Reading: Why We Should and Why We Don’t

I`ve long been a reader, and as I reflect on the life of my business, I can clearly identify my reading habit as a factor in my success and progress.

Specifically, I`ve found five things that reading does for me:

Reading keeps me learning. Reading certainly isn`t the only way to learn, but it is a very highly leveraged way to learn - and perhaps the most efficient way to gain new knowledge. As the amount of knowledge explodes in the world around us, reading is a critical habit to helping us stay on pace and hopefully gain an edge. On a very related note, reading keeps me thinking (which leads to new learning too!).

Reading keeps me on-track mentally. When I trace the times I am most lethargic, and my business and personal growth is ebbing, it always coincides with a dip in my reading output. Simply put, reading gets me out of a slump and gets me thinking, feeling and working at maximum capacity.

Reading makes me a better writer. As a kid, I never thought of myself as a great writer. While I may not be great now, I do make a portion of my living from my ability to communicate with words. Whether you want to be a better writer, or just a better communicator (and who doesn`t want this?), putting yourself in closer proximity to words and ideas will improve your skills as surely as ice melts in the spring.

Reading builds my self confidence. If it is keeping me moving forward, and keeping me learning, how could it not impact my self confidence? Plus as I learn things that are valuable to our Clients, my business or me, it automatically makes me more confident in my decisions and approaches.

Reading shows me my best self. I wrote about this some time back. We all need to find the activities that make us see the best of who we are. Reading is one of those activities for me.

While your "mileage may vary," and you might have some different benefits, I`m confident you`ll find at least some of the same benefits as I do. And, whether you have experienced them or not, you probably agree with them at least intellectually.

In fact, most everyone I meet, when asked, says that reading is a good thing, an important habit and something they wished they did more.

When I get on the topic of reading with people, what often happens without me even asking is that I get the litany of reasons "why I don`t read." So, let`s get them on the table and expose each as it really is . . . an excuse.

The Reasons People Don`t Read

I gave you five reasons why reading will make a difference in your life, here are five reasons I often hear about why people don`t read (or don`t read as much as they would like):

I don`t have time to read. Poppycock! Everyone is busy. And guess what . . . the busiest people I know read the most. Analyze your daily time usage. Find 30 minutes (or even 15) that you could re-allocate to reading. It is there if you look for it. The most likely places . . . the television or computer. The next time you look at these tools of entertainment, ask yourself if 30 minutes less of it replaced by reading would be valuable. Have a child? Read to them or create time in the house where everyone reads at the same time.

I`m not a reader. Of course you aren`t a reader if you don`t read. Talk about your self-fulfilling prophecy! If you have labeled yourself a non-reader, you can change the label. Your choice. If you don`t read as well as you would like, you can change that too. Start by picking books that are easier and more accessible to your reading level. This in itself will build your reading skills and confidence.

I don`t know what to read. Pick a topic you are interested in or an area you want to improve. Ask two people who are also interested in this topic what they recommend. Go to your local library and ask a librarian. Go to Amazon.com or Google. You don`t have to know, you can ask!

I don`t know where to start. This is related to "I don`t know what to read". I understand this one, because with the stacks of books I have unread, I sometimes don`t know what to read next. My solution? Pick up a few, and start reading what feels right. You can do the same thing in the library or bookstore.

It feels like work (or school). If you don`t read much now, of course that is your connection! As you build your reading habit it will feel less like work AND when you pick things to read that interest you, this feeling will melt away quickly.

I`ve heard other reasons, but I`m guessing at least one of these five hits home. When you stop to think about them, they aren`t really reasons, but excuses and are actually pretty hollow.

And when you compare these excuses to the benefits, the answer is clear: if you want to be happier and more successful, read more.