EMAIL# 244- 03RD DECEMBER 2023- # "THE VALUE OF READING"
Reading enables Learning.
You cannot be a good leader (or writer) without being a prolific reader.
I grew up watching Star Trek.
As a teenage boy it was my favourite TV show.
So, I was thrilled when I recently came across an article by James Clear, which.
used a statement from Gene Rodenberry (the creator of Star Trek) to
articulate the importance of reading as follows.
“I consider reading the greatest bargain in the world. A shelf of books is a shelf of many lives, ideas, and imaginations which the reader can enjoy whenever he wishes and as often as he wishes. Instead of experiencing just one life, the booklover can experience hundreds or even thousands of lives. He can live any kind of adventure in the world. Books are his time machine into the past and into the future. Books are his “transporter” by which he can beam instantly to any part of the universe and explore what he finds there. Books are an instrument by which he can become any person for a while—a man, a woman, a child, a general, a farmer, a detective, a king, a doctor, anyone.
Great books are especially valuable because a great book often contains within It’s covers the wisdom of a man or woman’s whole lifetime.
Five years ago, my business coach at the time challenged me to go on a journey of self-improvement by expanding my knowledge and my mind set.
The first task he gave me to kick start my re-enlightenment was to write down fifty frequently asked questions “FAQ’s” that I encounter in running my building business and to write long form answers to each question. This task took me over a year to complete and I eventually ran out of steam at # 45. The main aim of this task was to become aware of my clients fears & problems and to develop a regular writing routine.
The second task was to write a Weekly Email to my employees, clients, contractors, and suppliers on a topic I found interesting and helpful. This is when the real learning and personal growth started and I would never have thought that 5 years later I would still be writing this Weekly Email, at # 244 and counting.
“We must read because it is the only way to truly know what it feels like to be in someone else’s mind.” Mark Manson
Most of my writing ideas and content comes from reading. Approx 40% comes from reading books, 40% from reading on-line blogs and newsletters and 20% from social media and listening to podcasts. The ratio of reading to writing is now approx. 5 to 1, I.E., each week I spend about five hours reading and one hour writing to punch out my Weekly Emails.
The aim of all my writing is to empower the reader with ideas and knowledge so they can make their own choices and to help them to do the things they want to do at work and in life in general.
As James Clear stated “I’ll give you the hammer, you decide what to hit with it.”
My father was an avid reader of anything historical and he amassed an incredible amount of knowledge and wisdom during his 99.5-year long life directly from reading. Unfortunately, he peacefully passed away two days ago but the enormous impact and advantages that he gained from all his reading has demonstrated to me the true value of reading.
“Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers.” Harry S. Truman
Thanks for reading,
Stay safe & sit down to read a good book.
David
