About Shannon

Books You Gotta Read

Where Buddha Meets Business

Hi, I'm Shannon McCaffery — the author, and creator of BYGR (Books You Gotta Read).

This is a passion project of mine! I’ve always been an avid reader. I get that from my Dad. He always was so well-read, and every Sunday would share with me what he was reading, and we’d compare book notes.

I created this blog in 2020 – you know, the COVID-19 crazy year with fires, hurricanes, and other political craziness that happened. That was the first time I hadn’t traveled in years, and I needed something to focus on. So I decided to be a bit more healthy and walk 10k steps or more a day. In doing that, I also decided to use my Audible membership and have listened to way too many books! (This isn’t counting the physical books I’m reading too!)

You probably know where I’m going with this! I decided to create this page to share these amazing books I’m reading with you! I mean, there are literally millions of books out there and more being published daily. How are you supposed to keep up and know what books to read?

I’ve also decided to stay away from fiction as that’s a whole other kettle of fish. My goal was to create a blog that I wanted to read. One that has a mix of nonfiction – spiritual, thought-provoking, mindful, and interesting marketing books, and ones about finding my life’s purpose.

I hope you enjoy my reviews and please comment – I’d LOVE your feedback!

A Bit More About Me & My Entrepreneurial Business Side:

My company began from my spiritual quest, my spiritual journey to find more to marketing than just selling something… It’s really about serving, supporting, and helping make a difference in people’s lives, whether, through a book, a video, a course, or a service offered. There are many ways to passionately give and help support others who want to change, improve, and better their lives.

My story at a glance- I always thought I’d be a lifer, working at the same company until I retired. That’s what everyone else did, so that’s what I thought would be best.

As life would have it, things didn’t entirely turn out how I’d planned. Being in the publishing world in the ’80s, & 90’s they were buying and selling each other like no tomorrow. I went through so many mergers my head was spinning. Until the last one, I decided to stop the madness and start my own business. I was inspired by my mentor, who encouraged me and said he would help me. So that’s where my real entrepreneurial roots began.

I’ve had my own business for over 16 years now and love the flexibility and creativity. Through these years, I’ve really grown and focused more on what I was really passionate about- and that’s learning– I’m a voracious reader and learner. In fact – take a look at one of my passion projects: BooksYouGottaRead

Soulful Quest

I wanted something more fulfilling in my life that could add to my marketing, coaching, and consulting business. I began my own soulful, spiritual journey- attending inspiring workshops with Marianne Williamson (and even meditating with her one on one- simply amazing), and Pema Chodron, Elizabeth Lesser (Co-Founder of Omega Institute), Thích Nhất Hạnh Paul Selig (author of I Am The Word), Abraham (Esther Hicks), Wayne Dyer, Doreen Virtue, Christine Warren and many, many other inspiring, spiritual teachers. I’ve attended workshops at Omega Institute, Kripalu, and Esalen.

I Mainly Work With…

This is why I work with mindful purpose-driven entrepreneurs.

One of my gifts is working with clients to help them connect to their greater mission and values of their business and who they serve. In my experience, if you’re not soulfully connected to your mission and values of your business, it will have lackluster results. I have seen it time and time again. One of the big reasons launches fail is the disconnect of your messaging to what you’re selling/promoting. And that coupled with not attracting your core dream client/customer.

Marketing is changing. If you want to reach more people and be incredibly successful, your business has to be authentic and genuinely connect with your dream clients or customers, and it needs to show up in your marketing and messaging.

Think of companies like Apple, Bombas, Tesla, Passion Planner, Disney. Marketing is really about values. All these companies live and breathe them. Plus, they all have a clear mission and vision to give back, inspire, change the world in some big way. We all need to think more like that. AND it needs to show in our story, our marketing, and messaging.

I specialize in working with mindful purpose-driven entrepreneurs – creating online dream client/customer experiences, filling big events, creating more revenue , and doing product launches.

Some of the countless entrepreneurs and companies I’ve helped include Dr. Perlmutter, Dan Kennedy, Leeza Gibbons, Janet Attwood, Trudog.com, Lisa Sasevich, Jack Canfield, Andrew Lock Alex Mandossian, Yanik Silver, and Jeff Walker, to create more successful businesses and product launches. Check out this page for some specifics!

Why Soulful Marketing?

Because my clients were struggling and I wanted to help them:

There was a disconnect between their mission and vision and what they were selling. They weren’t authentic in their marketing, and their sales suffered because of that.
One of their biggest issues was they wanted to market and/or launch something, but they were stuck on HOW to get started. They were confused about WHAT their next step would be.
They really despised marketing and thought it was either evil, sleazy, or just plain dreadful, like having to clean the toilet, or something even more awful.
They wanted something SIMPLE that wouldn’t take hours and hours to learn HOW to do.

There’s SO MUCH information out there on the internet about how to market and launch online. Some of it is good and a lot of it, in my opinion, not so good. PLUS, A LOT of it can be VERY CONFUSING, and definitely NOT SOULFUL.

No one teaches you how to be your authentic self, so people will know, like, and trust you to help them. And all of this stuff online, how much of it is PROVEN and based on REAL Experiences?!

Even the many courses out there you can buy are STILL VERY CONFUSING…. so I created The 7-Step Soulful Marketing System.7-Step Soulful Marketing System

After truly helping my clients using my system, I thought it was about time to share it with folks just like you!

After marketing and launching online/offline products, coaching services, events, and more for over 18 years, my clients started using my system, excelling, and creating tons of success in their business. Combined, my clients have made over $15m in sales.

The Fine Print of My Former Corporate Life

I was a former executive from corporate America. My experience spans 20 years in coaching, marketing, international marketing, communications, management, and sales, working at several Fortune 500 companies, including Cendant, Random House, McGraw Hill, Simon & Schuster International, and Pearson, plc.