If you were asked to name one thing that has determined a person’s success, what would you think of?
Luck? A good idea? Hard work? Talent? Sure, those all play a role but there’s one constant factor across all the stories of the most successful people - they read... a lot.
Being an avid reader doesn’t guarantee success, but it’s a known fact that most successful people are avid readers. While the average person may enjoy reading for entertainment, the top 1% read about personal development, self-improvement, and use books as a means of understanding the world around them.
Research shows that 85% of successful people read two or more educational books a month. That’s over 24 books a year - more than some people have read in a lifetime.
As far as success goes, entrepreneurs constantly talk about the importance of mentorship and networking upwards. Reading is a way for you to receive mentorship from the words of the world’s most influential/successful people. You can consume an unlimited amount of information, apply it to your everyday life, and watch it change before your very eyes.
One of the most influential authors of the 20th industry, Dr. Seuss, said it best: “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”
When you make reading a habit, you open your mind to new ideas and perspectives. The insights gained from these perspectives allow you to learn from other people’s mistakes so you don’t have to make them yourself.
One of the biggest indicators of a person’s success is if they’re adaptable in life. Reading lets you observe what people have done so you can adapt your lifestyle to reflect the lessons you learn.
What’s holding you back from reading more?
“I don’t have enough time to read.”
If you reflect on the amount of time you spend watching tv or browsing social media you might realize that you have a lot more free time than you think. Spend less time on the things that don’t add any real value to your life and you’ll have time to read. There’s nothing wrong with watching Netflix or being on Instagram, but the most successful people prioritize reading since it has a much higher ROI.
“I don’t have any money to buy books.”
One of the greatest inventions of the 19th century was the public library. You can rent books for free and keep them as long as you need to. If you’re reading this, you have a way of connecting to the internet where there are electronic versions of a lot of books as well.
“I don’t know where to start”
Well you’re in luck. Rene actually put together a list of some of his favorite books for various topics including spirituality, motivation, marketing, etc. Check out the list here.
Doesn’t matter what excuse you use... if you want to succeed, you have to be willing to read.
You’ve heard the saying: “Knowledge is power.” That’s only half true. Applied knowledge is power. If you’re reading these books and aren’t applying the principles you learn from them, then you’re not progressing or making any changes.
Someone once asked Elon Musk how he learned to build rockets, he simply replied: “I read books.”
