How to be smarter than everyone else
Tuesday, December 29, 2009 at 11:20AM 
Reading in various subjects across different types of media (books, magazines, local publications, industry journals, blogs) makes you smarter and sharper than those that choose not to read.
If you devote time to reading you'll be more well rounded, a better communicator, and you'll also be able to connect with a wider variety of people and develop more and better relationships.
Effective communication and relationship building skills are two vital keys to success in business and entrepreneurship.
For this reason I almost always read for at least 30 to 60 minutes every day.
In the morning I like to read something inspirational, motivational, or spiritual in nature to get my mindset right and to help me remember what's most important in life throughout the day.
For me, what is most important is to enjoy the journey and to live in a perpetual state of gratitude for all that is...whether it be labeled good, bad, ugly, right, wrong, etc...
Throughout the day I spend approximately 60 minutes reading books and alternating between non-fiction and fiction depending on what I'm in the mood for.
Sometimes I may go a week without reading fiction and sometimes I may go a week without reading non-fiction.
I try to stick with the natural flow of my preferences without applying too much pressure of enacting excessive amounts of self-discipline just because I've tried to set some arbitrary standard for myself that doesn't mesh with what I feel like.
When it comes to fiction, affectionately known as "mental floss," I like to read thrillers, adventure stories, dark humor, mysteries, and also delve into something a little more literature-ish (you know, books that make you think) every few books to make sure I'm exercising my mind and not just always reading fluffy stuff.
Some of my favorite fiction authors are...
Barry Eisler
John Connolley
Dennis Lehane
Harlan Coban
Stieg Larsson
Vince Flynn
Carl Hiassin
Christopher Moore
On the literature side I like...
Cormac McCarthy
Paul Auster
William Gibson
Aldous Huxley
Now, when it comes to non-fiction I tend to focus on books that either promise to shift my paradigms or that promise to tell me how, specifically, to do something that I'm interested in learning how to do or how to do better.
Let me share with you that not every "how to," business book, or success manifesto I read is worth my time.
However, what I've found is that to get to a book that contains one useful and potentially life changing nugget of information or inspiration, you have to go through as many as ten books that may not be so dramatically life altering or useful.
A paradigm is a set of assumptions or beliefs that form your way of viewing reality.
I find it paramount to personal growth to constantly find resources including content, seminars, and teachers that challenge my paradigms so that I might choose to look at things in a different and more advantageous way.
Some success authors have suggested that you limit your intake of information and media in favor of reading one good book, blog, or other resource once in awhile while you put into action what you've learned.
I wholeheartedly agree with this philosophy because taking action on new ideas is essential to making progress toward your goals.
In my experience, however, I have learned that it is worth it to spend time scouring content to find that one golden nugget of information.
If you don't, you risk missing out on something that could accelerate your success beyond your wildest imagination.
So, read often, read widely and don't hesitate to skim if you need to to find what you're looking for without wasting a lot of time.
Not all content is worth reading, and over time, you'll become more attuned to what's important and what's not and this will dramatically increase your effectiveness and ability to absorb and put into to use the new material you digest on a daily and weekly basis.
Here's a some essentials in my library that I think should be in yours too...
Think and Grow Rich
The Power of Story
The Art of the Start
Rich Dad, Poor Dad
Retire Young, Retire Rich
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
The Power of Now
Purple Cow
The Magic of Thinking Big
Millions of people read these books everyday, but only a handful actually use the principals to create forward momentum and a better quality of life.
I have met countless people that have consumed huge amounts of personal development, success, and motivational content without seemingly putting a single lesson into practice.
You don't want to be one of these people caught in a constant conundrum fraught with helplessness and hopelessness.
Your responsibility is to decide whether or not you’re going to be in the top 2-5% that do something with what you learn.
Taking action is the key.
So, go out there and do something with what you learn.
What's in your library?
Who are some of your favorite authors?
Use the comment feature below to join the conversation.
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Reader Comments (2)
Think and Grow Rich is a great book! Bob Proctor interviewed in a
business documentary -''The YES Movie''www.TheYESmovie.com.by Louis Lautman.
Conspiracy of the Rich" is intriguing.