Experience: Things I have Learned (Even Reluctantly) From the Experts (Episode 1)

This post series will be reflections on items that I have learned from my journey in self awareness and following some of the most dynamic leaders in the realm of personal development. While I like to consider myself somewhat of a maverick, or a rebel chick of personal development, there are some traits that the majority of thought leaders do and they see great results. It has been a learning curve to decide which are things I need to learn and in turn do, and which things I can pass by. But I am a believer in learning from those at least 10 steps ahead of me and to not reinvent the wheel. I choose to learn from their experience.

I used to tell people this when they wanted to talk about books: I know HOW to read, I just don’t particularly care to read. I do tend to be more visual and lean toward video.

I tend to find that I read three pages, but my mind has wandered and I really don’t remember anything I have just read. I must say though, one trait I have noticed among leaders is that they read… A LOT! So I decided to break out those big girl panties and get to reading.

I am proud to say that since June I have read 3 books! And as I reflect upon doing this I can now see why the thought leaders are so dedicated to reading. While you can listen to webinars, or watch video clips those do not dive as deep as the book.

There are other positives to reading as well. Here are just a few benefits:

• Reading exposes you to a wider vocabulary. Simply put, this will expand the number of words you recognize. And if you write, this is definitely a plus!
• You will develop the ability to focus and concentrate.  Reading for an extended period of time provides deeper benefit than quick reads.
• The more you read, the better your comprehension. This translates to real time events. It hones skills to take in a wider context, think about contributing factors to the scenario, and react in a more structured manner.
• Reading also helps reduce stress. This can be a window of escape, keeping your mind on the message of the pages rather than items that may cause you anxiety in your environment.

The old adage is correct: Knowledge is power. Continuous learning is a personal component that will keep your skills sharp and the more you learn, the more you can integrate that education into what you do or offer.

Advice: If you do not read a lot, here are some tips to get you going:

• Dedicate a quiet time to read 10 pages per day average. While this may not seem like much, if you read 50-70 pages a week that results in 2600-3640 pages per year! With the average book at 250 pages, that’s an extra 10+ books over the course of a year! Think of all the new stuff you’d have learned!!
• If you spend a lot of time in your car get audio books. While these tend to be somewhat abridged they are still chockfull of information.
  • Audio books are great if you go to the gym, or go for a run or walk. On average, for a 30 minute span of time, that equals about 18 pages!
  • I tend to only read personal development type books, but I supplement that with fun magazines. Feel free to mix in non-fiction and fiction books. The goal is to keep motivated to learn and have fun!

This leader trait has rubbed off on me. I hungrily search out books to read. And if I don’t happen to have a new one, I re-read something. You will find new information when you re-read a book. You have learned more and are in a different place than the first time you read the book.

Hopefully you will give this a try. Let me know – what is your next read?

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Just include this complete statement with the content: A. Lynn Jesus, CEO and Purpose Expert with Thriveology, is dedicated to helping people discover their purpose and live life on their terms. Are you ready to get started? Get her FREE workbook 5 Steps to Begin Defining Your Journey.