One section for the blog that I’d really like to start doing is book reviews. I love to read and I read a ton of books, mainly self-improvement/business books, and every now and then some fiction. However, I think that just about anybody can go read a book and state their thoughts and write a little summary of it all then move on. That to me is boring and unsatisfying. I mean I’d rather just go read the book myself then. So that’s why I’m going to do something different and something more experimental that could provide real value to not only my life, but also yours.
Before I go into the first book, I want to tell you why I’m going to do this, because I honestly have no idea where it’s going to lead, but I’m going to have fun doing it. Over the last year or two, I’ve read a fair amount of self-improvement/development books and business books that have been filled with some amazing information. I’ll read one then once I’m done I’ll go pick up another one, read it then rinse and repeat. Some books talk about the same things, but a majority of the time each book has at least a really good nugget of information where if you were just to actually implement it you may see some pretty awesome results in your life. Well about the only outcome I’ve seen from reading these books is that now I can say, “yeah, look at all these books I’ve read. I’m cool like that. Do you even read, bro?” Yes, that’s really stupid to say and I say it like that to make a point.
Just reading books to read is fine especially when you love to read as much as I do, but what are you actually getting out of it? I’ve heard some goals of people (me included) at the beginning of the year that goes something like, “I’m going to read 20 books this year” or “I’m going to read a book a week.” These are great goals considering that the amount of people who read in America has been declining, but I just want to ask, “What are you actually getting from it all?”
Now if you’re reading some fiction books this may not apply to you because then you’re reading for more enjoyment than anything. I totally get that and I’m happy you’re reading! For those of us reading books on self-improvement things are a bit different.
Like I mentioned above each book typically has at least one, if not more, golden nuggets of information where if you just used it in your life, like truly put it into practice you’d most likely see some good results.
I know for myself though, and I’m sure a lot of other folks, that I read the book, notice the awesome information and just keep moving forward. I might take a minute or two and reflect on what I’m learning and think about how I could apply it to my life, but it usually stops there and I don’t think much more of it. It’s also very rare that I reread a book or go back through sections. I mean there’s so many more awesome books out there and I need to keep reading, right!?
While I think that’s true, I also think that if I just keep reading, reading, reading, I’m not going to actually do, do, do and get somewhere. So that brings me to why I’m actually starting this section for the blog. For the self-development books that I read, the ones that have actionable advice and activities, I’m actually going to implement the steps into my life and see what comes out of it.
They say that knowledge is power, but I disagree. I believe that knowledge is only potential power. Once you start putting that knowledge to good use, then you start using the power that you have. You’re also only going to start improving your life and going somewhere when you start doing. Action is what separates those who succeed and those who sit around and never get started.
Here is the start of my action.