I am always asked to make a recommendation on books to read and how I go about gaining new knowledge of topics.  Here is what I tell everyone...

Let me start by saying that I am a much faster at typing and talking than reading.  I read very slowly and usually find myself day-dreaming in the middle of the paragraph unless it is a very exciting literary work.  I do, however, enjoy reading more often as I get a little older.  Someday I am sure that I will be able to read a book all the way through in a single sitting. 

What To Read:  How to choose the books / journals?  Look to other professionals in your industry, the books they read, the magazines that they subscribe to and the trade journals that are popular and discuss the latest trends in your line of work.

How Do I Afford all the Literature:  First look to discount subscriptions from groups, clubs, and organizations you belong too.  Many of them receive national discounts as a member from online list, book clubs and sometimes subscription houses.  Also look for online sales of the literature.  I have purchased several books and magazine subscriptions from EBAY.  A few others from Amazon and then some smaller auction houses but they all offer great rates and they save a lot of leg work.

How Do I Read All of this Material:  Just read a few minutes a day.   Many professionals and coaches around the world mention reading 20 minutes a day and soon you are moving through lots of material.  I like to cut and paste online articles into several larger files and print 3-4 at a time without all the clutter, banners, and such that waste ink and paper.  I can take them with me while waiting in line, at a traffic light, etc.  

Books and More Books to Build a Library:  One book I read " Monday Morning Customer Service" by Reed & Cottrell mentioned the ability to gain knowledge from all those that have gone before us.  The character talks about gaining his insight from the many books in his library.  He didn't have to have all the answers or be the expert.  The "guys and gals" that wrote those books are the experts, I just use the information from them to satisfy my customer's requirements.

I read the chapters that specifically deal with my topic of interest first.  Most often I gain good insight by doing this and then as my knowledge increase so does my interest and then the rest of the book becomes more of interest and so I complete reading it. Books that are often full of theory without ample examples and studies become boring and too school like.  Read with an eye toward gaining knowledge of a new business.  Look at the ideas as ways to increase your offerings to clients and better ways to Serve Others. 

My last little tip:  Go to a book store, you know one of those like Half Price Books and look to the Clearance Aisle.  You will find hundreds of books on business.  Find the ones with your topics and buy them all.  Usually you can spend under 10 dollars and have 10-20 books.  If you get lucky some one will have highlighted key points of interest for you.  It's far easier to gain insight, knowledge and interest when you view many sources.  We look to OJT (On the Job Training) to meet our career goals because reality lives on the front lines and not just with a single professor that taught us a skill.  These many sources, books and journals give you different perspectives on reality that is easy to take or leave as needed.

Go Read Something...

Taking time to ? b/4 given the 411:  It has been said that absence makes the heart grow fonder.  Have you missed me since I haven’t written anything?  It has become apparent to those around me that I have a lot going on and less time to just sit and enjoy.  Do you ever feel that way?  Has your communication become rushed and you are always looking for a shortcut to get “IT” said?

It is time to slow down and think more about your communication.  I use a very simple 3 step process for preparing my communication.

Audience

• What do they already know?
• What do they need to know?

Purpose

• How do I support my message to them?
• What data will provide best results?

Goal

• How will I know if they got the message?

This simple 5 question example above proves timeless when thinking of communicating with others.  I can write more effective emails, hold better meetings and prepare for a conference call with the knowledge that I have my audience in mind.

What do you do to prepare for your audience?  Are you giving your audience what they need to make a difference?

Spend a few minutes before your next meeting, email or call and ask yourself these questions.  It will give you the clarity of mind to deliver a very powerful message that everyone understands.

I often get asked about our mission and serving others.  Why do you always talk about serving others and giving them what they want.  We have several reasons for this thought process and they go like this.

1.  Do unto others as you would have them do unto you... I treat others with respect so that I am treated with respect.  I give them good service and they in return provide good service to me.  I am to them what I want in return.  Serving others is a basic principle of life.  We treat others the way we want to be treated.  I want to serve others so in return I am served.  (served does not mean waited on, it means given what I need to be happy and successful)

2. Serving others is basic human nature.  We are not born to live a high life of being cared for our entire existence.  We are born wanting to care for others.  Taking care of a child, raising an animal or sharing with a roommate are all pieces of serving another.  It is what we do, and yes some of you are better at it than the rest of us.  We know that we are all different and as long as we continue to try and take care of the needs of another we are serving them.

3.  I believe that no person should be held to a higher standard, put on a pedestal or raised above that of another human being.  I don't care if you are the inventor of the latest widget, you are a human that eats, sleeps and needs to be served.  How did you become someone of stature?  You served an audience, population or segment of the world market what they needed to do their job, survive or accomplish more.  You served someone.

4. Last, I take care of those that care for me.  I have never met a person that did not enjoy being served at some point and in turn did not feel obligated to do like in return.  The latest commercial out there in TV land shows people doing nice things for others, and being noticed by a passer by.  Each case some is being served and someone is serving.  It is continually paid forward if you will.

Serving others can come in many forms.  Here are a few that I believe make a difference everyday and continue to serve me in my profession and personal life.

Listen to others: listen while in conversations, here your speaker, listen to the stories of your kids, neighbors, and elderly relatives.  One of the greatest gifts we can give is to pay attention to the stories and lives of those that don't directly feed our pocket.  You will learn more that you ever imagined and it will make a difference in the life of another.

Give in once in a while:  if you always have to win, this will be the most difficult challenge for you.  Humble yourself before man.  I love to win, but I know that my children need to win occasionally, my students needs to be right, I need to show that I am fallible and be willing to admit it.  Allowing people to see you as a human being that is capable of failing, moving on and succeeding the next time.  That is the true test of a winner.  Give in and let someone else have a chance to shine.  You might enjoy the situation

Be yourself: often in class we are taught to be on stage, never let them see you sweat and last but not least, never show your emotion.  I am an emotional person.  Funny, but I can cry at a simple commercial for Kodak film, I cry at movies, sitcoms, shows and watching my kids play.  I finally figured out why I shed tears in these moments.  It is the human achievement, and the success of others.  I cried when my daughter got an out on the field when my son got a ribbon in a sport.  My wife got off the plane from a business trip.  I was enthusiastic about the achievement of them, their goals accomplished, and their letting me share the experience. Be willing to show your softer side to others, let them in to know the real you. 

Live life with others:  we are all a part of a larger community.  It might be a neighborhood, small town, state, or even a race.  We have the need to share our dreams, our accomplishments and most of all we have the need to belong.  We all feel the need to belong to something, to be a part of something larger.  Share with your neighbors tomorrow, have a drink, throw a dinner, go to a movie or just sit on the porch and watch the sunset.  Whatever you share, share it with others, you will know the basis of serving others when they share with you.

Serve others...