10 Books That Influenced—but Didn’t Define—CoreSelf Positioning
CoreSelf Positioning was developed to help individuals and teams navigate personal and professional challenges by fostering self-awareness and aligning values with actions.
But it didn’t emerge in isolation. It:
- Builds on the wisdom of psychologists,systems theorists, leadership coaches, and behavioral economists,
- Transforms those insights into an actionable framework for decision-making, collaboration, and growth, and has been
- Tested and refined through lived experience, real-world conversations, and daily application into a
Usable practice for personal clarity and collaborative alignment.
The following books inspired, reinforced, influenced, and helped clarify what CoreSelf was always meant to become. Learn how these authors’ ideas live on through CoreSelf Mapping (CSM), CoreSelf Positioning (CSP), and CoreSelf Journaling(CSJ):
Stephen R. Covey – The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
CSM reinforces habits 1–3 (independence), CSP aligns with habits 4–6 (interdependence), and CSJ supports habit 7 (renewal).
Simon Sinek – Start with Why
CSM helps individuals reconnect with their “why”; CSP invites others into that purpose.
Stewart Friedman – Total Leadership
We reframed Friedman’s “stakeholders” as Energy-Holders—those who increase your alignment and vitality.
Ernest Hilgard – Divided Consciousness
Hilgard’s “hidden observer” laid the groundwork for CoreSelf’s Internal Observer, which powers values-based clarity in CSM and collaboration in CSP.
Napoleon Hill – The Laws of Success
Hill sought purpose, clarity, and direction. CSM offers a modern, accessible roadmap to those ends.
Murray Bowen – Family Systems Theory
CSM supports differentiation of self; CSP reveals and repositions relationship triangles into focused, values-led progress.
Susan David – Emotional Agility
CSM empowers individuals to meet emotional energy with curiosity and chart a best next step that reflects their values.
Daniel Kahneman – Thinking, Fast and Slow
CSM activates reflective thinking; CSP enables shared understanding over reaction.
Joseph Deitch – Elevate
Deitch longed for a roadmap. CoreSelf offers one—for self-insight, relationships, and shared direction.
Carol Dweck – Mindset
Growth mindset fuels CoreSelf’s foundation: self-awareness, collaboration, and conscious improvement.
These authors haven’t directly endorsed CoreSelf Positioning—but their ideas helped build it. We honor their contributions and invite others to explore their work alongside CoreSelf Positioning.
Which of these books shaped how you think or lead? What would you add to this list?
About the Authors
Jonathan Thomas, MSW
Whether at the potter's wheel, coaching medical professionals and teams, or in his private counseling practice, Jonathan Thomas has spent his life molding, shaping and creating something beautiful and new.
Tim Preston
As a successful serial-entrepreneur and angel investor, Tim Preston has spent the majority of his life learning, overcoming, and creating, from blank pieces of paper: self, spaces, teams, and businesses.
Together, Jonathan and Tim founded Simple. Not Easy., LLC, a company that developed CoreSelf Positioning™ tools to help companies and individuals to slow down and align energy levels, values, and actions in order to formulate their best next steps.
Learn more about Jonathan, Tim & CoreSelf Positioning.