| There's a correlation between reading and income. On | | | | often happens without me even asking is that I get the |
| average, people who read more have higher incomes. | | | | litany of reasons "why I don`t read." So, let`s get them |
| Leadership and learning expert Kevin Eikenberry | | | | on the table and expose each as it really is . . . an |
| shares five reasons why people don't read - and five | | | | excuse. |
| reasons (beyond income) why you should. | | | | The Reasons People Don`t Read |
| I`ve long been a reader, and as I reflect on the life of | | | | I gave you five reasons why reading will make a |
| my business, I can clearly identify my reading habit as | | | | difference in your life, here are five reasons I often |
| a factor in my success and progress. | | | | hear about why people don`t read (or don`t read as |
| Specifically, I`ve found five things that reading does for | | | | much as they would like): |
| me: | | | | I don`t have time to read. Poppycock! Everyone is |
| Reading keeps me learning. Reading certainly isn`t the | | | | busy. And guess what . . . the busiest people I know |
| only way to learn, but it is a very highly leveraged way | | | | read the most. Analyze your daily time usage. Find 30 |
| to learn - and perhaps the most efficient way to gain | | | | minutes (or even 15) that you could re-allocate to |
| new knowledge. As the amount of knowledge | | | | reading. It is there if you look for it. The most likely |
| explodes in the world around us, reading is a critical | | | | places . . . the television or computer. The next time |
| habit to helping us stay on pace and hopefully gain an | | | | you look at these tools of entertainment, ask yourself |
| edge. On a very related note, reading keeps me | | | | if 30 minutes less of it replaced by reading would be |
| thinking (which leads to new learning too!). | | | | valuable. Have a child? Read to them or create time in |
| Reading keeps me on-track mentally. When I trace the | | | | the house where everyone reads at the same time. |
| times I am most lethargic, and my business and | | | | I`m not a reader. Of course you aren`t a reader if you |
| personal growth is ebbing, it always coincides with a | | | | don`t read. Talk about your self-fulfilling prophecy! If you |
| dip in my reading output. Simply put, reading gets me | | | | have labeled yourself a non-reader, you can change |
| out of a slump and gets me thinking, feeling and | | | | the label. Your choice. If you don`t read as well as you |
| working at maximum capacity. | | | | would like, you can change that too. Start by picking |
| Reading makes me a better writer. As a kid, I never | | | | books that are easier and more accessible to your |
| thought of myself as a great writer. While I may not be | | | | reading level. This in itself will build your reading skills |
| great now, I do make a portion of my living from my | | | | and confidence. |
| ability to communicate with words. Whether you want | | | | I don`t know what to read. Pick a topic you are |
| to be a better writer, or just a better communicator | | | | interested in or an area you want to improve. Ask two |
| (and who doesn`t want this?), putting yourself in closer | | | | people who are also interested in this topic what they |
| proximity to words and ideas will improve your skills as | | | | recommend. Go to your local library and ask a librarian. |
| surely as ice melts in the spring. | | | | Go to or Google. You don`t have to know, you can |
| Reading builds my self confidence. If it is keeping me | | | | ask! |
| moving forward, and keeping me learning, how could it | | | | I don`t know where to start. This is related to "I don`t |
| not impact my self confidence? Plus as I learn things | | | | know what to read". I understand this one, because |
| that are valuable to our Clients, my business or me, it | | | | with the stacks of books I have unread, I sometimes |
| automatically makes me more confident in my | | | | don`t know what to read next. My solution? Pick up a |
| decisions and approaches. | | | | few, and start reading what feels right. You can do the |
| Reading shows me my best self. I wrote about this | | | | same thing in the library or bookstore. |
| some time back. We all need to find the activities that | | | | It feels like work (or school). If you don`t read much |
| make us see the best of who we are. Reading is one | | | | now, of course that is your connection! As you build |
| of those activities for me. | | | | your reading habit it will feel less like work AND when |
| While your "mileage may vary," and you might have | | | | you pick things to read that interest you, this feeling will |
| some different benefits, I`m confident you`ll find at least | | | | melt away quickly. |
| some of the same benefits as I do. And, whether you | | | | I`ve heard other reasons, but I`m guessing at least one |
| have experienced them or not, you probably agree | | | | of these five hits home. When you stop to think about |
| with them at least intellectually. | | | | them, they aren`t really reasons, but excuses and are |
| In fact, most everyone I meet, when asked, says that | | | | actually pretty hollow. |
| reading is a good thing, an important habit and | | | | And when you compare these excuses to the |
| something they wished they did more. | | | | benefits, the answer is clear: if you want to be happier |
| When I get on the topic of reading with people, what | | | | and more successful, read more. |