And Why You Should Read Them Too… If You’re Serious About Building Something That Lasts
Let me just say this:
I didn’t grow up reading books. I grew up working.
Like, real work. Early mornings. Dirty hands. Long hours. I didn’t care about reading books unless they came with a paycheck or a cheeseburger at the end.
But somewhere along the way — between building businesses, raising kids, speaking on stages, and dodging burnout — I realized something…
The people who build the biggest lives? They’re usually the ones bold enough to keep learning.
Now I crush books like I used to crush energy drinks in the oilfield. Except now, I take notes, I implement, and I teach what works.
And the crazy part? These books changed the way I lead, parent, sell, rest, and grow.
So whether you’re running a business, running your household, or just trying not to run yourself into the ground — these books are my go-to’s. Not because they’re trendy. Because they work.
These are the ones that lit a fire under me — and honestly, gave me language and strategy for stuff I was already trying to figure out in real life.
No fluff. No theory. Just real-world application, from one leader to another.
Let’s dig in.
1. The 10X Rule by Grant Cardone
“Massive action is the only thing that guarantees massive results.”
You ever have a book grab you by the shirt collar and yell, “Hey! Quit playing small!”? Yeah. That’s this book.
I picked up The 10X Rule thinking it’d be another one of those “motivation for the moment” reads. Nope. It straight-up called me out.
Not for being lazy — because I was already working hard. But for aiming too low and thinking too safe.
This book doesn’t whisper. It shouts. It’s not gentle. It’s aggressive. It makes you a little uncomfortable… in all the right ways.
Dan’s 10X Gut Punch:
I realized I wasn’t dreaming big enough. Not just in business — but in faith, in family, in impact. It made me stop asking, “What can I do?” And start asking, “What would I do if I wasn’t scared of the work it takes?”
Now? I don’t just want to build a successful company. I want to build a billion-dollar empire that helps rural first responders, transforms DOT culture, and makes room for faith in the middle of it all.
And you know what? We’re on our way.
How to Use This Book (Instead of Just Highlighting It)
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Rewrite Your Goals x10. Whatever your goal is right now — multiply it by ten. Seriously. It’ll freak you out a little. That’s the point.
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Stop Overthinking. Start Doing. Cardone says the only way to fail is to take too little action. Not sure what to do next? Do something. Loudly. Relentlessly.
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Get Obsessed. Not casually interested. Not “if I have time.” Obsessed. That’s where breakthroughs happen.
Quick Warning:
You’re either going to love this book or hate it. There’s no in-between. It’s intense. It’s loud. But if you can read past the ego, there’s gold in these pages.
Who This Is For:
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Business owners tired of spinning their wheels
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Leaders who know they were built for more
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People who say, “I’m already working hard” — but still feel stuck
Dan’s One-Liner Summary:
This book will either fire you up… or expose your excuses. And honestly? You probably need both.
2. Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
“Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve.”
Let’s be honest — the title sounds like it was made to sell late-night infomercials. But don’t let that fool you. This book is the blueprint. The mindset manual. The original playbook for getting your head right so you can build a life that doesn’t suck the soul out of you.
Hill interviewed the most successful people of his time — the real builders, not the fake-it-til-you-make-it types — and he found one common thread: They believed in what they were building before anyone else did.
Dan’s Takeaway:
This book hit me square in the mouth. I always thought “rich” meant just money — but Hill reframes it: Rich in life. Rich in legacy. Rich in freedom. It reminded me that everything starts with belief. And belief isn’t just a feeling — it’s fuel.
The best part? The “Master Mind” concept. I’ve lived that one out for years — the right circle will change your life.
How to Use This Book:
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Write Your Definite Chief Aim. Yep, your actual purpose. Not “get rich.” Not “retire early.” I’m talking about why you were put on this earth.
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Read It Daily. For real. Out loud. It’ll feel weird at first — and then it’ll feel powerful.
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Build or Join a Mastermind. Don’t fly solo. Surround yourself with people who sharpen you.
Who This Is For:
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Anyone building something big
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Anyone who knows they’re capable of more
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Anyone whose mindset could use a tune-up
Dan’s One-Liner Summary:
Your thoughts are steering the ship — time to check who’s really captaining the wheel.
