In my own case, earlier in my career, I came across self-help books which were very useful to me. I kept up-to-date with them and I still do to my advantage. They surely teach you how to be more effective, in addition to be efficient. They also teach you to work smarter, in addition to working harder by focusing on essentials and cutting out inessentials. Self-help books teach you to accept the unacceptable and to endure the unendurable so as to be able to do what is to be done. And then to do it or get it done. Simple.