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by Allan Kakinda
There is no habit that has been more beneficial in helping me grow than that of reading books. It is the single most important and profitable habit I have developed over the past few years. I do not read just for leisure. Many of my life lessons are from the books I have read over the years. Most of my opinions on critical issues of life are also formed by the literature I subject myself to.
In this blog post, I want to share with you some of the reasons I read books in the hope that you will also pick up and develop this good habit for yourself.
Expand your Knowledge especially in specific topics. One of the topics I recently started reading on is the topic of investment. I have read over four books on this topic in the last 4 months. I am doing this in preparation for the next chapter of my life where investment in the markets and other businesses is going to be a key part of my financial life. Robert Kiyosaki recommends that you should only get into something when you are educated about it. For me, reading books is one of the ways I educate myself about things.
Learning about other worlds and cultures. There is no better way to learn about other cultures and what exists beyond your boundaries like through reading books about other places. Not every one of us can afford to travel to all parts of the world and learn about what is happening there.However, reading books about those places will get you there in a much quicker and cheaper way.
Become smarter and more open-minded. People who read regularly tend to be smarter than those who don’t. They tend to have an open mind and are more aware of their surroundings. I always find that I know more things than some of my colleagues because of reading. In some circles where I hang, I am always asked to share my opinion on things because of the knowledge I have on those topics; most of which is picked up from the books I read.
Improves self-awareness and builds your self-esteem: By reading many books, you communicate better and become more informed on various issues of life. This translates into improved self-awareness and a higher self-esteem. Since you have confidence in yourself and your ability to deliver, you become more productive and overall, a much better person.
I hope the four reasons shared above are strong enough to get you started on your reading journey. Reading is for your own benefit and as such should be a big part of your personal development plan. You can start this journey on a small scale. Pick out at least one book every month and discipline yourself until you finish reading it. Make use of the extra minutes you have after your lunch meal, your evening, or your weekend and read the book until the end. I recommend thatyou start out with books on topics you are personally interested it and authors you have heard your friends recommend in order to help you remain committed to this growth journey. I wish you the best of luck as you kick start this process. The book you don’t read won’t help. –Jim Rohn