Many people ask me where to find great wisdom, knowledge, information, and the best mentors. This is much simpler than it would appear. The greatest minds and spirits the world has ever known are waiting to help you get from where you are to where you want to be. Whether it’s Winston Churchill teaching you about leadership, William Shakespeare discussing beauty, or Albert Einstein commenting on the theory of relativity, they are all as close as your nearest library or bookstore.
As the author of many books, I have worked with a number of people in the publishing industry. David C. Cook published several of my current titles, including a compilation of my weekly columns entitled Today’s the Day. The President and CEO of David C. Cook is a friend and true leader in the industry, Cris Doornbos. He has lived by a slogan for over 25 years, “Read a book and grow.” This is the way to success, both personally and professionally.
The wisdom and knowledge that books offer us can be even greater than what you would have received had you known Churchill, Shakespeare, or Einstein in person. Through books written by them and about them, you can get the condensed wisdom, knowledge, and experience they each accumulated over their entire lifetime.
After losing my sight at the age of 29, I began devouring a book a day, thanks to the National Library for the Blind’s special recordings and a high-speed tape player. Reading has changed my life. It has introduced me to the greatest people, places, and events of history, as well as opened the imagination and creativity of the best minds the world has to offer. Reading has brought me far more success and recognition than I deserve and is the single factor that has allowed me to be a successful writer.
A person who doesn’t read is no better off than a person who can’t read. Literacy is a gift but only if we use it and apply it in real ways in our personal and professional lives. Several years ago, there was an in-depth research study done on the top executives of the Fortune 500 companies. This study sought to determine what attributes these corporate leaders had in common. They explored background, marital status, education, and a variety of other factors. At the end of the study, it was determined that the single element that these Fortune 500 corporate leaders had in common was that they read or listened to motivational, informational, or instructional material on a regular basis.
We live in a world where we are compensated for what we know more than what we do. A person who can do things can always have a job, but a person who knows things can create untold wealth and success. Beyond wealth and success, reading can introduce you to thoughts and ideas that can bring you peace, contentment, joy, and happiness beyond your wildest dreams.
As you go through your day today, find some consistent time to meet the greatest people the world has ever known through books. They are waiting for you and me.
Today’s the day!
Source: Wisdom for Winner, Volume 2 by Jim Stovall