As a child, My mother always told me educational stories. I remember one occasion when I told me about an interview on TV, where a man when asked about the secret of his success, he responded: “Everything I have and I am, I owe to books; I didn't have the opportunity to study, because from an early age I had to work. But I found the tips in the books, and the teachings that led me to the path of personal growth and prosperity.
Embora I was a child with only 9 years old, That story impressed me a lot, It was a lesson which since then I have practiced. Today as CEO and founder of VLM Press, The largest Brazilian publisher in the United States, in just over 2 years of operation already published more than 40 Brazilian books, among which four of my own.
For a better understanding of the advantages for those who are dedicated to reading, Below is the ten largest benefits of reading for the entrepreneur:
Acquire knowledge
When reading a book, You get an invaluable amount of information. It's like in the movie “The Matrix”, When Neo receives his training, Doses, The programmer selects some manuals and the first discharge or download of a martial arts manual leaves him astonished. They exclaim: “I know jiu-jitsu!!”,
When reading, You collect information that gives you advantage on various topics. With the practice of reading, will feel more confident in your ability to acquire knowledge; develops critical thinking and learns to question all things in the right way. This critical sense is crucial for a businessman to make decisions in the business world.
Reading opens your mind to different forms of experience and cultures. With the practice of reading, You learn to filter the information you receive, acquiring new skills. It works as Batman's utility belt, where you can always take an experience that will positively influence your personal decisions, financial and business world.
The practice of reading self -help books strengthens their self -esteem, develops self-confidence and serves as a “counselor” who will always be by your side when you feel insecure about something.
Through books, You have access to the world's “brains”. When reading, Your thoughts and experiences, They practically become their.
Expand vocabulary
The more you read, more connects to new words, which naturally become part of their daily vocabulary. Be articulated and speak well, represents a great competitive advantage in any profession, transforming it into a better communicator.
This awareness will also facilitate informal conversation with friends or someone you want to impress. Can make it more interesting and attractive.
If you speak another language, Reading will help you a lot to strengthen your vocabulary. My experience with the English language is a scientific data about this point. Since I was a child I started learning English reading, then speaking. Through books, magazines and manuals in English I expanded my vocabulary in a way that, I can say that I speak three languages in one. Commercial English, Colloquial English and Technical English, So wide is my vocabulary fruit of the constant reading of books. I started with a chainsaw manual.
It is no wonder I have great ease of writing. I am Brazilian, But I read and write in English daily. My competitive advantage over books is that while others are waiting for a book translation, I've read the best in that area. While I'm writing this article I am “reading” (audiobook) A book in English. “Learn better: Mastering the skills for success in life, business and school, de Ulich Boser.
Some translations are made by people who do not live in the United States and even though they dominate the language well, do not have a good interpretation. I had to buy a book by John Maxwell twice, because I bought first translated into Portuguese. After trying to read the book, I found that the translation was a disaster! I then decided to buy the original version. My conclusion was proven. I prefer to read them always in the original.
Stress
The two basic purposes of reading are: Learning and Leisure. Fiction books are best suited for leisure and serve very well as a wonderful escape for “other worlds”, times and ways of thinking. A safe haven for everyday problems, stress. The inspiration books, in addition to relaxing, inspire, and produce inner peace. They feed their spirituality, decrease their blood pressure and produce a huge sense of calm. Religious texts, as well as some self -help books, can produce this beneficial effect.
Improve memory
When reading a book, You come across a universe full of details. People, characters, places and the most diverse events. As you dive into reading, you discover the greatness inside a book; And all the information and details are absorbed by your mind and stored in your brain, that will be surprisingly reminding you more easily.
As a child, I had a car accident, My short -term memory was directly affected; In that same period I decided to learn English reading a grammar book. The extraordinary effort I needed to memorize the words and their meaning in a mini -dictionary of the English language, have ended over many years, Naturally restoring my memory.
The practice of reading puts it in contact with a universe of information, that according to Brain Works, Entity specializing in neurofeedback, in London, (https://bit.ly/3bnG7Mn), create new synapses (brain roads) and strengthen existing, helping in the recovery of short -term memory and stabilization of mood. This phenomenon is called neuroplasticity, which is the brain's ability to change its structure and organization through experience and learning. It is the part of the brain that “gains muscles”, as a bodybuilding athlete, through exercise. Neuroplasticity is what allows us to improve everything we do and think. Today, I am a programmer, web developer e graphic designer, because of the advances of memories I developed due to the lack of my short -term memory. With the continuous practice of reading various topics and different fields, I developed a powerful and organized memory.
