How many books do you have on your "to read" pile right now? Some of you might have 15 and others may have none at all. Either way, you might be doing very little actual reading these days. What with family, friends, multiple jobs, volunteering and entertainment, who spends dedicated reading time?
Now we know that many of you do, but you get the idea. It's hard to focus on reading (especially when it isn't the latest fiction book everyone is talking about). Our attention spans are getting shorter and the books seem to be getting longer!
But not reading is not really an option . . . is it? What we have seen over and over again is that the ideas that you put into your brain are the fodder and raw material that allow you to develop new and creative ideas to share with the world.
That is why being a Generous Mind requires you to be a reader. You have to have new and different inputs into your life in order to create new and creative ideas to share with others. But the trick isn't to start reading just any book. Here are some tips to be intentional with your reading:
1. As C.S. Lewis famously said, "It is a good rule, after reading a new book, never to allow yourself another new one till you have read an old one in between."
2. As you read a book that is meaningful, research who influenced the author and read their books/content as well.
3. Read from many different disciplines and as you read ask yourself what you can learn from this very different area of thought.
4. Ask friends to share the book that has most impacted them this year and then read them.
5. Mix it up between books that encourage, inspire, challenge, entertain and educate. You need all these inputs.
Now we know that many of you do, but you get the idea. It's hard to focus on reading (especially when it isn't the latest fiction book everyone is talking about). Our attention spans are getting shorter and the books seem to be getting longer!
But not reading is not really an option . . . is it? What we have seen over and over again is that the ideas that you put into your brain are the fodder and raw material that allow you to develop new and creative ideas to share with the world.
That is why being a Generous Mind requires you to be a reader. You have to have new and different inputs into your life in order to create new and creative ideas to share with others. But the trick isn't to start reading just any book. Here are some tips to be intentional with your reading:
1. As C.S. Lewis famously said, "It is a good rule, after reading a new book, never to allow yourself another new one till you have read an old one in between."
2. As you read a book that is meaningful, research who influenced the author and read their books/content as well.
3. Read from many different disciplines and as you read ask yourself what you can learn from this very different area of thought.
4. Ask friends to share the book that has most impacted them this year and then read them.
5. Mix it up between books that encourage, inspire, challenge, entertain and educate. You need all these inputs.
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