In a have-it-now digitally pleased world it's good to remember that no 140 character tweet or catchy Instagram tweaked with PicLab is going to take the place of reading an actual book to stretch your thinking, deepen your understanding, and sharpen you as a person.
I tend to be a regular reader, but lately I've observed a tendancy toward reading more blog posts, and short digital op-eds instead of actual books. As I refocus myself back on the habit of regular reading here are some thoughts...
You are what you read.
Tell me what you've been reading and I'll tell you who you will become. Read only the news today off your Fox or CNN app and you will be come anxious in the least or paranoid at the worst. Read licentious material (ie. Fifty Shades of Grey and the like) and you will become preoccupied with physical desires either that God never intended for you or those that will wreck your marriage/future marriage. Read book of history, biography, research, and/or Christian Life and you will grow as an individual. Read nothing and you give yourself no margin to effect change in your life, and personal , professional, and spiritual stagnation will come.
Readers are leaders.
Harry S Truman said, "not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers." To get ahead of others and lead the pack you must read. Plain and simple. In a recent Forbes.com article (http://www.forbes.com/sites/85broads/2012/08/03/why-leaders-must-be-readers/) I read, "Reading and learning from peers within, and outside of, your industry enables you to grow as an employee, business owner, and leader in three distinct ways." The article went on to say we read to:
Be reminded- of what we have already learned. Re-reading books that have shaped you is the mark of a good leader.
Be Challenged - reading challenges my opinions and gives me reason to criticize my ways of thinking. Reading something you disagree with can have a big impact on your ability to think, both creatively and logically.
Interact with others - Okay Facebook generation, it's true - you can successfully interact with others in person. A great way to spark discussion with friends, co-workers or your team is to discuss something you have been reading.
Watching my kids read the other day was the true catalyst for writing this post. Here are a few pictures of my kid's reading time (It looks like my daughter Is asleep - how ironic!)
Now, for those of us who are Christ-followers most of these are purely secular observations until we realize that it was God's idea to have us implant the right ideas (His ideas) in our heads long before the printing press or e-readers changed reading. For years God's people were challenged to write God's Word on their heart (Psalm 119); how much greater of an opportunity do we now have to sharpen our mind, learn of God's ways, and hear from those who walk closely to Him in a day and age when reading is at our finger tips? Let's now waste it!
How to become a reading leader:
1. Ask others whom you respect what they are reading, collect info on what's out there (old and new).
2. Create a "to-read" list for yourself.
3. Set aside certain times to read (this is where e-readers are an advantage because you can read anytime you have downtime). Habitual reading times will help.
4. Begin reading with the goal of completing the book in a certain length of time to both finish and to stay motivated.
5. After reading take a moment to document the main points and your "takeaways" from the book. (This can be a seperate document or in the back of the book itself)
6. Move on to the next book on your list & enjoy the life-long benefits of regular reading!
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