Reading to Grow

Many of you know about my personal journey from a shy person with low self belief and a negative view on the world to where I am now. Of course, I still have to wrestle with this nature but I win more often than not now:-) I attribute daily reading as the absolute cornerstone of this growth in my life. It started with 15 minutes a day in 1990 and has grown to 45 minutes or more every day now. I am not suggesting YOU do 45... but the 15 can help you be positioned to someday do 45 if you want! Anyway I am frequently asked what I read, and today's blog I am going to give you some insight into the power of what reading can do by sharing a little from the books I was in this morning. This will give you a feel and hopefully you'll enjoy it. As such though, this blog will be longer than usual.


The first book I read every day is "The Bible." Each day I read a proverb, a psalm, and whatever chapter I am in (I read through sequentially from start to finish and begin again). I read the Maxwell Leadership bible..and I absolutely love it (I have bought and given away several of these since Jason Merson first introduced it to me a few years ago). Today's readings:


Hosea chapter 3: Hosea is being obedient by acting out of love rather than revenge...even though we know his human side is screaming revenge!

Psalm 72: a snippet: verse 12-"For he shall deliver the needy when he cries, The poor also, and him who has no helper."

Proverbs 18: a snippet: verse 16-"A man's gift makes room for him, And brings him before great men."

The next book I read from is Og Mandino's "Greatest Salesman in the World." This is an unfortunate title in my opinion because this is a wonderful book about how to accomplish in life really, and is undoubtedly based on the Apostle Paul. I have been reading this book daily for alot of years and have been through about 5 copies because they eventually fall apart! My current copy is in about 5 pieces and is held together by a rubber band:-) Obviously I am due for a new copy. This month I am reading chapter 11 Scroll IV which is about each and every one of us being a true miracle.
Here is a snippet: "I am not on this earth by chance. I am here for a purpose and that purpose is to grow into a mountain, not shrink to a grain of sand. Henceforth will I apply all my efforts to become the highest mountain of all and I will strain my potential until it cries for mercy."

Next today I read from "Creating Magic" by Lee Cockerell. This is a leadership book based around the principles employed at Disney. Here is a piece from today that was on page 188:
"Appreciation, recognition, encouragement: ARE. Together they make up a cost-free, fully sustainable fuel, one that builds self-confidence and self-esteem, boosts individual and team performance, and keeps an organization running cleanly and smoothly. ARE is more powerful than the fuels that make engines roar and space shuttles soar, because it propels human energy and motivation. And unlike costly, nonrenewable fuels like oil and gas, its supply is inexhaustable. You can give out ARE all day long, at home and at work, and wake up the next morning with a full tank. In fact, the more we use, the more there is, because every time people receive some ARE they discover more of their own internal supply and start giving away the overflow."

The last book I read from today was "Failing Forward" by John Maxwell. This is the third time I have read this book. Remember every time you read a book, there is new learning...not because the book is different, but because you are!
Here is something from what I read today: "The moment a question comes to your mind, see yourself mentally taking hold of it and disposing of it. In that moment is your choice made. Thus you learn to take the path to the right. Thus you learn to become the decider and not the vacillator. Thus you build character." H. Van Anderson

Think about what the world puts into your head everday and how that makes you feel....now think about what it would be like to put something like this into your head everyday....this is why I am so deeply committed to this discipline in my life...I owe much of the quality of my life today to this.