I was recently in the CEO’s office of a billion dollar company and on his desk were a stack of books. I asked him what he was reading and with excitement he grabbed a book and told me all about it.
Then on a plane ride home, I was seated next to the Vice President of an international business and we discussed the book she was reading and her favorites she had read recently. As we are talking she said a phrase that I have heard over the years – Leaders are readers.
I have also heard it said – Earners are learners.
Regardless of how you say it, I have found that a great habit of the highly successful is that they are always reading and growing. There are four main reasons that leaders are readers.
1. Leaders read for Enlightenment. Books can be an amazing source of wisdom, insight and ideas. To have at your fingertips the distilled intellect and experience of the world’s great leaders, inventors, businessmen and women – in the form of a book, is an amazing thing.
2. Leaders read for Enjoyment. Reading stimulates your mind and engages your imagination. It causes you to think, imagine, break-down and apply. I love to read biographies and auto-biographies of great people – they are educational and very enjoyable.
3. Leaders read for Enrichment. What if you could sit down one on one with the world’s brightest minds and have them mentor you – would you be interested? You can if you read their books. Over the last ten years I have read more than 1000 books and the growth and learning I have received has been immesureable.
4. Leaders read for Enablement. Reading helps you to learn new skills, gain new understanding, and change your mindset. I believe what Jim Rohn said, “Formal education will make you a living but self-education will make you a fortune.” Developing the habit of reading will allow you to continue to grow and develop – making you relevent and empowering you to succeed in life.
In your pursuit to become a stronger leader – don’t forget this basic habit – Leaders are Readers.
4 Responses
I like this post and 5 years ago I could have never read it at the age of 55 I found out I was dyslexia felt like dumb my whole life. Through vision therapy I can now read on a 6th grade level. I just want you to know that I listen to all of you vidoes you send out, you have helped me so much I am now doing talks in schools in our local area telling kids to never give up on them self’s. So to read this message today made me happy I could read it but also sad knowing that I don’t feel like a good leader because I can’t read the bigger books that helps you to grow and makes you successful. Right now talking to kids helps me feel success and I can thank you so much for helping me get to where I am at right now I am now 60 years old and thankful I found your site.
Beanie
As a young child my grandmother would ask me to read the bible to her daily. She died when I was about 11years after which I found reading any book boring and did it only as it became necessary at school, never for recreation or even further research . However my daughter an ardent reader showed such knowledge of every single topic it amazed me. She encouraged me to read some of the novels in her wide library as a start towards acquiring the love for reading. My job at that time also demanded a basic knowledge of just about everything in dealing with my clients, who were University professors and students. I had to read. Since then I find myself anxious to read and learn about just anything.
Reading is now part of my life and I can attest it is in fact those four “E’s”
I am sure this article has touched all the internet people, its really really fastidious piece of
writing on building up new blog.
913428 52854Aw, this was a extremely nice post. In thought I want to put in writing like this moreover ?taking time and actual effort to make a extremely great write-up?nevertheless what can I say?I procrastinate alot and definitely not appear to get one thing done. 546673