From Dalal Street to Silicon Valley and beyond, all the successful folks spend a hefty chunk of their time on reading books. In a world where time is money and money is the power to drive change and growth, why do seasoned investors and entrepreneurs dedicate so much time towards reading books?
Is it the new skills they acquire or a unique perspective they discover?
Could it be a source of finding inspiration or just being hungry for knowledge?
Well, the answer is all the above.
Take a look at Warren Buffet and you’ll be amazed to know that he spends 80% of his time on reading.
Similarly, other successful people like Oprah Winfrey, Mark Cuban and so many more swear by reading.
In fact, Mark Zuckerberg reads 50 books every year while Bill Gates reads a new book every week.
As an adult with so many responsibilities to juggle and fleeting time during the day, you may not feel like reading daily. However, one can never stop learning. It is a process that goes on for perpetuity.
Learning is the key to progress and reading is a great way to do so without making errors in business. While it is great to learn from your mistakes as you make them, it is not advisable to do so in some business fields. Being prepared and possessing the technical know-how is the way to go, especially while capitalizing on once-in-a-lifetime business opportunities and high-risk situations.
Reading can help you learn from the experience of those who’ve been at the same crossroads before you. You can avoid making the same mistakes that others did and save yourself a lot of time, money and energy. Think of it as getting the best possible headstart as an entrepreneur when you get to avoid costly pitfalls by vicariously learning through the words and actions of others.
“Through reading, you get to learn things and skills in a few hours that took others weeks and decades to master through trial and error.”
– Gagan Dhawan
When you read, you get the privilege of diving deep into various crucial concepts instead of just brushing past them and settling for surface level of knowledge. This increases your odds of being a more successful and skilled entrepreneur.
Furthermore, reading helps you grow on a personal level too. It improves your memory, enhances your vocabulary, accentuates your ideation and increases your concentration levels. As an added bonus, the habit of reading is also an effective way to create a routine and improve your quality of sleep which makes you more efficient.
And always remember that it is never too late to pick up a book and drift into their infinite realm of knowledge.
Happy reading!
Written by Gagan Dhawan
