Do Successful People Read?
- Thread starter aim high
- Start date
- Status
Completely disagree. This ideal is most likely what most blue collar's ideal(no offense). I know lots of people around me that has little or no entrepreneurship mindset at all, and they think exactly like this post. Small business owners and local store owners are one of them.
I said it was specifically self-help books. He was asked in an interview whether he has ever read any self-help books (i.e. Tony Robbins, Brian Tracy, Bob Proctor, et all). His reply was never.
wtf?
Sorry, but this is a stupid fucking question. You want to be successful in internet marketing, correct? Reading and studying are not the same thing.
To answer your question, consider this from the following source Super Affiliate Marketing Blog Affiliate Marketing With The Power Of Influence Marketing :
This stuff may sound very easy as I explain it, but I can assure you it isn’t. I’ve read close to 20 books about it, from authors who aren’t even alive anymore. I’ve tackeled it from so many different perspectives and constantly learn more and more new things, and keep taking those and using them as influencing techniques to my own unique ones. Sounds confusing, I know, I’m semi-confusing myself too just speaking about it, and there were also many days where I felt like I was going nuts from trying to consume so much of this stuff in such a short period of time. Just because I’m 26 years old, have no college education, and a strong dislike for school doesn’t mean I don’t have what it takes to read material that most other psych majors or masters students are learning, because for them, this is just reference, but for me, this is a much more in-depth look into how people work, how their minds work, and how to persuade them (note:i.e. analysis) to whatever tune I choose for them to follow.
The problem is that most people don't know how to
a) determine what's optimal to read
b) analyze, assess and interpret what they've read
b) put it to effective use to meet one's goals
(i.e. abstract thinking).
Notice, I said I thought it was a stupid question; I think by asking it however you've proven - at some basic level - your intellectual curiousity and ability to learn and analyze.
Reading = scanning an internet blog
Studying = taking what you have read, reading between the lines, analyzing it.
When it comes to "a" this is a skill that takes years to learn and I'd suggest you learn it quickly.
Someone once said, "the secret to good advice is to look at who's giving it".
Most people are either too lazy or unfortunately unaware of how to do this process. You don't have to be one of those.
So as an example of the above post, you wouldn't just casually scan the blog. You'd write down the name of one of those 20 books that were mentioned. You'd read them yourself. If you couldn't find them on Amazon.com, you'd search someplace on line. If you couldn't find them online because they were out of print, you'd fucking put your tennis shoes on a hit up a library or rare book store. You'd take what you'd learned and you'd get paid doing it...
Get the gist?
With all do respect to the other posters, for all you know, alot of the people who may answer your question could be broke convicts sitting in the Big Pen Library answering your questions.
If you have a goal - ex. financial success - the first thing to do is to determine, whom you should listen to.
What kind of financial success do you want?
Do you want to be a millionaire (ie. one of the approx 8 million individuals out of the 6.5 billion on the planet?)
Do you want to be an ultra-high net worth individual (i.e. one of the approx. 50,000 individuals out of the 6.5 billion worth $30 mil or more - not including the value of their principle home)
Do you want to be a billionaire (approx. 1000 out of the 6.5 billion people on the planet)
Do you want to be a DOUBLE DIGIT billionaire (approx. 50 or so individuals out of 6.6 billion world population).
Once you've determined what you want, doesn't it make sense to gather information from these subsets?
After all, if you were headed backpacking in spain you wouldn't ask someone who just completed a road trip to California on advice where to stay would you??
Yes, they are both on a "trip some where" but clearly the strategy that worked for one is not directly suitable to the other.
So, first, determine your goal.
Second, gather information, aka "best practices" from those who have been successful at meeting a similar goal.
Thirdly, implement their best practices. The MOST EXPENSIVE way in the world to learn is painful "trial and error". In other words, you just "jump right in" without any awareness of what has worked before and what is likely to.
What did the wealthiest capitalist in the history of Western society, Warren Buffet say? He said that he learned practically everything he needed to know from Benjamin Gragham his college professor and his book on investing.
Also, since you posted a comment about this before, I just have to say it. I think you're doing yourself a SEVERE DISSERVICE by not making use of the resources you have at your university.
Through UMich's business school and the alumni network, you probably have as easy access as you'll ever get in life to some
a) millionaires
b) ultra high net worth individuals
c) at least 2 or 3 billionaires (judging by the UMich grads I've seen on the Forbes' List of billionaires)
Instead of asking this kind of question on an internet forum, you should be going to the Career Planning and Placement office and setting up appointments with these people.
Call and call and call them. It may take you a while, but a few of them will respond and at least give you 15 minutes.
Ask them how they became successful, what books they read, etc.
When you go, make sure you bring a present such as a book or something to express your appreciation for their generosity in giving you the time of day.
Are you really prepared to do what you have to do to be successful or is it just talk?
This is not idol talk. This is the exact strategy I used eons ago to gain insight from some of the world's most successful individuals. I'm not going to mention names her because that's tacky but can assure you it is true and it does work....
