I finally have resumed reading books again! For quite a while I had a quiet concern every time I passed by my stacks of various books that I’d started – each with their bookmarks placed at varying degrees of completion. I was aware that this was most likely a sign of ‘my own personal times’. Lack of focus, allowing other activities to take precedent (not necessarily in order of importance), wanting to catch amazing TV periodically – not to mention all the other tasks that go with being a solorepreneur-single-mom and a woman who wants self-care/healthy lifestyle to be a priority! Whew!
I felt guilt about the situation but eventually came to surrender and let go, acknowledging that it wasn’t meant to be at the time. I put unfinished books back on their respective shelves and returned books to the library while taking note of what page I left off at. But even while doing that, I knew that I really, really wanted to get back into reading books sometime. When I was in my goals/accountability group I had set the intention to read more books in 2016. Thankfully, there came an opportunity where I went on an actual vacation in March and I picked up where I left off in ‘The Goldfinch’ from about a year prior. And what a great book to get engrossed in when you’re aiming to get back into reading. I didn’t finish it while away – but was so into it that upon my return – I made sure I went to bed extra early, just so I could spend a good 45 minutes to an hour reading it every night! When I finished it, I was hooked on reading again and I was thrilled! Then – I learned of a fab women in biz leadership book club that my mentor Tina Forsyth was putting on via facebook. I joined immediately and most of all I loved the accountability, and the discussions throughout the month. Since March, I’ve read 4 books which is more than I’ve read (to completion) in the past 2 years! I’m feeling refreshed and rejuvenated by this rekindling of reading books again!
Since early June, I haven’t been able to read a chapter a day like I’d been doing originally – but I’m am making the effort to take ‘forced down time’ during the day either when on a break from the computer or even reading more during meals when I’m on my own. I am hoping to stick with reading a book a month.
So what about speed-reading?
Something I’ve used most recently when I want to read an article or blog post online, but know that I may not have enough time to finish – is the speed-reading functionality in Instapaper. I have no issues with using a speed-reading app when it comes to consuming information I find interesting on the web! After all – Tim Ferriss, authour of ‘The 4 Hour Work Week’ (my all time fave book for entrepreneurs, btw) – is an advocate of speed-reading. As is Bill Gates – he recently shared on Inc. magazine that speed-reading is his superpower for business success!
In fact – check out this quick video put out by Tim Ferriss on how to speed-read actual books. Looks super cool; I’m thinking that I may try it!
This is not to say that I don’t think that reading books at my normal speed isn’t good – especially when it’s meant to be a relaxing and enjoyable activity – but I love the idea of reading non-fiction books in a speedier way.
I must say that I’m indeed primarily a non-fiction reader and have been so since my late twenties. I’d say my most favourite themes for about the past 10 years has been books on entrepreneurship and personal growth (oh, and parenting books are fairly high on the list as well).
Here are just a handful in no particular order of preference that I loved in the business category:
- Think and Grow Rich – Napoleon Hill
- The Go Giver – Bob Burg & John David Mann
- The Boss of You – Lauren Bacon & Emira Mears
- Becoming an Online Business Manager – Tina Forsyth
- The Right Brain Business Plan – Jennifer Lee
- The 4-Hour Work Week – Tim Ferriss
And then in the personal growth category over the years, these ones stand out to me as I write:
- You Can Heal Your Life – Louise Hay
- You are a Badass – Jen Sincero
- Conversations With God – Neale Donald Walsh
- The Power of Now – Eckhart Tolle
- Eat, Pray, Love – Elizabeth Gilbert
- The Precious Present – Spencer Johnson
- The Secret Power of Yoga – Nischala Joy Devi
- Return to Love – Marianne Williamson
- The Alchemist – Paul Cohelo
The birth of my book club.
I have a list a mile long of many other non-fiction that I’d still like to get through, and after picking up my most recent book ‘The Book of SHE: Your Heroine’s Journey into the Heart of Feminine Power’ by Sara Avant Stover – I felt compelled to bring up the idea of starting my own book club with some women. The main reason was because I felt that I really wanted to share books in the area of entrepreneurship and personal growth with my tribe. I had a feeling that if I posed the idea to a few in my network that they’d be into it, and I was right! And that is how The Conscious Entrepreneurs Book Club was created!
We began in June with the Book of She, and now we are about to vote on one for July. Not unlike my mentor Tina Forsyth’s leadership book club, I’ve created a poll in our Facebook Group for anyone in the group to vote on their preferred out of the 3 listed. I’ve been given suggestions by some of the members, so everyone gets an opportunity to have their book of choice to be voted on at some point. I’ve suggested doing some type of monthly meetup, but in a virtual way – either over Zoom, or even Facebook Live. Some of the women have expressed a desire for doing an in-person meetup at the end of the month, so I’m offering to anyone to come and meet us on the day many of us do our Coworking and Wellness get together (a Tuesday) here in Toronto. Since we didn’t do an in-person meetup on the Book of She yet, we’ll try for next week (July 5th) for an hour after coworking at the Artscape Youngplace building on Shaw St.
If the book club sounds like something you might like to try out – then by all means – join our book loving family! There is no pressure to read on any given month; people can participate whenever they like. They’ll still be part of the group and have access to reading the comments and discussions regarding each month’s book of choice. Feel free to join here and if you have questions, either myself or somebody else in the club will answer them. So yeah – welcome to the club and looking forward to reading with you! (Please be sure to ‘Add To Favourites’ so you’re in the loop with updates and discussions ).
