Make 15 Minutes a Day for Business Books
At some point in your professional career you’ve probably been told there’s a wealth of books out there that will help you achieve your goals. It might be inspiring stories of entrepreneurs who built their businesses from virtually nothing, or maybe tips on personal networking or ancient philosophical texts on leadership. If you’re a Star Trek fan, it might even be the Ferengi Rules of Acquisition. Knowledge can be found in the most unusual places.
That’s all well and good you say, but who has the time? Well, do you have 15 minutes? It isn’t that long— about 1.4 percent of your day. When we’re busy, it may seem like it goes by in the blink of an eye, but there is a surprising amount we can get done in those few short minutes. In 15 minutes you can work out, eat lunch, fold your laundry, create a spreadsheet, write a memo, or even take a class in (ironically enough) speed reading. You can even become famous, since everyone is entitled to their 15 minutes of fame.
Using those 15 minutes to read business books has a number of advantages.
It can give you valuable insight into aspects of business you never thought of. Human society is complicated, and sometimes the most unrelated things can turn out to have the most profound connections. For example, is there a connection between the strategies of Genghis Khan and modern business success? Writer Eric Barker believes there is.
15 minutes can help you avoid becoming out of date. Things are constantly changing in business. Whether it’s a new management approach or the latest technological tools or the latest trend in your industry, you want to be on top of them. In our modern age, for instance, new technology has made the virtual team more common than ever. What are the unique challenges a leader faces in this environment? Author and entrepreneur Kim Scott fills us in.
15 minutes can expand your knowledge. Everyone knows you read to learn facts, but learning also expands your thinking and your creativity. It can lead to new ways to view problems, since today’s challenges are also tomorrow’s opportunities. You can turn ongoing weaknesses into successes. If this type of turnaround piques your curiosity, digital marketer Jay Baer shows you how to make it happen.
If you’re the first to do something, you’re a pioneer. If you’re the last to do something, you’re obsolete. Staying on top of emerging trends can help you position your business for success or help you adapt in time for a coming storm. The best business book can help you do just that.
So take those 15 minutes to do some reading. You may find it was time well spent.