How will you achieve your goals in 2026? The following books set out some of the ideas that inspired Kasia in 2025. Each book has resonated and impacted her working life in some way.

The end of one year and the beginning of a new year is a natural time for reflection. We ask ourselves: what worked in 2025? What will we do more of? What didn’t work? What will we do differently?

We hope that within the pages of these books, there are some ideas and inspiration that can help you achieve your 2026 goals.

We recommend each one.

Atomic Habits by James Clear

“Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become.”

James Clear is the American writer and speaker behind the #1 New York Times bestseller, Atomic Habits. Published in 2018, Atomic Habits has since sold more than 25 million copies worldwide and been translated into more than 60 languages.

It’s a timeless classic which was one of Kasia’s most inspiring reads in 2025. Its central premise is that a slight change in your daily habits can guide your life to a very different destination.

Clear says, “Habits are the compound interest of self-improvement. The same way that money multiplies through compound interest, the effects of your habits multiply as you repeat them. They seem to make little difference on any given day and yet the impact they deliver over the months and years can be enormous. It is only when looking back two, five, or perhaps ten years later that the value of good habits and the cost of bad ones becomes strikingly apparent.”

Our team is totally onboard with this mindset. In fact, Kasia spoke about the habits that have helped her gain clarity during her guest slot on the Accountants Success Secrets podcast at the end of last year. These include waking at 5.30am and meditating every day. She also swims three times a week – no matter what. She says, “It’s become such a habit now, I feel like something is wrong if I don’t do it.”

After reading this book, the atomic habit Kasia added in 2025 came from another of the other books on our list: The Gap and The Gain. Kasia has found that daily writing in a notebook has really sharpened her focus. Each night, she records three things she is grateful for from the day and the three priority tasks for tomorrow.

“I leave my notebook on my pillow so that even when I am tired, I always do it,” Kasia says. “I’ve found it’s really good for building positivity and gratitude and helps me to focus on what’s important.”

Ten Times Is Easier than Two Times by Dan Sullivan and Benjamin Hardy

Published in 2023, Ten Times is Easier than Two Times explores how world-class entrepreneurs achieve more by doing less.

The concept expands on a key tenet of the high-level foundational teachings of entrepreneurship coach and Strategic Coach co-founder, Dan Sullivan. The (perhaps counterintuitive) premise of the book is that achieving 10x growth is easier than going for 2x growth.

Kasia has found the different approach to business growth insightful – and it has inspired her to think bigger.

The 10X approach stresses that, to make 10X possible, you must focus on expanding what Dan Sullivan defines as your four most important freedoms: time, money, relationship and purpose. Fundamentally, 10X is about quality vs quantity – and the quality of your freedoms determines the results you achieve.

What made this book resonate so strongly with Kasia? It has inspired her to strictly schedule time for business planning and for restful activities. She says, “It made me realise how important it is to do something completely disconnected and away from work. For me, that’s mountain climbing. This way, we come back stronger and refreshed and can scale up faster.”

The Gap and the Gain by Dan Sullivan and Benjamin Hardy

After reading Sullivan and Hardy’s Ten Times Is Easier than Two Times, Kasia was inspired to look at the duo’s earlier best-selling publication. The Gap and the Gain was published in 2021 and posits that measuring success against an ideal or future goal often leads to feelings of dissatisfaction and unhappiness.

Billed as “the high achievers’ guide to happiness, confidence and success”, the Gap and the Gain is a transformative concept that encourages individuals to measure their progress by focusing on how far they’ve come (the Gain) rather than how far they have to go (the Gap).

Kasia actually read this book three times this year because its ideas resonated so strongly. She admits to living in the gap a lot – and is now striving hard not to do so.

“If I constantly live in the mindset of not being enough, it puts me into anxiety mode,” she says. “Like a lot of us, I need to slow down and not miss the important points in my life. I have a lot to be grateful for in the last year, including holidaying with my kids and the amazing win at the Accounting Excellence Awards.”

Sullivan and Hardy say it’s common to focus our energies on an ideal that is a moving target and, consequently, never fully attainable. People in the Gap tend to focus on what they lack, which can create a sense of failure even when they have achieved significant milestones.

