Leaders are Readers
In 1984, my dad attended a leadership forum where Charlie Tremendous Jones and Zig Ziglar were the speakers. It was a turning point in his growth as a man and as a business leader. One of the points he had shared with me at a very early age was, ,
“Remember, you will be the same person in five years as you are today except for two things: the people you meet and the books you read. Choose both carefully” ~Zig Ziglar
This quote struck me at a very early age that if I did not make surrounding myself with the right people and reading great books a priority; I would be the same person.
What you read, what you listen to and the people you associate with will either stump your growth as a leader or grow you as a leader. That statement made sense to me that day. I was a non-reader, I may have had a dozen books on my shelf, but because I wanted to grow as a leader, husband and father, it provided me a formula. I decided that day to make a commitment to start reading at least 20 minutes a day. I knew that I needed to be more careful to what and who I listened to and to seek out and associate with like-minded people.
Today, I have thousands of books on my shelves (plural) and my father has even more. On top of that, we have given away thousands of books to others over the years.
Let me challenge you to share with us responses to the following questions:
- Are you a reader? How much time on average are you spending reading books, not emails, to fill your mind with great insights and perspectives.
- What books have you been reading for personal and professional growth? Share with us what you are reading now or what you have read throughout the year.
- What are a few of your all-time favorite books? What books have challenged, encouraged, inspired and motivated you?
- What publications do you insist on subscribing to because of the value it brings you in both perspectives and inspiration?
“Rich people have small TVs and big libraries, and poor people have small libraries and big TVs.” ~Zig Ziglar
Thank you for sharing and I look forward to picking up a copy of those that are recommended!
~Mike Sipple Jr.