How many books have you read in the past 90 days? 30 days?
Please tell me you’ve read at least one book in the past 6 months! I’ll be heartbroken if you haven’t. I know it probably seems like I repeat things you’ve heard before, but it’s true – some things definitely need repeating until you decide to listen and take action.
Reading is critical to your personal and business growth people. Yesteray on twitter I tweeted, “If you don’t read, you don’t grow.” It’s just that simple. Even if you don’t want to read books you can visit blogs, article directories, and subscribe to newsletters. It doesn’t matter how you get it as long as you’re feeding yourself new and useful information you can learn from, implement, and share.
The majority of the books I read have been recommended to me by people in my network. The last book I purchased was Buzzmarketing by Mark Hughes. My friend Bev Smith told me it was one of her favorites. I’ve read the book twice already and will be starting it again in the next few days. Why am I reading it so much? Each time I pick it up, I get new insight. Of course the book’s content isn’t changing, but I’m changing so something I may have skimmed over the first couple of times may be relevant to where I am right now. I’ll be doing a more in-depth blog post about Buzzmarketing in the very near future.
Here’s what I want you to do: make a list of all the topics you’re interested in or the areas you want to improve upon. Once you’ve compiled your list, ask friends and colleagues if they know of any books on that particular subject matter they can recommend. Note: If those in your network aren’t reading, this may signal a problem. Take the list and go to Amazon.com and read the reviews. Then decide which books you’re going to purchase. Read and repeat.
If you want my recommendations, leave me a comment and I’ll be sure to respond. And if you get your hands on a must-have read, do share it with me!
Photo credit: keithhull
My annual re-read book is Slowing Down to the Speed of Life - I have read it every year for the past 6 or so years.
ReplyDeleteI am listening to Think and Grow Rich now on mp3. I have read it twice before (first time in 2005). But it wasn't until now that I have come up with "the thing" I really want and will (am/have) sacrifice a lot for it.
I read books more for enjoyment and exercising my brain to keep my creativity stimulated verses to learn something specific persay.
I don't like reading motivational and business books as I think you can learn it best by doing it yourself and honestly what has been said that Napoleon Hill hasn't already said? The exception to that is the 4 Hour Work Week. I would say everything else I have read seems to stem from most books written prior to 1963. Anywho, that's just me - the girl with NO TV since 1990 but still hasn't read enough books; and spends money on old books like women spend money on purses and shoes :-P So what do I know? LOL.
And I think it is good to ask friends who are similar to you, what their feedback is on the book or do they know people who are 'familiar or knowledgeable on that particulate subject'. I don't know about the amazon review recommendations...I am starting to see more and more people with massive email lists write to their 'raving fans' and ask them to make a review if they enjoy their books or even a certain kind of book that is connected to a person of social influence in their network. A lot of books I read are garbage geared to people with low self-esteem and low self-confidence. Yes, they sell a lot of books but you don't know how many people thought the book totally sucked. It is like the news story on line with a clever headline. Just because alot of people clicked on it, doesn't mean a lot of people thought it was useful or impactful or even enjoyed it for that matter.
This crap -- yes I said it CRAP CRAP CRAP, lol, that too many marketing savvy people is putting out there is rising above the useful stuff. And it is not telling you anything but how to be more confident in your life or some nonsense like that. And seldom is there anything that is controversial. They don't write anything that can be challenged/questioned or cause the reader to make a question about the author's lack of being the authority on such things. It is just gives you the sensation about being happy for a while and then tomorrow you go and do the same darn ish you have always been doing.
The person who is the smartest and most accomplished is not the person who is seen as your superior but as your equal....
Don't believe me - look at Corporate America.
I'm just saying - DJ. I am just saying.
:)
Thanks for listening to my rant as usual. Only for a few more years and my teens will handle it from there. Thank G A W D !
