“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”
? Dr. Seuss
If you’ve been paying any attention to the news over the last few years, the general consensus seems to agree the act of reading is in decline. As avid readers and authors, the statistics make Marc and I cringe sometimes. But we’re optimistic for another reason.
Why? A readership catastrophe is really just a leadership opportunity. In other words, for people who know how to respond effectively, any “catastrophe” is just another way of saying “there’s an opportunity for improvement here.”
Marc and I have been avid readers for decades: self-improvement, business, history, spirituality, philosophy, current events, fiction, and then some. Most people think of us as writers, but we know the only way to be a good writer is to be a great reader first. Reading has enabled us to learn and grow into the leadership roles we fill today via our blog, book and course/coaching.
We’re not alone either. We know very few leaders who are uninterested in reading, regardless of their industry or profession. And many of them read even more frequently than we do.
The bottom line is that all readers are likely to become leaders in some capacity, even if they are simply leaders within their families and close social circles, or leaders of their own peace of mind and happiness. And with reading in decline, readers possess a comparative advantage in all walks of life.
The biggest advantage that reading gives us, I think, is the fact that it’s one of the most efficient ways to acquire new information, and we all need a lot of everyday information to keep things in perspective and seize good opportunities. But reading does more than just give us a new set of tools for thinking; it actually upgrades all of our existing intellectual tools as well, especially our problem-solving and analytical capabilities.
As readers, we not only learn more, but we are also more proficient at deciphering misinformation – our habit of reading gradually improves our judgment. And being able to correctly size up a situation is crucial for being effective at whatever we’re doing.
Speaking for myself, I know my reading habit has sharpened my edge. I’m always enamored when I’m working on a puzzling issue and some out-of-left-field piece of information comes to mind from something I’ve read that helps me put all the pieces together.
So with the importance of reading in mind, it’s time to read or re-read our 12 most popular posts (based on the number of reader views, social shares and comments) from this past year. If you give them a chance, each one of these quick reads has the power to change the way you think, live and love, so you can stay on track to living at your greatest potential…
- 12 Little Known Laws of Gratitude (That Will Change Your Life) – When Marc and I discus the importance of gratitude with our coaching/course students, we often get a “Yeah, yeah, I know…” response. But the truth is, most of us don’t know – because we’re forgetful. In the haste of our busy lives we neglect many of the basic laws of gratitude, and thus miss out entirely on their positive effects. This post is a good refresher, for all of us. [Read more…]
