What was the last thing you read?
I don’t mean an online article, social media post, or a magazine in a waiting room – when was the last time you picked up a good old fashioned book? What was it? And… was it something you intentionally chose in order for it to expand your thinking and move you forward in your sales and business?
Come to think of it, have you ever read a book like that? Do you even know where to start?
We live in a day and age where we think in “twitter length messages.” We don’t want to spend any more mental effort on information gathering than absolutely necessary. 140 characters had better give me all the information I need!
Sounds silly, of course, but unfortunately it’s true. The speed at which we live our lives tends to leave no room for stillness, deep thinking, or quiet reflection, let alone intentional visualization that can change everything about our worlds. I heard someone once say that “busy is the modern drug of choice.”
Sound familiar?
Unfortunately, we try to get information on how to be successful the same way that we seek to find the answer to the latest obscure question that popped up in a social conversation.
Google it – right?
We sometimes, even unknowingly, tend to be looking for a quick fix, the latest and greatest information, or the next big thing, the truth is that success principles have never changed. There is nothing new under the sun.
We already know how to be successful. There is no need to reinvent the wheel.
And here is the key: a shift in one’s thinking cannot be done with a couple of Twitter length messages.
Now hear me: Growth CAN and DOES happen quickly when limiting beliefs are changed and new ones are adopted in their place.
But there is so much wisdom to be had in learning know about being a success. Would you agree that it can only be to your benefit to know as much as possible in that personal growth process?
I once read a story once of a successful man who was traveling for work. At the airport one day, he decided to have his shoes cleaned. The young lady that was doing the shoe shine service that day was delightful, however he noticed that she talked about how hard she was working for her family – to just get by.
When he left, the woman picked up a romance novel and started reading. It occurred to him that, with just a few small changes in her reading habits, this woman’s life may have been drastically different.
Now, that’s not to say that there is anything wrong at all with romance novels, nor that there is anything wrong with working a shoe shine service.
He simply wondered how her life would be different if, instead of reading romance novels, she spent even just 10 to 15 minutes a day reading a book about how to be successful and move forward. Curious isn’t it?
What pivotal bit of life-altering knowledge could she gain that she did not yet have?
And I ask you: what bit of life-altering knowledge could you gain that you don’t have yet?
You see, your brain only takes in what you give it. It does not discriminate. If you train your brain on how to be successful, it will go to work for you.
So how do you train your brain to be successful? There are a number of ways – but every one of them involve the way you think.
Which is where intentionally choosing what to read becomes of unspeakable value. And like I said, we already know how to be successful. A lot has already been written on it. You just need to look. If you don’t know where to start, a few suggestions to get you going are:
- The Psychology of Selling by Brian Tracy
- The Power of Intention by Dr. Wayne Dyer
- E Squared and E Cubed by Pam Grout
- The Sales Bible by Jeffrey Gitomer
- Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki
- Think And Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
- 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Steven Covey
- The 21 Irrefutable Laws Of Leadership by John C Maxwell
So I’ll ask again: What are you reading? Start small with 5-10 minutes a day if you need to. It adds up quickly, and the impact it will have on your success – and your sales – is invaluable.