3. The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss
“Being busy is a form of laziness — lazy thinking and indiscriminate action.”
Let me set the record straight: I have zero interest in working four hours a week. I love working. I’m not trying to sit on a beach and sip kale smoothies while pretending I’m still relevant.
But this book? It flipped a switch in my brain about systems, automation, and freedom.
Because the goal isn’t to do less work — it’s to stop doing the stuff that’s draining the life out of you.
Dan’s Takeaway:
I realized I was the bottleneck in my own business. I was doing everything — not because I had to — but because I hadn’t built the systems to let anyone else do it.
Ferriss taught me to ask the question: “What would happen if I didn’t do this?” That question saved me more time (and frustration) than any productivity hack ever did.
How to Use This Book:
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Eliminate first. What shouldn’t even be on your plate? Dump it.
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Automate next. Emails, scheduling, document delivery — let tech do its job.
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Delegate last. Find the right people. Train them well. Let them run.
Who This Is For:
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Entrepreneurs buried in busywork
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Leaders trying to grow and breathe at the same time
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Anyone working long hours but making short progress
Dan’s One-Liner Summary:
This book won’t make you lazy — it’ll make you lethal.
4. How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie
“You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years trying to get them interested in you.”
This book isn’t about manipulation. It’s about communication. It’s about learning how to work with people — not around them or in spite of them.
Business is people. Leadership is people. Marriage is people. If you don’t know how to connect with humans, you’re going to hit a ceiling fast.
Dan’s Takeaway:
This one made me stop bulldozing people with truth and start learning how to lead with connection. Because you can be 100% right — and still lose the relationship.
How to Use This Book:
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Ask more questions. Be curious. Stop turning every conversation into a resume dump.
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Use names. It’s the sweetest sound in the world to the person you’re speaking to.
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Give credit. Take blame. That’s leadership. And it earns more trust than any title ever could.
Who This Is For:
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Business owners who manage teams
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Leaders in charge of culture
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Anyone who has to work with other humans
Dan’s One-Liner Summary:
If you want to lead, you’ve gotta learn how to listen.
5. Build an Empire by Elena Cardone
“If your empire is going to stand the test of time, it has to be built on a strong partnership.”
This book isn’t just for the ladies. It’s for anyone who wants to build something with their spouse — not around them.
Because if you’re building a dream and your partner isn’t on board — you’re going to feel friction. And that friction turns into fire… the bad kind.
Dan’s Takeaway:
This book helped Jenna and I finally speak the same language when it came to vision. It wasn’t about convincing her to work more — it was about inviting her into the mission.
Now she owns parts of our empire, not just the leftovers of my calendar.
How to Use This Book:
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Read it together. Seriously. Even if your spouse rolls their eyes — it’s worth it.
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Define your vision as a team. What are you building? What does freedom look like to both of you?
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Give each other lanes and leadership. Empower one another. Don’t micromanage your marriage.
Who This Is For:
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Married entrepreneurs
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Couples running businesses
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Anyone who wants home to be a refuge, not a war zone
Dan’s One-Liner Summary:
An empire isn’t built by one person — it’s protected by partnership.
6. Grit, Grease, and Grace by Dan Greer
“Leadership isn’t a ladder. It’s a burden. But when you carry it right, it becomes a calling.”
This isn’t a boardroom pep talk. It’s leadership for real life—raw, faith-filled, and built to last. If you’ve ever had to lead through chaos, carry the weight no one else sees, or figure it out without a playbook… this book is for you.
📖 Preorder Your Copy Now:
Be among the first to get Grit, Grease, and Grace, packed with actionable lessons, real stories, and tools for building leaders, businesses, and lives that last: https://realdangreer.com/grit-grease-and-grace/
Final Thoughts: Don’t Just Read. Build With It.
Books alone don’t change your life—action does. I read to build better systems, stronger leadership, healthier relationships, and a future worth leaving behind.
These six books punched me in the chest. They challenged my thinking, stretched my leadership, and gave me tools to lead with purpose.
Now it’s your turn. Preorder Grit, Grease, and Grace, take notes, implement, and build something that lasts. Because the difference between burnout and breakthrough is often one mindset shift, one conversation, or one action away.
