Solely 57 % of Yankee adults had browse a book in 2002 in step with a 2004 report titled "Reading at Risk " sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts. As long as thus few American's scan books, I became curious on what varieties of books do successful entrepreneurs/executives browse?
Many years ago, I had chance to satisfy the founder/owner of 1 of the few black-owned cosmetics firms left in the US with annual revenues of $thirty million. The corporate manufactures a lot of than four hundred beauty agents, from shampoo to lipstick. One among the firm's public relations executives had return to Sam Houston State University to handle students on black entrepreneurship. At the time, I was teaching entrepreneurship.
The meeting resulted in an invite for me to go to North Carolina for a gathering of a cluster he called "Mastermind." The group were people all interested or actively involved in either beginning or were tiny business owners. We all seemed to arrive in the late afternoon, were treated to a terribly nice reception, however were told to go to bed because our meeting would begin the next day at 4am. When a three am awaken call, we all assembled during a massive conference-ballroom four am. After a hearty "smart morning," we tend to were told to scan a classic book on thinking and growing rich. When everyone had finished the book (around 10:30 in the morning), The founder and president gave a commentary on the wealth creation process. Being the only white person in the area, I was extraordinarily flattered to be part of this group to realize initial hand insight. At the end of the day, the complete group was bused to his home where we have a tendency to were given a tour. By his bed stand was relatively new book on sales. In his library, were several shelves of books that he had obviously browse (they were underlined and marked up): all on sales strategy and inspirational books on management. I also noted his bed stand was filled with motivational tapes on sales by noted motivational speakers. I asked him why did he scan those books when he obviously was already a terribly, very successful in sales and management. His answer was revealing: "I play to my strengths. By reading books on sales and management, I purchase new perspectives and sharpen my skills." And I don't waste a second on music as I drive to figure - I play those tapes in my car. It keeps me 'charged up.'"
In April 2010, I attended a conference for deans of business colleges hosted by the AACSB - International. One in all the speakers was the Chief Executive Officer of America's leading food companies. After his riveting talk, I approached the rostrum to say hello. On the table by the theater was his brief case. As he place his speech folder into the temporary case, I noticed a recently published book on management that had a staple in it indicating that he was actively reading the book. Once more, I thought to myself, why is one amongst the foremost successful executives in the US reading a standard "trade" book on management?
I might cite many other instances of where I have encountered very successful executives and entrepreneurs who were at the "high of their game" who were clearly reading books on management, sales, economics, etc during their travels. One evening, I used to be invited to own dinner with a former member of the National Security Council who had worked for President Clinton and President Bush on the National Security Council. At dinner after his speech at Erskine College, he told the group of academics that President George W. Bush was a dedicated reader. The table of liberal academics (all admitted Democrats) were shocked to listen to that Bush truly had intelligent conversations with this explicit national security adviser (whom they trusted) over terribly subtle books. When our dinner guest described the titles of a number of Bush's 700 page volumes and the quality of questions his raised over the books, the group was absolutely stunned. Many asked, "how might that they guy who couldn't type an entire sentence grasp the intellectual content of such sophisticated, educational research tombs?" The answer was that Bush was different person in one-one-one conversations than in public. The adviser reminded the table that President Reagan was often thought of as intellectually shallow, but the quality of Reagan's personal library of his readings and also the in depth quantity of writings (including a handwritten diary of his presidency) shocked several of his critics.
The lesson here is that successful politicians, executives, and entrepreneurs build their successes in life by reading books on their subject areas. Reading provides perspectives, knowledge and "lessons" (history) that feeds their skilled growth.
So, next time you are at the airport, will you pick up the airport novel, or a a lot of serious book related to your profession? One thing to suppose about...
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