Chapter 7

READING IS POWER

Former President Harry Truman said, “Not all readers will be leaders, but all leaders must be readers.”

                Reading changed my life.  I wouldn’t have evolved into the man I am today without it.  I think it’s the smartest investment a human being can make.  Mark Twain said, “Those who do not read are no better off than those who cannot.”

                I understand a lot of humans have been programmed to hate reading.  Kids are forced to read in school—and they’re rarely interested in the material.  Unfortunately, seventh-graders aren’t interested in The Count of Monte Cristo, just because their 50-year-old English teacher is.  My attention span wouldn’t permit me to stay focused on reading some boring book in class; I was focused on pulling the hair of the cute girl that sat in front of me.  This early negative association tends to keep adults from reading as they get older.  It causes them view reading as a “chore.”  And once they’re out of school, they’ve decided to “stay away from school chores.”

                The key to unlocking the power that comes from reading is to find something that you find interesting—whatever that is.  If you like working on cars, read the biography of Henry Ford and learn about why he was inspired to invent the Model T.  If you like sports—read the biographies of your favorite coaches and players.  Once you’re able to uncover their “behind-the-scenes” thoughts and other “dirt,” you’ll begin to fall in love with reading.  Your negative association will easily transform into a positive one!

                The human brain is like a computer—the most advanced computer on the planet.  If you download quality data into your brain, you’re more likely to produce quality life-results.  What goes in comes out.


*END OF SAMPLE*

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