How to maximize ROI on your reading efforts and time

"Books are where they keep secrets" - Joe Lefler

Join 18,384 good busy leaders reading

Hi there,

How was your last week?

I finally feel like myself again after shaking off the flu I picked up in London. 

The goal-setting workshops went great. Got a solid 9.4 out of 10 on "Would you recommend this?" 😊

So, starting January, I'll be hosting weekly workshops. I'm making them even better thanks to all the generous feedback I got this time. Stay tuned for the dates.

Now, let me ask - do you enjoy reading books?

Let me share a quick story.

In high school, I hated reading.

We were assigned up to three books a week: Shakespeare, Tolstoy, Dostoyevsky.

I barely understood any of it. But most importantly, I didn't feel the joy of reading because of all the rush.

Why am I sharing this?

Because today, one of my favorite things is spending hours at the beach with a book. Not rushing. Just savouring. One page at a time.

I read to learn.

To feel inspired.

To become better.

One of my dreams is a massive bookshelf filled with my grandma's classics, my dad's favourites, and my own collection. 📚📚📚

the why

So, why read books?

This summer, I read The Art of Impossible by Steven Kotler, and one idea stuck with me: 

Books give the best return (ROI) on your reading efforts. 

Here's Kotler's math:

• Blogs: 3 minutes = 3 days of the writer's effort.
• Articles: 20 minutes = 4 months of effort.
• Books: 5 hours = 15 YEARS of experience.

Books get you access to decades of condensed wisdom.

Blogs are good for quick info hits.

Articles are great for medium dives.

But books hold the real secrets.

the how

1/ Pick the right books

I've wasted money on books hyped by random ads and Amazon picks. Now, I stick to trusted sources: 

• Authors I already love: They often mention great books in their work.
• Alex & Books: Alex reads 2+ nonfiction books a week. His Instagram is gold. He put together a phenomenal list of 100 must-read books for anyone looking to learn, grow, and stay inspired.
• SlightlySmarter newsletter: One book recommendation per edition + key takeaways (I even got to share one of my favourites a few weeks ago.)
• My dad and my closest friends: Personal favorites never disappoint. 🥰

2/ Read with purpose

For nonfiction, I go old-school. I like a printed book, a pencil in hand, scribbles in the margins, and notes in the back (thanks, Dad, for this habit.)

For fiction, my go-tos are audiobooks or Kindle. (Although I don't read much of fiction, I must admit.)

And one rule I swear by: buy books in sets of 5. Finish them before buying more.

(Right now, a few unfinished ones are calling my name this holiday season...)

Oh, and if you missed it, I teamed up with Alex Wiec 📚 from Alex & Books to share his top 6 reading tips on LinkedIn. You can check it out here.

result

Reading is a shortcut to progress. You'll learn faster, reduce stress, boost focus, and keep your brain sharp. 

And the bonuses? More empathy, better sleep, and a creativity boost.

your play of the week

Read a book 📕 

What's on your holiday reading lis? Reply, I'd love to know!

If you found this edition helpful, forward it to a friend or a colleague who loves a good book. And grab The Good Busy Playbooks with my 5-minute video guides.

Thank you for reading 🫶🏼

Enjoy getting good busy!

See you next Monday,

Kate

P.S. Running out of time for what matters to you at and after work?

Here's how I can help:

• End bad busyness - Join The Good Busy online course | Gain 30% more time for family, fun, and personal goals! Use code GOODBUSY30 for 30% off until Dec 31, 2024. 🎁
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