How to Read
If you’re reading this right now, you’re most likely interested in gathering knowledge, productivity hacks, and inspirational tips — with the goal of become a better and more effective person. This is an activity I espoused in my last article, Forays into Entrepreneurship; however as one commenter correctly noted, there is a time, a place, and a way to read — and that can make the difference between what is essentially time wasting (commonly referred to as “productivity porn”) and effective resource gathering.
BEFORE WE GET STARTED: Are you reading this article out of habit and because it appears generically useful? Or is it because you’re going to gain value out of it, and possibly change the way you think or behave? If there’s a possibility of the latter, then read on. Otherwise, bugger off (I jest… mostly).
First of all, you need to determine why you are reading. Is it to be entertained, or to gain valuable knowledge and insight (or both)? When I first started reading lifehack, tech, productivity, and other news and opinion feeds, a lot of the content was new to me; I was learning about new ways to think, to save time, to be more effective. It wasn’t long, however, before I found that it was very rare to find valuable insights from (some of) these sources anymore. I realised that I was reading these websites for pleasure, but had been continuing to tell myself that I was improving as a person at the same time. There’s nothing wrong with reading for pleasure — but know that’s what it is. When you first start seeking information in a given field, you throw your net wide, taking in everything you can — recognise when you need to switch techniques, and begin to tactically fish the spots with the highest and most valuable yield.
Which leads me into my next point, which is to read with purpose. What are you seeking? Is it inspiration? Specific tips and tricks, or new mindsets? Are you in the throes of learning to manage well, or are you trying to develop a reader base? What is it that you need right now? (Note: What you need right now may be to #JFDI instead of reading about what others are doing) If you’re just beginning to design or build something for yourself, is it worth reading an article on how to manage staff? Maybe — there will still be value in it, but is it the most valuable use of your reading time right now? Anytime you are reading, you’re not doing. Your time is your most valuable resource; do not waste it.
Reading with purpose will result in reading content that is relevant, and when the content is relevant, you will be able to relate it to your own situation. When I read Seth Godin’s advice that the fearless person “ sees the world as it is (fear included) and then makes smart (and brave) decisions” I had to think about what fears were in my life; what did that mean to me? What fears did I have, what was the reality of the situation, and what steps were required to overcome these fears? The best advice in the world is only as useful as your ability to apply it to your own reality.
The act of reading, on its own, is passive — and passive actions don’t lead to effective recall or drastic changes in behaviour. Make your reading active. How you do this is up to you and your own style. Share the article, and offer your own take. Save snippets of a quote that really speaks to you (my Evernote is choc-full of these). Maybe you save up your favourite quotes with links to the articles and review these once a week, seeking to implement the most valuable insights. Whatever you do, don’t simply read.
Find knowledge-sharers online that you trust, and use these to find new, valuable sources of information. Twitter is, obviously, fantastic for this. If you find a writer or sharer that provided an article of value, check out their Twitter feed. Are they often sharing articles? Click through their links and you might find a whole new source of information, delivered directly to you.
And finally, know when to exchange reading for action. Unless you are reading purely for pleasure (see point one), the entire point of it all is to become a better, more effective person; to go out there and achieve something. Don’t forget to do it.