I'm making it easy for you so you have no excuses:
Alumni Association of the University of Michigan | Alumni Association of the University of Michigan
Get to know some people here:
Alumni Community, Stephen M. Ross School of Business
Go to the alumni office and find out how to get in touch with Stephen Ross himself (the guy UMich's B school is named after). Once you are out of school, you miss out on all the networking opportunities.
You said you are from a modest background right? What other opportunity is a kid from a regular middle class background going to interact with this stratus of society outside of school?
This guy is worth $4.5 billion dollars. As mentioned earlier, there are approx. 1000 billionaires out of the 6.5 billion people on the planet.
Stephen M. Ross - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
When you call the man's office, get to know his secretary. Send her flowers if you have to. After a while, she'll no doubt say something like "Mr. Ross this persistent young kid who's a student at UMich won't stop calling until you give him 5 minutes".
That's the person you need to be asking about books and what not.
Instead of (or in addition to WF) you need to be reading about who's been successful at UMich and getting to know those people. When you develop relationships with them, you will gain insight about the knowledge sources they've used to get them where they are.
Even this proven strategy I've enumerated here I learned in books. It works, plain and simple.
If you dont' believe me, read the biographies of a good 10 or so billionaires and a good 50 or so ultra-high net worth individuals and you will be convinced.
Now the question is were you just shooting the shit with this question, or willing to do exactly what it takes?
I hope this is fairly coherent as I'm headed off to bed now.
Good luck.
Sorry, but this is a stupid fucking question. You want to be successful in internet marketing, correct? Reading and studying are not the same thing.
To answer your question, consider this from the following source Super Affiliate Marketing Blog Affiliate Marketing With The Power Of Influence Marketing :
This stuff may sound very easy as I explain it, but I can assure you it isn’t. I’ve read close to 20 books about it, from authors who aren’t even alive anymore. I’ve tackeled it from so many different perspectives and constantly learn more and more new things, and keep taking those and using them as influencing techniques to my own unique ones. Sounds confusing, I know, I’m semi-confusing myself too just speaking about it, and there were also many days where I felt like I was going nuts from trying to consume so much of this stuff in such a short period of time. Just because I’m 26 years old, have no college education, and a strong dislike for school doesn’t mean I don’t have what it takes to read material that most other psych majors or masters students are learning, because for them, this is just reference, but for me, this is a much more in-depth look into how people work, how their minds work, and how to persuade them (note:i.e. analysis) to whatever tune I choose for them to follow.
The problem is that most people don't know how to
a) determine what's optimal to read
b) analyze, assess and interpret what they've read
b) put it to effective use to meet one's goals
(i.e. abstract thinking).
Notice, I said I thought it was a stupid question; I think by asking it however you've proven - at some basic level - your intellectual curiousity and ability to learn and analyze.
Reading = scanning an internet blog
Studying = taking what you have read, reading between the lines, analyzing it.
When it comes to "a" this is a skill that takes years to learn and I'd suggest you learn it quickly.
Someone once said, "the secret to good advice is to look at who's giving it".
Most people are either too lazy or unfortunately unaware of how to do this process. You don't have to be one of those.
So as an example of the above post, you wouldn't just casually scan the blog. You'd write down the name of one of those 20 books that were mentioned. You'd read them yourself. If you couldn't find them on Amazon.com, you'd search someplace on line. If you couldn't find them online because they were out of print, you'd fucking put your tennis shoes on a hit up a library or rare book store. You'd take what you'd learned and you'd get paid doing it...
Get the gist?
With all do respect to the other posters, for all you know, alot of the people who may answer your question could be broke convicts sitting in the Big Pen Library answering your questions.
If you have a goal - ex. financial success - the first thing to do is to determine, whom you should listen to.
What kind of financial success do you want?
Do you want to be a millionaire (ie. one of the approx 8 million individuals out of the 6.5 billion on the planet?)
Do you want to be an ultra-high net worth individual (i.e. one of the approx. 50,000 individuals out of the 6.5 billion worth $30 mil or more - not including the value of their principle home)
Do you want to be a billionaire (approx. 1000 out of the 6.5 billion people on the planet)
Do you want to be a DOUBLE DIGIT billionaire (approx. 50 or so individuals out of 6.6 billion world population).
Once you've determined what you want, doesn't it make sense to gather information from these subsets?
After all, if you were headed backpacking in spain you wouldn't ask someone who just completed a road trip to California on advice where to stay would you??
Yes, they are both on a "trip some where" but clearly the strategy that worked for one is not directly suitable to the other.
So, first, determine your goal.
Second, gather information, aka "best practices" from those who have been successful at meeting a similar goal.
Thirdly, implement their best practices. The MOST EXPENSIVE way in the world to learn is painful "trial and error". In other words, you just "jump right in" without any awareness of what has worked before and what is likely to.
What did the wealthiest capitalist in the history of Western society, Warren Buffet say? He said that he learned practically everything he needed to know from Benjamin Gragham his college professor and his book on investing.
Also, since you posted a comment about this before, I just have to say it. I think you're doing yourself a SEVERE DISSERVICE by not making use of the resources you have at your university.
