The myth of the self-made guru is exhausting. You know the type. Up at 4:30, crushing a workout by 5:00, casually building million dollar enterprises between breakfast and lunch. Meanwhile, you are wondering if anyone at your work will notice you are making it up as you go. Here is some relief, Steven Bartlett's Diary of a CEO is not written by someone pretending to have all the answers. It is written by someone still figuring them out, and that is why this book works. After discovering Bartlett's podcast and being struck by is raw, curious interviewing style, I picked up his book expecting another productivity manual. Instead I found 33 "laws" organized into four pillars. The Self, The Story, The Philosophy and The Team. They read less like commandments and more like hard won realizations. Three of these laws fundamentally changed how I approach learning and career growth. If you have ever felt behind, underqualified or uncertain about what you have to offer. These frameworks might do the same for you. --- Law # 2: To Master Something, Create an Obligation to Teach it. "If you want to learn something, read about it. If you want to understand something, write about it. If you want to master something, teach it." - Yogi Bhajan This deceptively simple framework exposes why most of us stay stuck at "learned" without ever reaching "Mastered" Reading creates exposure. You encounter new ideas, frameworks or possibilities. But exposure is not understanding, it is merely just awareness that something exists. Writing forces understanding. You can not write clearly about something you do not understand. The act of translating thoughts into words reveals gaps in your knowledge immediately. Teaching demands mastery. When you commit to teaching something, whether through writing, speaking or mentoring you create accountability. You can not fake it. Questions always expose weak spots and you are forced to go deeper. Why Social Obligation Matters. I was reading two books per week, becoming fully aware of the material presented but I was doing nothing with it. Books became another expensive entertainment than a transformative tool.

After finally launching my YouTube, Skool, Substack, and just about every other platform imaginable, I wanted to take a moment to think through what this month is going to look like.I’m committing to posting consistently and more importantly , to getting to know myself and this growing community more deeply. So, here’s my upfront contract to anyone who reads, watches, or engages with me: November 2025 is about Knowing Yourself, Connecting Deeply, and Acting Relentlessly. It’s a journey of growth told through three books that have been shaping me lately: - The Diary of a CEO by Steven Bartlett — How we know ourselves - Supercommunicators by Charles Duhigg — How we connect deeply - The 10X Rule by Grant Cardone — How we act relentlessly Act I: Know Yourself Every great story begins with awareness. Before you can influence, lead, or build anything lasting, you have to understand who you are, what drives you, and what holds you back. Steven Bartlett’s The Diary of a CEO isn’t just a business book it’s a mirror. It forces you to sit with your own patterns, your self-talk, your habits, and your blind spots. It reminds us that growth doesn’t start with strategy; it starts with honesty. “You do not attract what you want. You attract what you are.” This book is about alignment. Before we scale our goals, we have to scale our self-awareness. Act II: Connect Deeply Once we understand ourselves, the next frontier is understanding others. We’ve all had those moments when communication breaks down at home, at work, or even in our own heads. Charles Duhigg’s Supercommunicators gives language to what real connection looks like. He breaks every conversation into three parts: 1. What happened 2. How we feel about it 3. What it means to us Most of us only ever talk about the first one but the real growth happens in the other two. Emotional intelligence isn’t just knowing how you feel; it’s learning to meet others where they are. That’s how trust is built. That’s how influence actually works.

Please find the Honest Thoughts on Books classroom for all of my breakdowns on books! Dive in and engage.

Hello There, I’m Austin. If we were sitting across from each other right now, I’d probably have a black coffee in hand, a notebook, pen and a marked up book next to me. Not because I am trying to look sophisticated but honestly because I am an unadulterated obsession with growth and innovation. I believe the right idea at the right time can change everything. but here is the thing I have learned after reading hundreds of professional development, entrepreneur , and leadership books. Reading does not change you. Personal reflection and application does! That is the heartbeat of HonestShelf. It is not just a place to talk about books. It is a space for people who are chasing growth. For leaders, professionals and curious minds who want to bridge the gap between what they know and how they actually live. Each week I will share different reflections from books that are shaping my mindset. Lessons I am testing in my own life and leadership and how I am failing or succeeding. Honest thoughts around personal development. The real honest messy ones not the motivational poster kinds. As well, you will receive book recommendations that are genuinely worth your time. My hope is that HonestShelf becomes more than a random blog or newsletter but more of a conversation. One where ideas are explored and we can guide each other to our greatest potential. Where curiosity matters more than perfection. If any of this resonates with you, I would love for you to stick around and interact. Join in on the conversation and let us grow together. One honest page at a time. Cheers friends, Austin