BOOKS

Stories and strategies for the road ahead.

These books turn experience into practical frameworks for leadership, resilience, imagination, communication, and growth.

Face the Mountain by Paul Gustavson

FEATURED BOOK

Face the Mountain.

A field guide for hard seasons. Grow stronger without growing cold.

“A powerful roadmap for navigating life’s toughest terrains.”Mark Batterson
“A roadmap for anyone ready to confront their mountains.”Bonnie St. John
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FROM IMAGINE

“Imagination will either
lift you or limit you.
It’s the most powerful muscle we have.”

Paul Gustavson

Face the Mountain book cover by Paul Gustavson

RESILIENCE FOR THE CLIMB

Face the Mountain

The 3Cs of Resilience and the Five Levels of Belief. Competence. Courage. Compassion. A guide for the climb in front of you.

Face the Mountain offers a powerful roadmap for navigating life's toughest terrains. The 3Cs of Resilience and the Five Levels of Belief provide a practical guide that truly sets this book apart. If you're ready to climb higher and believe bigger, start right here.Mark BattersonNYT bestselling author of The Circle Maker
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We all face metaphorical mountains every day and resilience is essential to personal and professional success. Face the Mountain gives you ways to build and use resilience to prevail. I especially like the scriptural basis that is the foundation of what he teaches.Mark SanbornAward-winning speaker and NYT bestselling author of The Fred Factor
Face the Mountain is a roadmap for anyone ready to confront their mountains and discover their power to move forward. It is an inspiring and essential read for those determined to change their world.Bonnie St. JohnParalympic medalist and author of Micro-Resilience
Face the Mountain provides an insider's perspective on resilience. The author shares his own life-altering experience as well as compelling glimpses into the lives of others who triumphed against enormous odds. This book is an invaluable resource to help you summon the courage, faith, and grit to persevere.Dr. Gloria J. BurgessAuthor of Pass It On! and Dare to Wear Your Soul on the Outside
Face the Mountain is a powerful read that speaks directly to the heart. It's a guide for living out our faith when things get tough, showing how true strength comes from pressing on, even when we're up against the hardest climbs.Jason RomanoAuthor and Sports Spectrum host
Paul Gustavson weaves together the power of faith, grit, and the Theory of Resiliency, providing a practical and inspiring guide to overcoming adversity.Mark ColeOwner and CEO, Maxwell Leadership
A call to live with resilience, built on faith and grit. If you're ready to step up, embrace the climb, and build the kind of resilience that matters, this book is for you.David and Jason BenhamEntrepreneurs and bestselling authors
A masterful exploration of how faith and grit, combined with the ABCs of Competence, Courage, and Compassion, can help you overcome even the most daunting challenges. This book is a beacon of hope and strength.Chris RobinsonExecutive Vice President, Maxwell Leadership
IMAGINE book cover by Paul Gustavson

EXPAND WHAT IS POSSIBLE

IMAGINE

Strengthen your capacity for hope, question the assumptions shaping your choices, and turn imagination into practical action toward a better future.

IMAGINE offers a fresh approach to leading from the inside out. Its combination of science and stories will spark new ideas and open your eyes to the hidden possibilities around us.Daniel H. Pink#1 New York Times bestselling author of Drive, To Sell Is Human, and The Power of Regret
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Einstein called imagination a preview of life's coming attractions. This book is a fresh take on how to make better use of it. I highly recommend it.Dr. Daniel AmenBestselling author of Change Your Brain, Change Your Life
IMAGINE captures the essence of what it takes to be future minded yet situationally aware of the present. Both are critical to how you live and how you lead.Mark BattersonNew York Times bestselling author of The Circle Maker
IMAGINE offers a grand tour into the realm of imagination. Whether you're creating a vision for yourself or for your team, organization, family, community, or nation, let this invaluable resource be your guide.Dr. Gloria J. BurgessAuthor of Flawless Leadership and Pass It On!
Paul is a student of leadership and growing systems and people. In his newest book, this passion and commitment comes through with clarity and competence.Kary OberbrunnerWSJ and USA Today bestselling author
Paul Gustavson uses the power of story to take us on a journey to recognize and grow in our imaginative abilities. He provides practical examples, tools, and exercises to cultivate the power of imagination within each one of us.Dave CornellSpeaker and author of Cultivating Courage
Breaking Average book cover by Paul Gustavson

REFUSE TO SETTLE

Breaking Average

Seven factors for teams that are done settling. Less complacency. More ownership. Better work together.

