As the year is ending and we're looking ahead to 2017, everyone is making lists of goals, intentions, aspirations and all the things they'd like to accomplish in the months ahead. Whatever your goals for this coming year, I'd encourage you to add reading to that list. It seems like a no-brainer, but it's the one thing that is sure to give you a competitive advantage and it's also the one thing that is first tossed to the bottom of the to-do pile.
Whether it's a non-fiction business book where you learn more about a specific skill-set or concept, or a well-written fiction book that sparks your creativity, reading gives you a competitive advantage because it changes the way you think about and view the world. When your worldview shifts, the way you create and carry out ideas and solve problems improves.
I once heard a wedding professional say that she wanted to read three books over a span of three years. Her competitors have absolutely nothing to worry about. Do yours?
Originally published January 2011
