-For all those who know they can do better-
“A man who doesn’t read good books has no advantage over a man who can’t read.” – Mark Twain
If you…
– value lifelong education and self-improvement
– want to set your priorities and work on your goals
– want to find your place in the universe
– want to boost your motivation
– want better relationships with the people around you
– want a better financial situation
– want to lead a healthy and active life
– want a better quality of life in every sense of the word
…then read on.
Information you put in your head is like a seed; with time, it will grow into something bigger. Your life will become a reflection of that. If you allow all the negative and contradictory information to reach you without filtering, these seeds will become a huge pile of useless weeds. Over time, you will become frustrated and insecure. On the other hand, by carefully selecting information you want to learn, you plant acorns that will grow into oak trees of your knowledge and self-confidence. Thanks to that, you will grow as a person, and live the life you want. It is on you.
Statistics from 2018 show that the average of people in the EU for whom lifelong learning is a part of everyday life is around 11%. In some countries, this percentage goes over 30%, while in other countries this percentage is around 4% or lower. Therefore, one should not be surprised by the level of negativity in some regions (source Eurostat). In the USA, the situation is not better. On average, Americans aged 20 to 34 spend a mere 0.11 hours reading daily, which amounts to less than seven minutes per day (source Statista).
Important change in life usually happens in this order:
Phase1: Self-reflecting
You start thinking about your unfulfilled goals and the things you love to do but are not doing. You know you can do a lot better, but your routine, together with some bad habits, keeps you in a vicious circle. That frustrates you. You know that things will not change for the better on their own. You decide to take matters into your own hands and make some changes.
Phase 2: Taking the necessary steps
Thinking about your goals and priorities makes you feel alive. You make a rough plan and search for information. You find a book that changes your old way of thinking and leads to new information. You become open to changes and new ideas. New knowledge breaks down old prejudices. Bad habits start to fade away and good ones replace them. You meet like-minded people. Things are getting better.
Phase 3: Living your way
Over time, your self-confidence grows. You have learned to say “no.” You know exactly who and what is important to you. You have a clear vision of what you want out of your life. Motivation is strong and constant. You work on your goals daily. That fulfills you and makes you feel great. On the way to each new goal you grow more as a person. You know that road is more important than the goal itself. You have found harmony between work, family, and personal interests. You lead a fulfilled life, and you leave nothing to chance…
This monumental change in lifestyle happens gradually. As your knowledge increases, insecurity disappears and your self-confidence grows. Reading is the most important part of that process. Whether it’s related to personal development, a job, or a hobby, sooner or later you’ll get stuck somewhere. The people around you won’t have the answers you need. That is no reason to give up. All the information you need is easily accessible today. Start with best-rated books in your areas of interest, as well as courses.
(Take the first step immediately. Start with my free audiobook, Fulfilling Life: A Matter of Personal Choice. Together with its accompanying checklists, it will help you to start improving your life.)
Remember, not applying your knowledge is the same as not knowing. You can read ten books on a particular topic and do nothing, or you can read only one and change your life. This is the main difference between people who achieve their goals and those who delay the first step forever.
Learn to enjoy the process of personal growth. Life will always get between you and your goals anyway. Just keep pushing, and take nothing personally.
7 important facts about reading
All successful people read.
Just one book can change your whole life.
Whatever you want to achieve in life, someone has already done it and written a book about it.
Reading will help you understand yourself and others better.
Instead of reading, you can listen to audiobooks while driving, walking, or doing daily activities.
If you read only half an hour a day, you will read more than a hundred books in five years.
Reading is interesting if you are reading about something you love.
Reading biographies of the people who inspire you will help you realize they were people like you and me once. Perseverance and overcoming their mistakes made them who they have become.
What else, besides books and courses?
Start with LinkedIn. LinkedIn is a professional social network that connects people of the same occupations and interests. It is a great place to start making useful connections. Create your profile (check out how others did it), and connect with people of the same interests. Some of them will be glad to help you. You will eventually help others too.
From the professional experience of the people you connect with (which is visible on their profiles), you will learn a lot about the steps you need to take. If you are planning to look for a new job anywhere in the world, on LinkedIn you will find contacts, groups, and agencies.
Friendly advice: If you write a lot of emails, messages, or articles, try the free version of Grammarly; It will make your life much easier. If you need more, you can always upgrade to a pro version.
A few useful tips:
– If you have no idea where to start, I have created a list of a few great books that helped me to put the things where they belong. To find exactly what you need, make sure you read my short reviews first.
– Get a notebook and start writing down useful information and ideas as soon as they come up. Create Word or Excel documents on your computer where you will save useful links, contacts, groups, and other useful notes. This way, you will create your database that you will use daily.
– For Kindle books, if you don’t want to buy a Kindle reader, install the free Amazon Kindle app on your mobile phone, tablet, or computer (there are a lot of free Kindle books available). To find free books in .pdf format, just type “free books” or “free technical books” in Google. Regarding printed books, you can find really cheap used books on Thriftbooks or Amazon (check the “other sellers” option).
– For great, affordable courses, check Udemy. If you install the Udemy app, you can download the courses to your mobile phone and learn anywhere without an internet connection. The courses are comprehensive, with all necessary materials and support through the corresponding groups.
Conclusion
Think carefully about the way you want to live. Make a plan, get out of your comfort zone, and start working on your goals. This is the only way to live a meaningful life. To take the first step, you need the right information. Without the proper information, you will always feel insecure and delay the first step forever. If you read only one good book on a desired topic, your knowledge and your self-confidence will increase significantly. If you read ten good books, you will be on your way to becoming an expert. Make your reading list and get to work. Good luck!
Don’t forget to get your free audiobook, as well as the accompanying checklists that will help you get going. Set your goals, fill in the checklists, and take the first step. If you need support or you just want to share your ideas with others, join the Long-Term Habits group. Everything is easier in a group of like-minded people.
Links:
- Free downloads: PDF and the audiobook Fulfilling Life: A matter of Personal Choice with all the accompanying checklists you need to get started
- Great Books for a Great Life – all the answers to your questions in one place
“In order to write about life, first you must live it.”– Ernest Hemingway