With the exception of primary school, the first book I ever read cover to cover was when I was 27 years old. It was a Tom Clancy novel. The first business book I ever read was in my early 30’s, ‘The One Minute Manager’.
My journey with reading really took off as the founder of Agoge. I realised that no one else was easily going to teach me, push my thinking, or challenge the status-quo. So I decided I learn to read, so that I could learn to learn.
Nowadays, words and me still don’t get on very well. I’m terrible at spelling and I’ve learnt more about phonic spelling from my kids, than I ever did at school. But I’m learning.
I read, 30+ books a year.
I write blogs, ever thankful for spell checker.
I talk, using big words, that sometimes even mean what I intended.
I lead, I learn, I grow, I educate, I grow wiser, and even love people more, all because of books.
Reading has changed my life.
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A book is a bargain. An absolute bargain.
Where else to you get to access knowledge and ideas from experts in-depth, and get to learn from them for just a few dollars?
Where else do you get ideas that can truly shape your life?
For those who struggle to read, it’s worth the struggle. (Message me if you’d like some tips)
For everyone else, I can honestly say, by not reading you are missing out on the opportunity to learn, and experience, and develop, in ways you never dreamed of.
You are missing out on learning to be a better you.
As arrogant as it sounds, if you ask me for help, I’ll most likely say No. I often don’t even give a reason it’s just, No.
One of the first things you notice when you take a Tuk Tuk ride in Cambodia is the way they use their horns.
“Failure’s not fun. But failure is required. Failure in the service of learning, of experimenting, of making things – this is essential.
The road ahead of us bends to the left and intersects with our small cul-de-sac which climbs off to the right. With our ‘L‘ plates front and back, and me in the passenger seat, I clearly instruct the first time driver “don’t cut the corner”. It is after all a perfect corner for cutting. My words echo around the car as she whips right, cuts the corner and heads towards home.
As this post goes live, my friend at work has her 1 billionth second on this planet. HAPPY 1,000,000,000 seconds.
Over the last couple of years I have met quite a number of incredibly intelligent uni students who want to make a positive dent in the world. Many are passionate about social enterprise and using business to change the world.
In your job; at school; when at home; or even in your relationships … are you seeking security or impact?
The other week I tried riding a Segway/Hover Board for the first time. It didn’t go well; I lost balance, crashed, then gave up after one attempt fearing injury and a bruising to my ego. Not surprisingly my son with his young plastic mind got it almost straight away.
‘m just back from 3 weeks uninterrupted leave, and I often joke before going on leave that I only want to be contacted if the building is burning down (that way I can get my photo of the day).