If there’s one thing that influenced my life and sparked my entrepreneurial drive, it’s my love of reading books. My exposure to entrepreneurship was limited growing up. There weren’t any mentors that encouraged me to go down the business route, so I started reading books about financial freedom. They led to books about starting a business, and those helped me start my first business.
After accruing $100 million in client revenue, I once again turned to books to help me transition into a new type of business: an investment group. I would devour books on M&A and how to buy and integrate a business. I didn’t have any formal background whatsoever in finance, but that didn’t stop me and my team from generating a portfolio of brands that brings in $30 million of revenue every year.
Soon, I realized that the books I’ve read, even those about business and finance, taught me important life lessons. Even the act of reading imparted a lesson or two. So here they are—the lessons I’ve learned from books and from reading.
Perseverance and Persistence Will Get Us Through Tough Times
For the first half of the year working in marketing, I struggled to get clients. At one point, I felt like quitting and just joining my friends at school. But I remembered reading that most entrepreneurs struggle at one point, but they never stop. Success comes when they keep pushing and working for it.
Passion and Curiosity Are the Keys to Success
There are many paths to success, whether as an entrepreneur, an artist, or a professional athlete. A common denominator is a genuine curiosity and passion for specific knowledge. For some, that passion might be met with books. For others, it’s through hours of practice. The more curious and passionate you are, the more you’ll learn, and the more you’ll want to learn. Success is just a byproduct of learning.
We Could All Do With Some Critical Thinking
Everyone needs to understand how their thoughts are influenced and why we make misjudgments, and have a set of tools to improve our thinking and decision making. If we know what influences us, we might avoid falling into traps and understand why others act as they do.
Books Are Inspiring – Possibly Even Too Much
Ideas come to you naturally as you acquire knowledge and information. I get many of my business ideas from reading books and talking to people who are further ahead than me. But these days, I say no to more ideas than yes. There’s a finite amount of time you have to pursue these ideas.
Surround Yourself With the Right People
We make sure we don’t hire people just to fit the first job they will do. We hire people we want to share our lives with. I read that in a book, and I found that if it applies to business, it applies even more to life in general.
If I have to point to just one life lesson I learned from reading, it would have to be the one with curiosity. It’s just so important. It’s an essential, lifelong asset. I recommend not letting it fade. You can always find something you’re curious about.
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