In Breaking Average, you'll find great insight into how to build teams in any organization. The seven factors create a framework for producing effective and productive teams. Highly recommend.Steve AndersonWSJ and USA Today bestselling author of The Bezos Letters
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Breaking Average is an important read for any leader who wants to elevate their team and multiply the influence and impact that they can make.Mark BattersonNew York Times bestselling author of The Circle Maker
Breaking Average offers a fresh perspective on what it takes to build a team. It's a difference maker. The Seven Critical Factors alone are invaluable.Bonnie St. JohnBestselling author, Paralympic medalist and CEO
Interesting stories and actionable ideas will help you create a successful team or lead the team you have more effectively. Break average by reading and using this book!Mark SanbornNew York Times bestselling author of The Fred Factor
A skillfully-crafted, insightful resource for anyone who seeks to develop a high-performance team. Approachable, refreshing, and empowering!Joseph MichelliBestselling author of The Airbnb Way
Everyone knows that teamwork is essential to success. Breaking Average provides practical guidelines for building above average teams that will lead to above average results.Ken DavisBestselling author, speaker and communication coach
What does it take to build a team that will go beyond average and pursue victory until it is won? Breaking Average is all about how to do just that in practical ways brought to life through real stories.Chris RobinsonExecutive Vice President, Maxwell Entrepreneurial Solutions
Speech Blueprint book cover by Paul Gustavson

SHAPE A MESSAGE THAT MOVES

Speech Blueprint

Build a clear, memorable message with ten practical elements that help an audience understand your idea, feel its importance, and act on it.

A great book that provides practical insight and wisdom for delivering a clear and effective message. The ten elements will help shape and reinforce the mindset needed for any communicator. It's a must read!Paul MartinelliFounder and President, Empowered Living
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A guide for any leader or professional who wants to create and deliver a compelling message. Paul identifies the core elements that anyone can use to connect with others.Mark ColeCEO, John Maxwell Enterprises
Speakers speak, but great speakers have a plan. Paul Gustavson has taken one of the greatest TEDx Talks in history and created a framework for you.Mike HarbourSpeaker, leadership coach and author
Paul's thorough approach incorporates a DISC personality perspective alongside each element. His insights work whether your audience is across a conference table or an entire conference hall.Trudy MenkeExecutive coach and trainer
Speech Blueprint is packed with practical, actionable content from start to finish. It is a resource to review at least once a year to keep talks fresh, relevant and valuable.Dave CornellSpeaker and author of Cultivating Courage
Taking time to understand what connects an audience to you and your message is the foundation for a great delivery. Speech Blueprint will help you communicate with clarity and confidence.Roddy GalbraithSpeaker trainer, The John Maxwell Team
Paul is one of the most brilliant, organized, and systematic people I know. Even if you only apply a fraction of what he teaches here, you'll reach levels of success you've never seen before.Dave GambrillExecutive coach and leadership consultant
Leaders Press On book cover by Paul Gustavson

KEEP MOVING FORWARD

Leaders Press On

How to keep leading when progress is slow, resistance is real, and the people still matter.

Leaders are made, not born. Leaders Press On provides fabulous concepts, stories and steps to be the leader you wish you had.Stephen ShedletzkyFounder, InspirAction; formerly with Simon Sinek's Start With Why
Read more praise 8
Effective leadership centers on perseverance. You will know more about perseverance and press on in a more intentional way after reading this book.Mark ColeCEO, John Maxwell Company
Not written from theory but from practice. Paul takes you on a journey and equips you with the practical tools so you too can persevere.Daniel FloydLead Pastor, Gateway Church; author of Living the Dream
A must-read for people who want to bring about a significant transformation within an organization, community, workplace, or personal life.Paul MartinelliFounder and President, Empowered Living
Paul's emphasis on perseverance, a vital leadership characteristic, resonated strongly with me. Leaders Press On is well written and packs a punch on an important subject.Ed DeCostaExecutive coach and author
Paul captures an authentic journey of a true leader. He unlocks the power of perseverance and brings truth to what a leader must face and overcome to make an impact.Melissa V. WestExecutive coach and author
Paul provides a powerful framework for leaders as they navigate the ever-changing business landscape. Read it and apply it immediately with your teams.Dave GambrillExecutive strategist
Paul helps leaders keep making progress when the obstacles seem too much. This book is his journey and experience of pressing on himself. Get it, read it, apply it.Mike HarbourExecutive coach and CEO, Harbour Resources
Consistent success in persevering through everyday challenges leads to a significant life, helping anyone become the person they were created to be.Barry L. SmithExecutive coach and author of Leadership by Invitation