I hope you take take the time to read quality books on regular basis. Do you want to grow? Do you want to improve yourself? Do you want your work or business to grow? Read quality books on a regular basis and over time these things will happen. Is this an ambitious statement? Maybe. There is a fair amount of evidence available to back it up. Warren Buffett and Bill Gates, two of the riches people in the world, say that they read daily — a lot.
With technology today it is easier than ever to read. Pick up a printed book at your local library or bookstore, have it shipped to your doorstep or downloaded to either your e-reader or your phone for reading or even listening. The options are numerous and you can take advantage of them when you want to be empowered. Over the last few years I myself have gravitated more and more to reading books in kindle format. That way I can carry around my reading material all the time and read whenever I have a chance. And no dog-ears in my copy!
Notice that earlier I said quality books. Please be careful in what you consume! As with food, there are many forms of “junk” reading. I’m not saying you should never read anything that doesn’t directly contribute to building yourself and your future. Even so, be thoughtful about what you are reading. While I do love reading historical fiction, I don’t spend all my time reading the latest Conn Iggulden novel. And while my favorite books of all time will probably always be the fantasy books about Middle Earth by J.R.R. Tolkien, reading The Lord of the Rings every few years is not ever going to change my financial statements. Easily 80 to 90 percent of my reading can be directly attributed to either technology/work related material or self improvement reading. Looking back over the last ten years I can see how that has helped my career, my personal life and our family.
Don’t know where to start? Here are five classics to get you going:
- The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey
- Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki
- Failing Forward by John Maxwell
- Getting Things Done : The Art of Stress-Free Productivity by David Allen
- How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
“Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers.” – President Harry S. Truman
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