Unbelievable! I´ve become a book worm. Although my start wasn´t glorious at all: When my mentor first asked me which books I was reading, my only response was „Harry Potter“. Now I totally agree with Harry S. Truman who once said:
„Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers.“
Nevertheless, this blog post isn´t about novels. It´s about about education. For me even more about inspiration than about knowledge.
Reading books to me is something really fulfilling. To enlarge my horizon, get new ideas and to learn from others in this simple way.
Through changing me it will change others. That´s why I started reading 10 to 15 books a year.
These three things have helped me along the way:
1. The right books
Not every book you find is worth reading.
When I realize that something I read isn´t really firing me up, I quit. That´s not easy for me for it is against my personality to not bring something to an end. Despite that I´ve stopped to force myself to continue reading.
Beware of really old books!
Yes, there are treasures which just became old. But that´s for sure the exception. There´s probably a reason if somebody is giving old books away.
Even flee markets aren´t the best place to purchase books. Dare to spend some money! It´s a good investment into your future as a leader.
Hands-on tip: If your budget is really tight at some point, you can subscribe to newsletters on the websites of different personalities. You´ll get free eBooks with quite good content in return.
2. The right time
At home it´s not quiet enough. In the office is just too much to do. At night I´m lacking concentration.
What works for me at the moment are travel times. Almost every time I´m going from A to B with public transport in Berlin I carry a book with me.
Even ten minutes of commuting take me a few pages forward. Travelling back and forth sometimes even a whole chapter. It really sums up over time.
Remember this: What works best for one of us isn´t really working for someone else. Find out which time is best for you.
However, no more excuses! For sure you got enough time. You´re just not using it right.
Hands-on tip: If you´re driving for long hours every day or week why not give audio books a try. Download them to your smartphone to have them available everywhere you go. Check out this free trial.
3. Enough new books
Today there´s such a variety of literature available. Which on one side makes it hard to choose. On the other side it makes it easy.
I´ve started a list of book recommendations. So my selection is literally done by others. All the time someone recommends a book to me I add it to my list.
That´s why I always have quite a big range of possibilities for choosing the next title. Even a wish list for Christmas and my birthday is done at the same time.
To be able to look forward to the next book while I´m still reading another is definitely something that helps me a lot.
Hands-on tip: Start your list today! One way of doing is using a wishlist on amazon.
How about your reading experiences? Any tips you can add to this list? Why not write a comment?
Like my posts? Sign up for my blog to never miss a post again.
Sign Up