Lessons learnt (My best books for 2024)


Hello Reader,

I hope you had an amazing Christmas, and wishing you well for the new year that’s imminently upon us.

Now, I always have and always will be a massive fan of reading. The knowledge you can gain from a properly good book is simply brilliant.

As we close out 2024, I wanted to share some of the most impactful books I read this year and the lessons I took from each one.

Now, apart from these books being packed with insights that helped me shape how I approach business, mindset, and growth…

They’re also really enjoyable to read.

So here’s the list, plus my key takeaway from each:

The 5am Club by Robin Sharma

My Key Takeaway: Take control of your mornings, and you’ll take control of your life. This book reinforced the power of morning routines to achieve clarity, focus, and results. The story’s narrative style made these lessons stick, inspiring me to refine my own habits – and I did.

$100M Leads by Alex Hormozi

My Key Takeaway: High-quality lead generation isn’t just an art; it’s a science. Alex Hormozi shares practical, high-value strategies for driving leads and scaling businesses. It’s a must-read for anyone serious about growth. Whether you’re reading or listening, it’s packed with actionable insights.

What Your Customer Wants and Can’t Tell You by Melina Palmer

My Key Takeaway: Behavioural economics is the hidden secret to better conversations and outcomes. Melina’s explanation of how our brains make decisions was a game-changer. Learning to frame discussions the right way is something we can all benefit from – in sales, leadership, and life.

Cold Calling Sucks… But That’s How It Works by Armand Farrokh and Nick Cegelski

My Key Takeaway: Cold calling isn’t dead; it’s just misunderstood. This book validated what we know at Growth Resourcing (a calling business I have down in South Africa): a well-executed, targeted approach to outreach works. It’s not only about volume; it’s about quality and relevance.

Never Finished by David Goggins

My Key Takeaway: The journey to success is endless; keep pushing. David’s lessons on mental resilience hit home. Growth – whether physical, mental, or professional – requires consistent effort. It’s a mindset I aim to carry into every challenge.

These books taught me so much this year, and I hope they inspire you as well. Oh, and if you’ve read any of these or have a recommendation for 2025, hit reply and let me know. Here’s to growing stronger, smarter, and more resilient together in the year ahead!

James

How would you rate this edition?

🤏🏻 So-So

🙂 🙂 Useful

🎩 🎩 🎩 Top Drawer!

James White

The Sales and Business Development newsletter that is targeted at Ambitious Business Owners who sell high value services and who want to drive Sales Growth. I share EVERYTHING you require to LEARN buyer behaviours, ATTRACT more clients and GROW your business in less than 4 minutes per week. Current subscribers gain ideas and insights to save time and implement practical tips to grow their business. Why not join them?

Read more from James White

In today’s edition, we explore why hitting targets requires a clear plan and I outline how I am going to hit my revenue targets for 2026. No BS, no fluff, just clear details on how I am going to achieve my company’s revenue goal for this year. Let’s get to it. Hello Reader, Last week I told you that hope is not a strategy to achieve the 2026 goals you have. Just relying on people coming to you naturally is a highly unlikely route to bring in the leads you need to then turn into customers. So,...

In today’s edition, we explore why you cannot rely on social media and referrals alone to bring new business in. You have to get on the front foot as hope is not a strategy. Let’s get to it. Hi Reader, I had coffee with a friend last week, and it was good to catch up. He has done very well in his job but has recently decided on a change and will be leaving his job at the end of February to embark on a new career. He told me that he was excited at the thought of the new challenge, but also...

In today’s edition, we explore why so many people don’t achieve goals that they set for themselves.They fail because they don’t prioritise. Let’s get to it. Good morning Reader, We all start January with good intentions. I did last year. I wrote down all of the things that I wanted to do. I got my big jotter pad out and did a circle in the middle saying ‘2025 goals’. There were at least 8 of them, maybe 9. I had good intentions, I really did, but this approach was flawed, and I should have...