Reading to Learn

Lately, I’ve been hearing the same message from a lot of smart people. It’s a simple one, one you’ve likely heard before (of course you have.) It’s about reading to learn.

John Spence, who we featured here as a guest blogger, credits much of his success to the knowledge he gains from reading a couple of hundred business books each year.

In his book, Love is  the Killer App, Tim Sanders lists knowledge as one of the three intangibles we can share with our business partners. The way he gains knowledge to share with others is through reading. He often tells audiences that his knowledge isn’t inherent; he learns through reading.

Kevin Eikenberry reads pretty voraciously and reviews and recommends a new resource each week in his newsletter. (If you haven’t subscribed to his newsletter, why not? It’s free. Once you subscribe, it will arrive in your inbox on Monday morning at 7 ET, a great way to begin the week.)

I’ve always loved to read. In fact, one of my favorite family stories is the one my mom tells about me when I was three. I walked into my older brothers’ room and asked “Do you have any books that would be appropriate for a three year old girl?” I’ve been reading ever since, sometimes more productively than others.

My favorite reading is speeding through a fantastic novel in the space of an afternoon. I’m curled up by the fire, wrapped in a blanket or I’m stretched out on a beach towel, soaking in some sun.

The most productive reading I do, though,  is reading to learn. I have my journal and pen in hand and I am taking notes to reinforce my memory. This is the kind of reading that will make the most difference for us all as we seek to grow as leaders and in our careers.

What are you reading to learn? Books, blog posts, articles? What do you do to ensure that you are continually learning and so you can add value to others? Feel free to share in the comments; I’d love to hear your thoughts.

I encourage you to come back to this blog throughout the week. We’ll have some great content for you to learn from. And, if you are a member of our book community, check out our question of the week and join the conversation for even more learning. If you’re not a member of our book community, buy a book and join today!