Once in a while, I still run into people who think it is useless to read. Does that sound strange? May be that is extreme. But while people who truly think reading is useless may be few, a lot of folks are yet to appreciate the value of reading. This accounts for the reason we are yet to imbibe an adequate reading culture.
Why Read in the First Place?
Monetization is one of the newest entries in our everyday words (Nigeria). Allowances and benefits like official car, driver, house boy/maid, etc for civil servants and political office holders are now paid as monetary benefits. Whereas this form of monetization may not be wrong, we cannot apply it to everything. We cannot monetize personal development.
The goal of reading is self-development. To expect financial return directly from reading is erroneous and futile. You read to learn and become better. Reading helps you become a better person.
You expose yourself to the wealth of experience and knowledge locked up in the minds of others. You learn what has worked and what has not worked. You will learn skills and gather information that will help you to the top. Ultimately, reading helps you develop and evolve into a better you.
The impact of reading is so awesome that what we read and the people we meet are the two things that determine who we will be tomorrow. Someone says that readers are leaders. To lead you must read.
Reading and Wealth
I already pointed out that reading does not translate directly to money. But reading is vital to creating wealth. From reading, you acquire vital information necessary for wealth creation. Information is at the core of wealth creation in the 21st century just physical strength was in previous times. Reading is the key to acquiring the information you need.
Skills are also identified and learnt from reading. From a personal point of view, I identified and internalized financial and personal skills like ‘pay yourself first,’80/20 rule (Pareto principle), habit of pro-activity, win-win principle, among others. There are lots of skills that many people are using successfully that you can learn and internalise only when you read.
Wealth creation takes energy. On your way to financial freedom you will pass through valleys and bends. At those points you will need your motivation to be pumped up. Reading, among other things, is a great way of exciting and maintaining your motivation.
There are great deals of benefits in reading a few of which I have cited here. You can verify for yourself and find good books and read.
Suggested Reading for Beginners
As I gradually learnt the art of reading, I discovered some titles that are suitable for those who are new to personal development and finance books. Here are some of them:
1. Financial Freedom for Every Youth by Ogbo Awoke Ogbo
2. The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason
3. Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki with Sharon L. Lechter, CPA
4. Personal Development Concepts by Wilberforce Oti
5. Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
6. How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
7. The Millionaire in You by Michael LeBoeff
Suggested Titles for Further Reading
For those who are already in the habit of reading, the following titles/series and authors will be of interest:
1. Rich Dad series including Cashflow Quadrant, Rich Dad’s Guide to Investing, Retire Young Retire Rich, etc by Robert Kiyosaki with Sharon L. Lechter, CPA
2. Business by the Book by Larry Bucket
3. Getting Rich Your Own Way, and Goals by Brian Tracy
4. The Perfect Business by Michael LeBoeff
5. All You Can Do Is All You Can Do by Art William
6. Common Sense by Art William
7. The Science of Influence by Kevin Hogan
8. As a Man Thinketh by James Allen (Free e-book)
9. The Power of Thought by Frank Channing Haddock (Free e-book)
