Each day, I have a 25-minute commute to work. This gives me almost an hour devoted to learning; while Bernadette has been in the Netherlands, I have been soaking up almost two hours of learning each day. My learning tool of choice for these situations has been the podcast Entrepreneurs on Fire by John Lee Dumas.
In this podcast, he interviews a different successful entrepreneur each day. While there are many lessons to be learned, there are several themes that seem to shine through. One topic that keeps coming up is how important coaches and mentors are to the learning process. While I would love one-on-one mentoring on several topics, I have access to countless coaches on many subjects, and so don’t you.
Coaches and Mentors Are for Everyone
CEOs, celebrities, and professional athletes take advantage of coaches and mentors to help them improve their performances. Coaches and mentors are not only for the rich and famous. Everyone can stand on the shoulders of giants. In the book, Start: Punch Fear in the Face, Escape Average, Do Work That Matters, Acuff comments on the positive effects that working with others has on the learning process.
Reading as a Form of Mentoring
Through the power of reading, countless individuals who have learned valuable lessons and want to share them with you can coach and mentor you. Reading is a powerful way to keep your personal and professional development. In several posts, I have written about reading for self-development.
- A look at some high-speed reading lists
- Want to earn more, then read more – 230% more
- Our Founding Fathers Rocked Their Personal Learning Networks
You can only achieve so much in your tiny bubble; however, you can expand that bubble by bringing in the ideas of others through reading. I try to read regularly throughout the year. Others like Bill Gates and President Obama take vacations to read and reflect.
Put What You Read Into Practice
With each book I read, I try to at least write a quick book review to reflect upon what I read. I often pull in one or two new ideas into my practice. My new team hates Mondays because I often come in with a lot of new ideas. Fortunately, they find that not all of them are bad.
Do you take time to read? How do you block time? Do you have a goal for your reading? Do you see it as a form of mentoring?
 |
Unlock Your Potential Through the Power of Reading!What if one simple habit could transform your personal and professional life? Reading opens doors to new ideas, expands your knowledge, and creates opportunities for success. In Read to Succeed, Stan Skrabut explores how books can become powerful tools for lifelong learning and /personal growth. Discover practical strategies for developing a consistent reading habit, choosing books that support your goals, and turning knowledge into meaningful action. Your next chapter of success begins with your next book! |
