still look at themselves as artists or “solopreneurs” <–I actually don’t think that’s a thing at all. Entrepreneurs or creatives who are growing a team or really identify with seeing themselves as a business owner, not a freelancer, will probably love it more. If you want to grow your business and be a leader, it’s for you.
2. I haven’t loved every book. I think it’s like school in that aspect, I learned anyway, but I just didn’t instantly love reading things like Dante’s Inferno or The Israel Lobby & U.S. Foreign Policy in Political Science class. But, I learned and they pushed me. I needed the challenge. I DO wish it could be like BirchBox, where you pick and choose what would suit your complexion and needs, so to speak!
3. I don’t really use the community. Just in way too many Facebook groups to use another!

BUT … here are the reasons I’ll be renewing my subscription after a mini-hiatus:

1. I want to be around people way smarter than me. Again, like school, I’d rather read MOSTLY what I love and have a curve ball or two thrown in there than no curve balls at all. I can already tell I’ve gotten more insightful from these books.
2. The 21-day plan is clutch, so is the bookmark … because some days you just don’t want to read and would rather catch up on the weekends!
3. It’s gotten me out of my bubble—I’ve blogged before about how necessary it is to look at what everyone around us in our bubble is reading and consider reading something DIFFERENT, just to get our brains thinking in new ways. This has done that for me.

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So, at the end of the day, I’ll keep it up. I’m going to hit pause, but this has been transformational in pushing me and stretching me as a leader.

You’re already a leader for your clients and customers. So, my challenge to you? Try 3 months out of the year reading something that just switches it up a bit … something that’s a bit of a stretch goal or challenge. If it’s LeaderBox, AWESOME! I’m reading them right there with you. 🙂 

What are some of YOUR favorite business books? Let me know in the comments below!