3 Books that changed my life

I’ve never been an avid reader, but these books spoke to me in ways that I could never believe and are responsible for the traits and skills I have worked on in the last year or so.

Here’s my list:

1. 50 Cent – Hustle Harder, Hustle Smarter: How did he turn his life around from a criminal surrounded by poverty to producing hit shows, records and luxuries? This book explains it from the man himself as well as the knowledge that can be implemented, as well as a refreshing insight into life from successful rap mogul 50 Cent. This is not your average read, it dives into fear and how to manage it to help you live a better life without experiencing abnormal amounts of trauma to be fearless. Also, he dives into how we can approach creating new habits, as well as getting rid of bad habits. I’ll give a summary of one part. He explains that relying on anything such as a person, or substance can be helpful when getting started but he refers to it as a crutch. “You’re never going to get too far when you need a crutch to move forward”. What happens when it’s not available, something impromptu? The opportunity may have passed by the time you get your ‘crutch’. You must create your own comfort in any environment. All in all, this book is worth all the money and it’s a book that has aged well. Nothing’s outdated, preachy or derivative. It’s 50 Cent who has all the control in the way this has been presented.

1. Jack Dempsey – Championship Fighting: This book will transform you into a stronger, faster and more competent boxer. It breaks down the standard movement of a punch and all the components needed to get the knockout, or at least hit harder. Provides diet tips, the schedule of an amateur boxer and exercises to implement at home (such as neck bridges). It goes over how to view fights and judge them using all the context possible. It provides images on how to implement the technique of a hook from different ranges. Combinations, punching bag drills, sparring drills, stance and more. Last I checked it was £8 on Amazon, if you ever want to learn how to defend yourself or work towards your next fight… This book has everything you need and more. If you don’t believe me, Jack Dempsey is the first man in boxing history to create a $1 million gate as well as inspiring the likes of Mike Tyson. Inexpensive and easy to follow, it will change you for the better

1. Russ – It’s All in Your Head: “People say you have to believe it to see it, well you need to believe it to see it”. This is coming from the platinum-selling artist, the leader in the independent scene, and critically acclaimed musician ‘Russ’. The book tells about his come-up, the importance of passion and understanding the necessary tools to make it in whatever field. I will give 3 things that meant a lot to me and will mean a lot to you. The importance of doing it yourself and pulling the trigger. ‘Pulling the trigger’ is something only you can do and it can yield results that can change your life as well as bring you joy. He explains that he was initially getting someone to edit a music video, but they claimed it would take a month to finish it. What did Russ do? He decided to take matters into his own hands to edit it himself and ended up securing millions of views on YouTube. Time is of the essence. You will notice, there’s a lot of urgency being mentioned and that is a testament to his hard work. Another point is that vulnerability is unique to you and it is what people can relate to you. And the more you own your truth it will be harder for people to give you a hard time. The last one is he explains how important it is to be delusional even if you don’t have the results that you desire yet. Why? Because it speaks to the universe, it is as if you are already who you want to be. You have the tools, and if you are a musician like me, you know that we have the music that can go viral at any stage, it could happen tomorrow for all we know. The main thing is the belief and the patience. This book is vital for any creatives or for people who know they can be more than what they currently are.