By contrast, adopting a Gain mindset encourages individuals to reflect on their past achievements and progress. By measuring themselves against their previous selves, individuals can appreciate how far they have come, fostering feelings of happiness, confidence and motivation.

Who Not How by Dan Sullivan and Benjamin Hardy

No, we aren’t being sponsored by Dan Sullivan and Benjamin Hardy. But this book did also make it to the top of Kasia’s reading list in 2025. So good, she read it twice!

Published in 2020, The Who Not How focuses on the benefits of learning to delegate.

It’s another insightful guide by the duo that asks reader: have you ever had a new idea or a goal that excites you, but not enough time to execute it? Do you feel like the only way things are going to get done is if you do them?

It then goes on to ask: what if you had a team of people around you that helped you accomplish your goals (while you helped them accomplish theirs)?

This resonated a great deal with our team because we see founders struggling with this question frequently.

Kasia says, “I recognise that delegation is difficult for me and that’s something I’m working to change. Reading this book has encourage me to trust more, delegate more, surround myself with great people who have a similar vision and values.”

The book included specific steps and tools to help leaders on this path. Kasia says she found the book so helpful she plans to read it again in 2026.

Altered Traits by Daniel Goleman and Richard Davidson

“This book is a winner!” says Kasia. “It has inspired me to meditate twice as much… And that’s not just because science has shown that daily meditation can help keep you 7.5 years younger!”

Altered Traits: Science Reveals How Meditation Changes Your Mind, Brain and Body explores the profound and lasting effects of meditation on individuals.

It isn’t only Kasia who’s a fan. Arianna Huffington, founder of the Huff Post and author of the New York Times best seller The Sleep Revolution, says, “This is a book that really can change your life. Daniel Goleman and Richard Davidson not only show the power of meditation, but also the smartest way to practice for the maximum possible benefit. Altered Traits is your roadmap to a more mindful, compassionate, fulfilling life – who doesn’t want that?”

Although the book was published in 2017, Kasia counts this is one of the most impactful books she read in 2025. Having practiced daily meditation for many years she is now having fun exploring how to meditate in different ways.

If you’re interested in introducing meditation into your daily routine, Kasia strongly recommends Richard Davidson’s Healthy Minds App. It’s a free app on your phone which will help you practice meditation.

Shaolin Spirit: The Way to Self-Mastery by Shi Heng Yi

In Shaolin Spirit Shi Heng Yi, founder of Shaolin Temple Europe and lay disciple of the Songshan Shaolin Temple, introduces us to the contemplative practice that underpins Shaolin – a way of life that has existed for over 1,500 years – and shows how it can help us today.

Shaolin is rooted in Zen and Tao philosophy and offers a way of reconnecting our minds with our bodies through meditative movement. In this way, we can cultivate the core virtues of discipline and perseverance.

Although this 2025 book is ostensibly about meditation, it’s more important message is about building discipline. What resonated most strongly with our founder is Shaolin Spirit’s contention that it is not motivation but discipline that drives you to do what you do.

Kasia says, “This book has taught me so much. For one, I now do the Horses stance during meditation! But, most importantly, it has inspired me to be more disciplined.”

Tribe of Millionaires by Tim Rhode, David Osborn, Pat Hiban and Mike McCarthy

“Don’t judge this book on it’s title!” warns Kasia. “It isn’t just relevant to people who want to be millionaires. It could just as easily be about marathon runners or Ironmen. Whatever your aspiration is, it can help you. The same approach can be applied to every aspect of life.”

The central premise of this 2019 book by authors Tim Rhode, David Osborn, Pat Hiban, Mike McCarthy is that, to be successful, you need to surround yourself with the sort of people you want to be.

Tribe of Millionaires: What if one choice could change everything? is a manifesto on the importance of being a part of a tight-knit group that holds you accountable to living your best life. It is written as part personal development guide, part adventure tale and seeks to teach readers six timeless lessons about the power of those around us to transform our lives.

“It’s important to be with people who can lift you up,” stresses Kasia. “Although I go swimming three times a week, I now also go swimming with a group every Monday night. We train with a coach. We check in with others’ progress. We encourage each other. And, together, we are all getting better. It’s a powerful boost to each of our personal improvement.”