I help entrepreneurs leapfrog over the typical potholes that derail most small businesses with inspiration, motivation, education, and support across a wide range of business topics drawn from over a decade of running my own business, teaching entrepreneurship for the City of New York, and coaching and consulting privately with dozens of women and minority small business owners. Honestly, why go it alone when help is an email away?
Is Reading Fundamental?
If you are a business book author, I apologize in advance for this missive.
Maybe two years ago I made a rather rash decision to stop reading business books or namely books about entrepreneurship and startups.
I made this decision in part because I really wanted to get back to reading for pleasure without feeling guilty that I should really be reading something more practical.
And also, because there are only so many hours in a day that I can dedicate to reading and I want that time to be relaxing rather than another challenge for my overtaxed brain.
I also made this decision in part because I truly believe that life is too short to read boring books. And, to me, a lot of business-y books are boring.
I emphasize—not all, but a lot.
Even the ones I like, recommend myself, and/or have learned a lot from are in my estimation kind of snoozy.
This is not to say that I’ve stopped learning or growing my business knowledge. It’s just that I’ve come to realize books are not necessarily the best way for me to do this.
And that’s okay.
A lot of people I know are not readers. And even though I am an avid reader, it’s not really how I like to learn.
As you might imagine, I receive a lot of recommendations for business books, many of which I am intrigued by.
So, what I’ve been doing instead of buying these books is looking up their authors and titles online to find related videos and content.
Many times, a business author will secure opportunities to give presentations and/or workshops at libraries, conferences, and the like as part of their book promotion. In doing so, they share the key concepts they cover in their book.
These presentations and workshops are a better learning model for me and require an investment of about an hour or two of my time rather than weeks and weeks of reading.
If I’m really captivated by the author and subject matter, then I invest in the book, which is also much more cost effective.
Of course, if I know the author, it’s a different story, but on the whole, this strategy has enabled me to continue my learning journey without adding incessantly to the pile of partially read business books crowding my overflowing bookshelves.
And I honestly don’t miss that nagging self-recrimination when I do reach for a book that I want to read rather than one I should be reading.
If you can relate, try this strategy the next time you’re tempted to invest in the next hot business title.
And, of course, if you love reading business books and this is your preferred method of growing your knowledge, please keep building your library.
Until next week, remember learning should be an uplifting and enriching experience not a slog and struggle, so do what works best for you.
P.S. — If you missed it, last week I explored how One Man's Art is the cornerstone to a winning sales strategy.
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Easily Said & Done
I help entrepreneurs leapfrog over the typical potholes that derail most small businesses with inspiration, motivation, education, and support across a wide range of business topics drawn from over a decade of running my own business, teaching entrepreneurship for the City of New York, and coaching and consulting privately with dozens of women and minority small business owners. Honestly, why go it alone when help is an email away?
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