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Reading Challenge

#ReadingOnARegular

Join me on this personal growth journey to develop the habit of reading on a regular basis!

CEO’s and executives read on average 4-5 books a month. That is about a book a week! If some of the biggest and most influential leaders in the world across different industries have in common that they actively read, shouldn’t we be doing that, too? 

Regardless of your occupation or industry, reading is a success principle and must become a regular part of our routine—a part of our lifestyle. Not just to better ourselves but to better to those around us. 

If you are ready to start reading on a regular basis, then I personally invite you to join me on my personal reading challenge! 

Follow me on Instagram @iameleasedillard to stay in the loop and use the hashtag #ReadingOnARegular!

I can’t wait to start this journey together! Let’s start reading. 

Please Note: The books I share are not endorsements nor sponsored posts.  Each book is selected based on the description provided by the author/publisher. It is my goal to select books that contain appropriate content; however, I am not responsible for the content within each book. 

My choice for March…

“The major difference between achieving people and average people is their perception of and response to failure. John C. Maxwell takes a closer look at failure-and reveals that the secret of moving beyond failure is to use it as a lesson and a stepping-stone. He covers the top reasons people fail and shows how to master fear instead of being mastered by it. Readers will discover that positive benefits can accompany negative experiences-if you have the right attitude. Chock full of action suggestions and real-life stories, Failing Forward is a strategic guide that will help men and women move beyond mistakes to fulfill their potential and achieve success.”

*This book description is from here.

My choice for April and May…

*This book was listed for both April and May because it was filled with so many life-changing success principles. After finishing the book, I wanted to dedicate the month of May to going through the book again and applying those success principles within my business and personal life.

Go Giver_Cover

“ ‘Most people just laugh when they hear that the secret to success is giving. . . . Then again, most people are nowhere near as successful as they wish they were.’
 
The Go-Giver tells the story of an ambitious young man named Joe who yearns for success. Joe is a true go-getter, though sometimes he feels as if the harder and faster he works, the further away his goals seem to be. Desperate to land a key sale at the end of a bad quarter, he seeks advice from the enigmatic Pindar, a legendary consultant referred to by his many devotees sim­ply as the Chairman. 
 
Over the next week, Pindar introduces Joe to a series of “go-givers”: a restaurateur, a CEO, a financial adviser, a real estate broker, and the “Connector” who brought them all together. Pindar’s friends teach Joe the Five Laws of Stratospheric Success and help him open himself up to the power of giving. 
 
Joe learns that changing his focus from getting to giving—putting others’ interests first and continually adding value to their lives—ultimately leads to unexpected returns. 
 
Imparted with wit and grace, The Go-Giver is a classic bestseller that brings to life the old proverb ‘Give and you shall receive.’
 
Nearly a decade since its original publication, the term “go-giver” has become shorthand for a defining set of values embraced by hundreds of thousands of people around the world. Today this timeless story continues to help its readers find fulfillment and greater success in business, in their personal lives and in their communities. 
 
This expanded edition includes the text of the original business parable, together with a foreword by Arianna Huffington, a new intro­duction, a discussion guide, and a Q&A with the authors.”

* Please Note: The copy I have is no longer available. An updated and expanded edition has been released. This book description is for the extended version from here.

My choice for June and July…

*This book was listed for both June and July because it was filled with so many life-changing success principles! I wanted to soak in the major takeaways of each chapter and practice applying those success principles within my business and personal life.

Screen Shot 2019-06-12 at 9.49.01 PM

“ With their national bestseller The Go-Giver, Bob Burg and John David Mann took the business world by storm, showing that giving is the most fulfilling and effective path to success. That simple, profound story has inspired hundreds of thousands of readers around the world-but some have wondered how its lessons stand up to the tough challenges of everyday real-world business.

Now Burg and Mann answer that question in Go-Givers Sell More, a practical guide that makes giving the cornerstone of a powerful and effective approach to selling.

Most of us think of sales as convincing potential customers to do something they don’t really want to. This mentality sets up an adversarial relationship and makes the sales process much harder than it has to be.

As Burg and Mann demonstrate, it’s far more productive (and satisfying) when salespeople think like Go-Givers. Cultivate a trusting relationship and focus exclusively on creating value for the other person, say the authors, and great results will follow automatically.

Drawing on a wide range of examples of real-life salespeople who have prospered by giving more, Burg and Mann offer tips and strategies that anyone in sales can start applying right away.”

* This book description is from here.

My choice for August…

Three powerful mini e-books about high productivity, now together in paperback
 
Laura Vanderkam has combined her three popular mini e-books into one comprehensive guide, with a new introduction. It will help readers build habits that lead to happier, more productive lives, despite the pressures of their busy schedules. Trough interviews and anecdotes, she reveals . . .

