We know the adage “don’t reinvent the wheel,” but do we use that leverage of building on the knowledge of others to our best advantage? I think sometimes we try to be clever and unique (see the last post about keeping things simple) rather than trying to build upon what others have done before us. I agree with McKeown’s sentiment in Effortless, “Reading a book is among the most high-leverage activities on earth. For an investment more or less equivalent to the length of a single work day (and a few dollars), you can gain access to what the smartest people have already figured out.”
How to Leverage Reading in a Busy World
So, how do we accomplish this in our overly busy world?
- The first would be to pick up a book (or e-reader or audiobook - the format doesn’t really matter here) and just start.
- Then, read to absorb the message within, not just to pound out the pages for an obscure goal (the whole “read a book a day” or “read 100 pages a day” makes no sense and is ultimately unrealistic).
- Then take some kind of action with what you have read - or as McKeown describes it, “distill to understand.”
- The action can be something as simple as making a note to yourself to summarize what you read (studies have shown that writing with a pen/pencil and paper versus typing on a device is a better way to improve your memory of the information).
- Or the action can be more complex such as implementing a habit change based on the information you read.
Some other tips:
- Schedule regular reading times throughout your week - it doesn’t need to be daily if that doesn't work for your schedule, but still blocking it off on your calendar is helpful to ensure the habit sticks.
- Create a system for organizing and reviewing your notes to help make them more actionable
- Discuss the things you read with someone else to gain different perseverance and deepen your understanding. Teaching is a great way to learn.
Reflecting on Past Reading Habits
These are things I wish I would have done years ago. I have read hundreds of books, many of which have been amazing and some even life changing. But it is only within the past year that I started taking my own notes and then finding ways to take action from the readings. I will likely end up going back and rereading a handful of books with this new approach. Partially because I know now I can find ways to implement the information and partially because my experience as an entrepreneur over the past five years has changed how I look at the world - so rereading with the new lens of entrepreneurship will likely bring new insights.
Ponder This
- How can you incorporate the habit of reading into your routine to continuously build on the knowledge of others?
- How can you take action on the insights you gain from reading to improve your personal or business life?
- How can you make time for reflective note-taking to enhance your understanding and retention of what you read?
Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below!
Books
- Effortless - Greg McKeown
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