Love
@teenbizcoach
p.s. for my annual re read book....It is my growth book because I like to dissect it and tear it apart as I believe it holds the very key to the principles that all these new aged 'self help' books.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite authors are:
Dr. Seuss
along with them classic German, Czech, Russian novelists and fiction writers from the early and mid 19th century :-P
My favorite book is Don Quixote because of its many brilliantly penned passages. I can't wait til the day I can read and comprehend Spanish better so I can read the original version.
Shonika - the Amazon reviews are helpful specifically for the reason you stated. It's easy to tell the "raving fan" reviews from the unbiased ones. Those are the ones I focus on. We all read different things for different reasons and I'm just glad to see people with a book in their hands. As far as confidence goes, I don't see anything nonsense about it. Confidence, to me, is about believing in yourself - down to the core. Without it, I don't care who you are or how many high profile connections, etc. you may have, you have nothing.
ReplyDeletep.s. for my annual re read book....It is my growth book because I like to dissect it and tear it apart as I believe it holds the very key to the principles that all these new aged 'self help' books.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite authors are:
Dr. Seuss
along with them classic German, Czech, Russian novelists and fiction writers from the early and mid 19th century :-P
My favorite book is Don Quixote because of its many brilliantly penned passages. I can't wait til the day I can read and comprehend Spanish better so I can read the original version.
My annual re-read book is Slowing Down to the Speed of Life - I have read it every year for the past 6 or so years.
ReplyDeleteI am listening to Think and Grow Rich now on mp3. I have read it twice before (first time in 2005). But it wasn't until now that I have come up with "the thing" I really want and will (am/have) sacrifice a lot for it.
I read books more for enjoyment and exercising my brain to keep my creativity stimulated verses to learn something specific persay.
I don't like reading motivational and business books as I think you can learn it best by doing it yourself and honestly what has been said that Napoleon Hill hasn't already said? The exception to that is the 4 Hour Work Week. I would say everything else I have read seems to stem from most books written prior to 1963. Anywho, that's just me - the girl with NO TV since 1990 but still hasn't read enough books; and spends money on old books like women spend money on purses and shoes :-P So what do I know? LOL.
And I think it is good to ask friends who are similar to you, what their feedback is on the book or do they know people who are 'familiar or knowledgeable on that particulate subject'. I don't know about the amazon review recommendations...I am starting to see more and more people with massive email lists write to their 'raving fans' and ask them to make a review if they enjoy their books or even a certain kind of book that is connected to a person of social influence in their network. A lot of books I read are garbage geared to people with low self-esteem and low self-confidence. Yes, they sell a lot of books but you don't know how many people thought the book totally sucked. It is like the news story on line with a clever headline. Just because alot of people clicked on it, doesn't mean a lot of people thought it was useful or impactful or even enjoyed it for that matter.
This crap -- yes I said it CRAP CRAP CRAP, lol, that too many marketing savvy people is putting out there is rising above the useful stuff. And it is not telling you anything but how to be more confident in your life or some nonsense like that. And seldom is there anything that is controversial. They don't write anything that can be challenged/questioned or cause the reader to make a question about the author's lack of being the authority on such things. It is just gives you the sensation about being happy for a while and then tomorrow you go and do the same darn ish you have always been doing.
The person who is the smartest and most accomplished is not the person who is seen as your superior but as your equal....
Don't believe me - look at Corporate America.
I'm just saying - DJ. I am just saying.
:)
Thanks for listening to my rant as usual. Only for a few more years and my teens will handle it from there. Thank G A W D !
Love
@teenbizcoach
Shonika - the Amazon reviews are helpful specifically for the reason you stated. It's easy to tell the "raving fan" reviews from the unbiased ones. Those are the ones I focus on. We all read different things for different reasons and I'm just glad to see people with a book in their hands. As far as confidence goes, I don't see anything nonsense about it. Confidence, to me, is about believing in yourself - down to the core. Without it, I don't care who you are or how many high profile connections, etc. you may have, you have nothing.
ReplyDelete