As many of you may know, I’ve reviewed 200+ books in a variety of subject categories. I’ve always been an avid reader, but my increased travel schedule has made it more and more difficult during the past few years.
However, due to the wonders of technology, we now have choices in which we can deal with chaotic schedules and time restraints. Audio tapes, CDs, and electronic book readers such as the Kindle have been a tremendous asset for those who realize the importance of continuous learning and the key role that books play in doing so.
I can remember a time when book stores offered a foot or two of shelf space to display a very limited selection of audio books. Today, there are entire audio book stores and an unlimited number of books can be downloaded from the Internet. This technology now permits us to gather information through a variety of books while driving every day, flying for business or pleasure, or spending time in airports waiting to do so.
If you put only 12,000 miles per year on your car, you have the same time invested as one full college semester. That 12,000 miles is the equivalent of ten 40-hour work weeks, assuming an overall speed of 30 mph which is certainly more than attainable when you consider stopping, starting, traffic and speed limits. Can you imagine what you could learn by reading solidly for ten 40-hour weeks!
One university study says that the average American will spend 19,000 hours in a car during his/her lifetime. That’s the equivalent of FOUR Ph.D programs!
There is, of course, a catch. You must skip the typical music, negative news reports, or talk radio that the average driver automatically tunes into upon entering the car. Discipline yourself to listen to audio books and you’ll easily complete one full book per week! That’s 52 books per year or more than 500 books over the next 10 years!
Ask around and see how many people you can find that are reading a book a week? I think you know what you’ll find. Want an edge in today’s very competitive, chaotic, and ever-changing environment? This is certainly one way of getting and maintaining that edge. NOW DO IT!
About Harry K. Jones
Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of professional speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management. For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2629 or fill out our contact form.