"I heard it said once that the reason time seems to pass so much more quickly when we’re adults than it does when we’re kids is because we don’t typically focus on learning or having new experiences in adulthood." -Andrea Samacicia Mullan, founder and owner of Victory Public Relations
Ready to defy that reality? Don't miss her four favorite reads and the lessons learned from them. 
As the owner of a PR agency and, at the time, a new mom, I immediately got it: my feet were cemented in the hamster wheel of life and hearing this felt like a wake-up call. Not that I had a ton of time to devote to new experiences then (full-time working parents feel me!) but I made a simple decision to spend more time reading, something I loved to do anyway but hadn’t made a priority.
Before I knew it, I read a number of exceptional books and began to see my personal and professional philosophies develop in exciting new ways - I often refer to them as my DIY Business Degree. Below are some of my favorites and the lessons from them that I return to again and again.
Principles: Life and Work by Ray Dalio
Ray Dalio is the founder of Bridgewater Associates, what they tell me is the world’s most successful hedge fund - a world far from my own - and you absolutely do not need to understand the intricacies of that world to benefit from this book. I don’t, and I did. The lesson that most impacted me from this book (there are many!) is his idea of mistakes. Not only does he teach that mistakes are natural andrepresent vital learning opportunities, but he says the attempt to eliminate mistakes will actually undermine the success of the operation, especially in creative fields. He writes about it much more eloquently than I can, but this idea has dramatically shaped the way I lead my team and how we interact with our clients and media - to great effect.
Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi
Never Eat Alone is a goal-setting and networking bible in which the author literally presents a framework for effective goal-setting and networking. Perhaps even more valuable, though, is the idea he presents of disciplined dreamers which grants the reader permission to shoot for the stars but at the same time demands they take meaningful steps to achieve their goal. He says, “Disciplined dreamers all have one thing in common: a mission. The mission is often risky, unconventional, and most likely tough as hell to achieve. But it ispossible. The kind of discipline that turns a dream into a mission and a mission into a reality, really just comes down to a process of setting goals.”
#GIRLBOSS by Sophia Amoruso
What I love so much about this book is how honest Sophia Amoruso is. She’s part of the community of social media influencers who present the image of an ultra-chic, curated life that we all know is pretty to look at but doesn’t offer much actual inspiration. Her book tells a totally different story, and I love it. In one section where she talks about networking, she refers to herself as a “LinkedIn beast.” At another point she acknowledges that her lack of an actual business education sent her Googling all kinds of things. Those are just two examples of truly practical pieces of advice that have stuck with me. Shortly after the book was published, Nasty Gal announced its bankruptcy filing. Sophia has since gone on to build the Girlboss media platform and podcast, both of which I find inspirational and educational. The fact that she’s not perfect and is clearly figuring things out as she goes are, to me, her greatest strengths.
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
This book is especially close to my heart. I re-read it often and glean something new each time. The author, Paulo Coehlo, has remarked that it takes on its own life in each reader’s mind and I believe that is true - it can seem like a new book with each reading. The book tells the story of a young shepherd who is literally following a dream he had in which he discovers treasure in Egypt. Throughout his journey he encounters challenge after challenge and receives advice that we can all benefit from if we are open to it: how to recognize and honor our personal legend, how and why we should push through the many challenges we will inevitably face, and that, “When a person really desires something, all the universe conspires to help that person to realize his dream.”
Andrea Samacicia Mullan is the founder and owner of Victory Public Relations, an agency based in the NYC area that specializes in working health, wellness, and lifestyle brands. Follow @victorypr and @andreamullan to stay in touch - and to share your favorite reads!
