Turning Pages, Changing Perspectives: The Value of Reading

Reading is one of the most important habits you can develop if you want to change your life, build thought leadership, and grow both personally and professionally,  most importantly, as a lifelong learner.

Reading does not  have to be limited to books or articles related only to your industry. You can and should read widely across different genres and explore books that touch on various facets of life.

Here are a few books I’ll be reading and listening to between January and April. I will be sharing insights and reflections on each along the way:

Show Your Work – Austin Kleon
Urgent Life – Bozoma Saint John
My Name Is Maame – Jessica George
Design Your Life – Bill Burnett & Dave Evans
Design Your Work Life – Bill Burnett & Dave Evans
Design Social Change – Lesley-Ann Noel
Power Moves – Sarah Jakes Roberts
Women and Leadership: Real Lives, Real Lessons – Julia Gillard & Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
Dare to Lead – Brené Brown
Do the New You – Steven Furtick
The Next Conversation – Jefferson Fisher
The Psychology of Money – Morgan Housel
Getting to Yes – Roger Fisher & William Ury
Bringing Leadership to Life in Health: LEADS in a Caring Environment by  Graham Dickson, Bill Tholl
Atomic Habits – James Clear
The Let Them Theory – Mel Robbins
The Richest Man in Babylon – George S. Clason
The Making of a Manager – Julie Zhuo

If you are new to reading or looking to rekindle your reading habit, here are a few tips to get you started:

• Start small and be consistent. Begin with the books you love, then gradually explore others.
• Get a library card. Depending on where you live, you can borrow books from a local or private library.
• Apply what you read. When you start seeing positive changes in your life, it naturally motivates you to read more.
• Make time for reading. You can only do this by understanding how you currently spend your time.
• Try audiobooks. Audiobooks are a great option while commuting, doing chores, exercising or relaxing. I consider this “reading” since it improves listening and comprehension skills.
• Join a book club, read with a friend, or participate in online reading communities.
• Do not stop reading about your work or industry. Knowledge sets you apart, but confidence comes from competence and competence is built through continuous learning.

Let me know in the comments what books you are currently reading, or if you have read any of these books, and what your thoughts were on them.

Happy reading 📚