Improve writing skills
Writing is an art. If you have difficulty writing, Start reading intensely.
When I started reading after the accident, I felt a lot of headache and forgot everything when it turns the page; often, I would go back to the previous page I read everything again and forgot on the next page. It made me very frustrated. I bought several books because of the themes, But I always abandoned reading because of my weak memory. Until a day, I came across a super-pitying article in a magazine, with the title: "You don't like to read because you didn't learn to read".
I found that title interesting and at the same time absurd!
As? I can read, But I don't like reading anymore. Said annoyed to myself.
I took the magazine, “I devoured” that article and I practiced it line by line. From that day on I started reading on a crowded bus, in squares, anywhere. I developed the ability to focus on several things at the same time; that matter is present in my life for more than 35 years.
People thought me strange, because it was not anyone's custom, Not that record me, Walk through the market with a book in the face. I laughed, because I felt the curious looks at me, and at the same time, laugh even more, because at first it was just one or two pages. Over time, I started immersing in the books until I left the house and only noticed that I was sitting in the square reading that book after walking about two kilometers. It was already darkening. Of that day on, I read anywhere. I developed the ability to focus on several things at the same time.
I broke the stigma that “man only has one box” in the brain. I have several. I can speak several languages at the same time. This happened in 2005, During a trip to Costa Rica. I met with an agent who spoke English and an importer who only spoke Spanish. After our meeting, I wondered: How I managed to communicate at the same time with both, asking questions and answering their questions in an inflamed way, As if I was in the kitchen of my house, Talking to my mother. The same happened in Curaçao, because the agent spoke English and the importer spoke papiament, A mixture of English, Spanish, German, and other languages, But I could understand and answer your questions without the interpretation of my agent. In Maritinique, I stayed in a hotel for five days, And I communicated in French until my agent came to meet me. All this, Fruit of reading only one article. Sim, From that article, My life changed, then, I managed to end my reading problem.
Improves empathy
At first I didn't like biography books, I thought it was meaningless to read the story of a person. I was thirsty in learning techniques, How to do this or that; But I always read the Bible, And I realized that it is nothing more than a sequence of fantastic biographies. I always stared at her like a strictly religious book, Until I come across Albert Einstein's biography. Since then, I started to appreciate biographical works by stimulating my ability to better understand people's feelings. I felt able to better understand my family, my friends, my clients and readers. When reading biographies there will always be something in common between you and the author, that can lead you to criticize or fall in love with your story. “It is in biographies that are the secrets of relationships and life”
Develops communication
Besides helping you have critical thoughts, Reading develops communication capacity. In my teens, had difficulty dialogue with people. I wanted to participate in conversations, But there was no subject, because I had never traveled, I didn't know football teams or TV stars; that's why, I had no idea than to say, I thought I was a lost case. Although, In search of solution to this problem, I came across the book: “How to make friends and influence people” from Dale Carnegie. As I read to that “manual”, more developed my ability to articulate ideas, elaborate questions and feel security when expressing me during a conversation.
My critical analysis was 0 a 100. I started discussing the most diverse subjects, to exhibit and safely share my opinions, because I learned to analyze every detail of a particular theme. Fruits acquired through the habit of reading.
Enhances concentration
In a world permeated by: distractions, devices with the most diverse applications, The Internet Appeal, social media and the intense noise of everyday; It is very common to find people who cannot complete their tasks at the end of the day. The internet was created as a powerful communication weapon, But it can become a great trap of distraction for those who do not learn to deal with it. On the other hand, the reading habit, has the power to snatch him from the overshadowed world and lead him on a pleasurable and educational trip for at least thirty minutes a day. When you read a good book, all your attention focuses on history, "Travel" inspired, for another dimension. This ability to concentrate will stimulate your productivity in the most diverse activities.
Stimulates the mind
As we saw in the item 4, Just like any other muscle in the body, The brain requires exercises to stay strong and healthy. Studies have shown that staying mentally stimulated can minimize the risks of succumbing to Alzheimer's disease and dementia. Keeping your brain active and engaged prevents it from losing energy. Reading provides this exercise.
Free or affordable entertainment
You can resort to your local library to lend books. This is free entertainment, always cool! You can also scan: There are many online libraries where you can download free e-book in PDF or EPUB format. Amazon has new free Kindle books every day (Mobi format).
Navigate the net, Looking for something new to read can be a lot of fun, and the library islands are amazing mazes for you to get lost among the books.
The right books will show you the way. If you have reached this point, certainly their ideas about reading must have already changed or expanded. This is one of the great benefits of reading, But I will leave it for another occasion.
Good reading, good business. Read to become the person you want to become.