Open Question Friday # 6

Fridays are the day I answer random questions that are asked of me throughout the week.

Today's question comes from Tom:

"You read a lot of books,....How do you decide what to read?"

I am a big believer that you should read a minimum of twelve business books per year (that is only one per month). These books will vary based on your industry, position, and future goals. However, if you are not constantly reading, you are falling behind.

I once head that if you read 15 books per year for ten years, your competition will never be able to catch up to you. Not that everything is a "race", but in today's highly competitive world...you need every advantage you can find.

I have no rules in selecting books. I try to read the best selling business books because not only do they usually have great information (not always....some are a waste of paper), but since they are what others are reading they give you common topics to discuss when networking. I also try to read new books by authors who have impressed me in the past. And finally, I wander bookstores waiting for a book to grab me (not literally, most books have no arms).

If I was to ask you "What book are you currently reading?" would you have an answer? (feel free to put that answer in the comments to this post!!!). What if I asked your competitor the same question? Are you getting ahead or falling behind?

If you have not read a book in a while, start small. A 100 page book on business relationships and networking is a great place to start. Try "Some Assembly Required: How to Make, Grow and Keep Your Business Relationships" (New Year Publishing, 2005). It is available at www.thomsinger.com or at Book People in Austin, Texas.

Have A Great Day.

Thom Singer
www.thomsinger.com
thom@thomsinger.com