Reading - A Key to Success
Reading is so important.
This year I've decided to read more than I've read any other year of my life. This will be hard but I'm off to a good start.
I finished my first book of the year a week ago. It was a biography on Nickola Tesla. I'm currently reading; "Elon Musk-Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future," by Ashlee Vance. (got around 50pgs left to go)
I've come to learn that reading truly can be challenging. Sure there's those big words you don't understand, but the biggest trouble is making the time. You have to be willing to make sacrifices. You have to ultimately be willing to watch less and read more. etc. This is not easy, cause reading is more mentally involved than watching.
You and I both know though that reading is essential to be successful. All those who have accomplished much in life have usually read much.
I've heard that something like the average American only reads one book a year. Now personally, I despise average. I don't want to be average. That's not a life that I would enjoy. I am determined to be more than average and one way I'll do that is by reading more.
Let me share part of the journey with you. When I started out I decided to determine how long it would take me to read a book using math. I timed myself reading one page in one of the books I was reading. The average came to 3mins per page. This seemed kinda slow, but it was factual, and I'd rather face the facts. Then I would determine how many pages where in the book I was interested in and then multiply the total pages by 3 and then divide it by 60 to determine how many hours it would take me to read the book. This made reading a book seem more manageable, and more measurable.
I've also been working on looking for things that I can learn from and high lighting them. This has helped me to learn from what I read rather than simply read through the book passively. I try and be assertive. Asking myself "What am I learning?" As I read through the book.
Do your books look like this?
Do you find yourself highlighting and making notes in the books you read?
Are you a passive reader or an assertive reader?
One great benefit to reading is that your mind will be expanded and your thoughts will be able to become more free flowing. You're outlook will be shaped, and you'll see more than you've seen before. (You'll love it.)
I recommend we all take an interest in reading. When we read, we make an investment in ourselves, and the effects have the potential to be life changing.
-Evan
ps. Remember to make your reading count. Read things that can help you learn:
Recent Comments
12
Thanks for this great write-up, I agree with you that reading is an investment in oneself, It expand our horizon, the way we think, our behaviour and in fact, every area of our lives is sharpened.
However, it won't be an easy task to start off, I believe with determination we can start right away though the pace may be slow but feel will be helpful and as time goes on we will improve on it. Thanks for sharing, all the best, God bless you.
Glad you enjoyed the post. Thanks for your solid comment. I totally agree that it takes time to make changes and form habits. We have to remember to have every goal we have with a paw by paw approach.
All the best and may God bless you as well.
-Evan
See more comments
I wholeheartedly agree. Amazing things will happen if you read 8-15 pages of a 'good' book per day, consistently over time.
What do you do to help find/ make the time?
Set a time aside, usually 30-45 mins per day that you can stick to. I make this a priority. I like to do my reading first thing in the morning so that I have a sense of accomplishment throughout the rest of my day. Last thing at night may work for others, or maybe 2 or 3 shorter intervals. Whatever works for you.
Okay great. Thanks for your take on it.
I'm sure can all benefit from your kind advice.
All the best to you.
-Evan