Make it a Habit

It can be very difficult for a speaker to define what it is they speak about. It is also the first question people ask... "so, what do you talk about?" My usual answer is about 45-60 minutes. While most speakers focus on leadership there is usually a more specific area. For me, it is habits. I am fascinated with the habits people chose to create or more importantly create without thinking about it. It is a simple concept; if you want different things create a different set of habits. This works in every area of our life; health, finance, relationships...

In an effort to keep these posts short I will break down a few basic areas of life and show the huge difference that a few small habits will make in your life. For the first one I will focus on one of the single most important habits a person can create to change their direction in life.

READING.

I got my love for reading from my mom. As children she read to my brother and I and I was fascinated at her ability to devour a 300 page Sidney Sheldon novel in a days time. Of all the great habits she taught me this is one of the best.

THE BENEFITS:

Your inputs equal your outputs. Invest some of your income and time on what we call continuous education and you will notice these benefits quickly...

1) You will be more informed and your desire to stay informed will grow.

2) Your creativity and imagination will reach new levels. When we read we tap into that part of the brain that forces us to think creatively. Bringing about our own idea of what the characters look like, act like and what they wear. The reader gets to form the perfect cast, location, colors...

3) Reading improves your social life. The National Endowment of the Arts found that people who read are 3 times as likely to attend a performing arts festival, 4 times as likely to visit an art museum and 2 and half times as likely to do charity or volunteer work. Check out their research... http://www.nea.gov/news/news04/readingatrisk.html

4) You learn new things. Abraham Lincoln said it best; "I don't think to much of a man who doesn't know more today than he did yesterday."

THE HABIT:

"Make it a habit" to read 10 pages a day. I would recommend doing this at one setting so you can better absorb the information. By simply reading 10 pages a day you will finish the average book in 18-31 days. This will have you reading a little more or less than a book a month, not a bad start. I try to read at least 4 books a month.

The challenge most people have is that they simply don't like to read. Why should they? In a world of apps, iPads, tweets and instant gratification it is hard to stare at black and white text, page after page. First off, you should not read just to finish a book. I follow the advice of my favorite author, Andy Andrews. Every time I set down to read a book I have a pen and highlighter in hand and I am on a search for knowledge. I know that in this book, on this page I am going to find something that is going to radically change the way I see myself, others, business, life... In every book I am on a constant search for something I never knew existed. If you are wondering where to start check out my previous post. Take the advice of my best friend and speaking associate Rhett Laubach; "get out of your head and get into a good book."

So, find an area that interests you, no one wants to read a boring book, buy a book and start reading. Don't forget about what Zig Ziglar calls Automobile University. In your daily commute to work you could learn a new skill, new sales technique and even a new language just by listening to a book on tape. Turn Ke$ha off and turn your mind on!