Through UMich's business school and the alumni network, you probably have as easy access as you'll ever get in life to some
a) millionaires
b) ultra high net worth individuals
c) at least 2 or 3 billionaires (judging by the UMich grads I've seen on the Forbes' List of billionaires)
Instead of asking this kind of question on an internet forum, you should be going to the Career Planning and Placement office and setting up appointments with these people.
Call and call and call them. It may take you a while, but a few of them will respond and at least give you 15 minutes.
Ask them how they became successful, what books they read, etc.
When you go, make sure you bring a present such as a book or something to express your appreciation for their generosity in giving you the time of day.
Are you really prepared to do what you have to do to be successful or is it just talk?
This is not idol talk. This is the exact strategy I used eons ago to gain insight from some of the world's most successful individuals. I'm not going to mention names her because that's tacky but can assure you it is true and it does work....
I'm making it easy for you so you have no excuses:
Alumni Association of the University of Michigan | Alumni Association of the University of Michigan
Get to know some people here:
Alumni Community, Stephen M. Ross School of Business
Go to the alumni office and find out how to get in touch with Stephen Ross himself (the guy UMich's B school is named after). Once you are out of school, you miss out on all the networking opportunities.
You said you are from a modest background right? What other opportunity is a kid from a regular middle class background going to interact with this stratus of society outside of school?
This guy is worth $4.5 billion dollars. As mentioned earlier, there are approx. 1000 billionaires out of the 6.5 billion people on the planet.
Stephen M. Ross - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
When you call the man's office, get to know his secretary. Send her flowers if you have to. After a while, she'll no doubt say something like "Mr. Ross this persistent young kid who's a student at UMich won't stop calling until you give him 5 minutes".
That's the person you need to be asking about books and what not.
Instead of (or in addition to WF) you need to be reading about who's been successful at UMich and getting to know those people. When you develop relationships with them, you will gain insight about the knowledge sources they've used to get them where they are.
Even this proven strategy I've enumerated here I learned in books. It works, plain and simple.
If you dont' believe me, read the biographies of a good 10 or so billionaires and a good 50 or so ultra-high net worth individuals and you will be convinced.
Now the question is were you just shooting the shit with this question, or willing to do exactly what it takes?
I hope this is fairly coherent as I'm headed off to bed now.
Good luck.
- then don't - like 99% of the world's population of plebians....
alternatively;
1) go to odesk.com
2) hire someone to give you a cliff note version
3) use the info
4) profit
I have recently started reading actual books... I also started earning relatively big dollars since I started. Coincidence? Maybe... except it was a Kurt Cobain biography, so I really don't think it was the book doing it.
If you enjoy illogical, irrational theories that utterly fail the scientific method...
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMn2R5txO28&feature=related"]YouTube - A Critique of the Austrian School of Economics[/ame]
It's so funny the difference in these kind of discussions on WF vs. a place like Physicsforums.com's "shooting the shit" section (partner forum of Scientific American) where debates are not won or lost based on personal-view-popularity tests but factual evidence. And, where moderators immediately close threads if one's arguments have false logic, unproven premises and aren't supported by peer-reviewed factual evidence.
Example of the ban-hammer rules:
It is against our Posting Guidelines to discuss, in most of the PF forums or in blogs, new or non-mainstream theories or ideas that have not been published in professional peer-reviewed journals or are not part of current professional mainstream scientific discussion. Personal theories/Independent Research may be submitted to our Independent Research Forum, provided they meet our Independent Research Guidelines; Personal theories posted elsewhere will be deleted. Poorly formulated personal theories, unfounded challenges of mainstream science, and overt crackpottery will not be tolerated anywhere on the site. Linking to obviously "crank" or "crackpot" sites is prohibited.
Friedrich August Hayek:
"economic theories can never be verified with reference to facts..."
Yeah right buddy - can neither can the world being flat be falsified as an a priori assumption...
I guess the difference is that professional economists frequent that place...
Can you tell me what the book title is for the chick who loves to be fucked in the ass...
I've always been of the school of thought that yes, people who are successful continually educate themselves and have a thirst for knowledge. But the older I get, the less I think that's true.
This is a really interesting question, because I can see both sides of it and wrestle w/ it daily. If you're always trying to learn (living inside your head), you're not executing. If you're executing w/o knowing anything then you're probably being pretty inefficient. At the end of the day, I would say executing period is way more important.
Here's a quote from Einstein on the subject:
"Reading, after a certain age, diverts the mind too much from its creative pursuits. Any man who reads too much and uses his own brain too little falls into lazy habits of thinking."
This is a really interesting question, because I can see both sides of it and wrestle w/ it daily. If you're always trying to learn (living inside your head), you're not executing. If you're executing w/o knowing anything then you're probably being pretty inefficient. At the end of the day, I would say executing period is way more important.
Here's a quote from Einstein on the subject:
"Reading, after a certain age, diverts the mind too much from its creative pursuits. Any man who reads too much and uses his own brain too little falls into lazy habits of thinking."
Lately I have been reading less and less, and begin to execute more and more. The result is phenomenal of course. Nothing beats real life experience. Thanks for the Einstein's quote, btw.
- Status