-What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast—to jump-start the day productively.

-What the Most Successful People Do On the Weekend—to recharge and prepare for a great week.

-What the Most Successful People Do at Work—to accomplish more in less time.”

* This book description is from here.

My choice for  September—November…

*This book was listed for multiple months because I was applying it real-time with the different teams that I lead.

“There is no ‘i’ in “team.’” “No man is an island.” “A chain is only as strong as its weakest link.” You may roll your eyes at these age-old clichés, but you can’t afford to breeze over their point. Individual all-stars can only take you so far. Ultimately, success–whether in business, family, church, athletic teams, or any other organization–is entirely dependent on teamwork. But how does one build that team?Leadership expert and New York Times bestselling author John C. Maxwell knows that building and maintaining a successful team is no simple task. Even people who have taken their teams to the highest level in their field have difficulty re-creating what accounted for their successes. So in The 17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork, Maxwell shares the vital principles of team building that are necessary for success in any type of organization. In his practical, down-to-earth style, Dr. Maxwell shows how:• The Law of High Morale inspired a 50-year-old man who couldn’t even swim to train for the toughest triathlon in the world.• The Law of the Big Picture prompted a former US president to travel across the country by bus, sleep in a basement, and do manual labor.• Playing by The Law of the Scoreboard enabled one web-based company to keep growing and make money while thousands of other Internet businesses failed.• Ignoring The Law of the Price Tag caused one of the world’s largest retailers to close its doors after 128 years in business.• And so much more!Building a successful team has plagued leaders since the beginning of time. Is the key a strong work ethic? Is it “chemistry”? The 17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork will empower you–whether coach or player, teacher or student, CEO or non-profit volunteer–with the “how-tos“ and attitudes for building a successful team.

* This book description is from here.

My choice for  December—March…

*Through this journey of implementing reading on a regular basis, I learned that many industry leaders read by listening instead of sitting down and physically reading. I decided to implement that strategy in my life. While I did not have an audio book on-hand, I did have a list of podcasts that I began to listen to. It worked out great because the average length of a podcast is 30 minutes to an hour, which is the average time I dedicate to reading each day. With this method, I was able to listen to these episodes while I was exercising, cooking, and cleaning—which helped me maximize my day and save time! There are many hard-copy books that I have at home that I still want to read, so finding the balance between physically-reading vs. audio-reading is something that I am still working on. Have any tips? Head over to my instagram page @iameleasedillard…I would love to hear them!

Here are the 5 podcasts/channels that I currently rotate:

1. The Jasmine Star Show (hosted by Jasmine Star)

2. The Goal Digger Podcast (hosted by Jenna Kutcher)

3. The Marketing Mindset Podcast (hosted by Mariya Bentz)

P.S. Click here to listen to an episode where I was a guest on the podcast!

4. Business S.H.E.T. Podcast (hosted by Mimi G)

5. Ed Mylett

*I watch his video interviews of successful industry leaders on his YouTube channel to hear their stories and how they became the leader that they are today.

Reading challenge 1-year anniversary!

My 1 year takeaway…

My thoughts on reading on a regular basis for an entire year…

Congratulations, friend! We have officially been reading on a regular basis together for an entire year! Wow time flies…

Prior to the reading challenge, I was averaging one book per year that I would fully read….if that. During this first year of the challenge, I completed a total of six books! That is an average of completing a book every two months.

While my initial goal was to read a book per month, it was important for me to truly read the book and not just turn pages to check it off on my list of goals. Therefore, it took me longer to complete some of the books because I wanted to implement the success principles that were in the book within my personal and professional life…and for that reason, I am okay with that.

Later in the year, I learned that many industry leaders read so may books by listening to the audio version. I decided to implement that strategy with podcasts. Now I understand why. I average physically reading 30-minutes in one sitting, and podcast episodes average 30 minutes to an hour.  While listening to a 30-minute to 1-hour long podcast, I was able to exercise, cook, and clean. More-so, I was able to save time and maximize my day!

Moving Forward:

After assessing this year and seeing that I was averaging a book every two months, my goal for 2020-2021 will be to read a book per month, while simultaneously being able to apply what I am reading in the real world within my personal and professional life. 

Life is an adventure, and I am so happy you joined me on this reading adventure! It doesn’t end here. Reading must remain a part of our lifestyle. Here’s to year two of #ReadingOnARegular!

Much love,

* Let’s connect! Head over to my instagram page @iameleasedillard and let me know how the challenge went for you this year!

© 2019 Elease Dillard. All rights reserved. | Website designed with love by Elease Dillard.

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© 2019 Elease Dillard. All rights reserved. | Website designed with love by Elease Dillard.

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