I remember falling in love with reading at a very young age. My Dad gave me a copy of The Hobbit and I was hooked. Reading provided a sense of comfort, relaxation, and inspiration. I was able to view the world through the eyes of the author and I was completely taken back, whether I was reading a fantasy book or an autobiography.
As an entrepreneur, it is easy to get so caught up in your work that you start to refrain from making time for yourself and this is an unnecessary mistake. Last year, I made a pledge to read a lot more. Ideally, I wanted to read a minimum of 3 books per month.
What Did I Learn?
The more I read, the happier I feel every single day. No matter how challenging a day could be, setting time to read meant I was being intentional with my time, learning something new, getting inspired by the words or concepts I was reading, and ensuring I was doing at least one thing I love for the day. In short, I was winning over and over again.
Why Will Reading Make You Happier?
#1 You Join A Community
If you read a book and you LOVE it, then you can join book clubs like the Dressing Room 8 Book Club, talk about your passion for the book or series in forums, or you can join book sites like Goodreads. Connecting with like-minded people makes life far more enjoyable and helpful for personal and professional goals.
#2 You Can Make Money
When it comes to reading, the focus isn’t only on books. Blogs, websites, and audiobooks are quite valuable. If you are starting or growing a business, reading is a major must to help you get the answers you need for your business. If you aren’t getting on the entrepreneurial train, but you are interested in having a side hustle or making a couple extra bucks reading about remote work and side hustle gigs will help you get the extra cash you want.
#3 You Will Learn Over and Over Again
Do you know what my life motto is? To learn something new or meet someone new every single day. Thanks to social media and daily reading, I am able to accomplish this goal. Being a lifelong learner, means I am able to grow myself and my business. You will never know everything. There is some new technology, news update, or social media phenomenon that can have a significant impact on your life. It is up to you to stay informed and you should love the process of learning along the way.
#4 You Gain Greater Insight into Your Own Projects
We can find inspiration from so many sources in our lives, especially what we read. It is 2018, so there is NO EXCUSE to say, “I don’t know how to get started” or “I don’t know how to proceed.” With GOOGLE, your answers are always at your fingertips. You should be willing to put in the time and effort to answer your own questions.
#5 Help You Resolve Issues
No one grows up with a “perfect” life. Why? Because perfection is a fiction. So…that means we all have issues and hang-ups that have helped mold the person we are today. If you are struggling with procrastination, time management, self-esteem, having confidence or anything else, that is okay. Yes, you read that right. It is okay to have challenges in life. The key is figuring out how you will deal with those challenges so you can achieve your goals. Guess what? There are tons of reading you can do that can help with this department. Will this be easy? No, self-development and growth aren’t easy, but it will be so gratifying to work through those challenges, so you can focus your time and attention on your GOALS.
#6 Grow Your Network
As you read more and more, not only do you increase your knowledge bank, but you are also familiarizing yourself with new thought leaders and people you can connect with on social media or in-person. How? In 2016, I read Daymond John’s book The Power of Broke. I enjoyed the book so much that I made a point to meet him in person at an event in New York later that year. Not only, did I get to meet him, but I also connected with other attendees at the event.
What Am I Reading?
Now that you are convinced that reading is not only a necessity, but something to look forward to each and every day, the question is what are books to pick up and actually read?
- No Filter by Grace Victory – This is the book we are reading for the upcoming Dressing Room 8 Book Club meeting on January 18th at 7 PM EST. This is a book whose title literally speaks to what the book is all about. The influencer unapologetically shares her story in a very real and honest manner.
- Like. Love. Follow.: The Entreprenista’s Guide To Using Social Media To Grow Your Business by Socialfly Founders Courtney Spritzer and Stephanie Cartin. We are reading this helpful social media guide for the Dressing Room 8 Book Club meeting on February 22 at 7 PM EST.
- The Last Black Unicorn by Tiffany Haddish is such a funny and real book you will not be able to put it down once you start reading it. We are reading about her story for the Dressing Room 8 Book Club meeting on March 29th at 7 PM EST.