Chris Reining crossed the $1 million threshold at age 35 and retired at 37, thanks to various habits he had developed.
One such routine was reading for one hour every night. That happens to be a "rich habit" of highly successful people.
On his blog, Reining shares five books that had the biggest impact on his life in 2016.
"The Obstacle Is the Way" by Ryan Holiday
"What I like about this book is when I'm struggling, it's easy to pick it up and read a few pages to get a different perspective, and to see the hidden opportunity," Reining says of Holiday's book, which shows how some of the most successful people have applied the ancient Greek philosophy of stoicism to turn difficult situations into opportunities.
"The War of Art" by Steven Pressfield
"If deep down you know what you're supposed to be doing with your life, and you're not doing it, read this book," says Reining. The succinct read will inspire you to overcome the mental roadblocks holding you back from doing what you want to do.
"Quiet" by Susan Cain
In "Quiet," Cain argues that society undervalues introverts — people who prefer listening over speaking — and so is missing out.
Whether you're an introvert or an extrovert, the book is worth a read, says Reining: "If you're an introvert you should read this book to embrace who you are. And if you're an extrovert you should read this book to understand how not everyone can spend hours socializing every day."
"So Good They Can't Ignore You" by Cal Newport
"Most people don't understand that how much money you make depends on your value. And you increase this value by building what Cal Newport calls 'career capital,' or honing more and more skills," writes Reining.
Young people in particular should pick up this books, says the self-made millionaire: "If I read this book when I started my career, I wouldn't have wasted so much time in my 20s being stagnant. I would've known that to advance my career I needed to spend my time mastering more skills."
"The Millionaire Fastlane" by MJ DeMarco
DeMarco argues that there's an alternative road to wealth than getting a good job and saving ten percent of your income. He calls it the "Fastlane."
"Know that this book is filled with driving analogies, it's repetitive, and it doesn't offer tactics or step-by-step instructions to do what you need to do to become a millionaire," writes Reining. "But if you can overlook those things, and want a book that inspires you, it's a good choice. ... What it gets right is the mindset to become wealthy."
