We'll be discussing this in our 12pm MT, live Free Agent Underground Show this afternoon. You can join us here.
If you are reading this blog, you probably read other blogs. If you listen to my podcasts, you probably listen to other podcasts. Chances are you may get some business magazines, or you frequently purchase nonfiction, 'self-help' books.
Yes? Me too.
I read, and often get inspired. Which is nice! That's better than letting negative input come into my head for sure. I'd rather we all filled up with this type of input than listen to Black Sabbath and read Stephen King novels for sure.
But let's be honest, we are primarily being ENTERTAINED.
Our lives are what they are today. If they are perfect, then we wouldn't be seeking other input for the most part. Agreed? So, we want something better. We generally want:
- More money
- More time
- More purpose
- More peace
- Less stress
- Less struggle
- Less conflict
So we again, read blogs, listen to podcasts, read magazines and books, watch videos, even catch 'self-help' shows on TV (I assume, though I haven't had any type of TV for over a decade).
But, when did we last make a significant change that got us closer to the above seven goals? When did we last ACT ON and APPLY what we learned?!
Folks, I'm preaching to myself here. I sicken myself, actually. I am not a man full of grace and compassion. I'm just naturally NOT. It infects my entire life. I've been well aware of that for years. So why did I read so many other books on so many other topics? Finally, I picked up "What's So Amazing About Grace." Unbelievable, revelatory, life changing book. I read it. Blew me away. Then…I put it down and picked up another great book.
Guess what? I'm still a jerk. I'm just as James 1:22 talks about. I'm a 'hearer of the word and not a doer.' I wasted my time and money on that book if I don't APPLY it.
So, I talked to my core guys about it to help get accountability. Then, started reading it again and put away the other books I wanted to read.
Guess what? I'm still a jerk. But it's coming to mind more. It's needling me more, my reactions are more acute to me. They anger me. I'm starting to temper my reactions and adjust my actions.
How many times should I read that book and how long should I study it and seek to apply it in order to actually change? What if it took me a year, and after a year I was a new man? It would be worth the world to my wife and children.
So leaving that book behind and picking up 'another great book' would be a sin in my life. Spending an hour today reading blogs, listening to podcasts and investing my time elsewhere is in essence saying, "I don't care enough about changing to stay on task. I'd rather be entertained."
I hear so many people that brag about how many 'great' blogs and podcasts and videocasts and books they voraciously read. And yet I see them make no significant change or progress in their lives, year in and year out. They are being entertained. 'Positive entertainment' no doubt, which is better than negative. But it's still entertainment. Let's not kid ourselves or expect much from our time invested in these things, nor lament that our circumstances don't change. I won't impress my wife by reading 20 books on marriage. I'll impress her by changing.
Our primary change does NOT occur by osmosis. It occurs from radical action. Period. Have you ever lost weight by surrounding yourself with diet books and skinny people? Or by throwing out the Twinkies, putting duct tape over your mouth and going for a run?
The average adult reads 10 books per year. The average peer of mine probably reads at least a couple good self-help books per month, and many read one or two a week.
If we truly desire to change, I believe we'd be good to stick with one book per year that we read, study, outline, apply, review, apply, review, apply. And maybe at the end of a year we'll have actually achieved a positive outcome.
You want to be successfully self-employed? Quit taking in loads of content and 'surrounding yourself' with it. It won't help. Act and apply. Our upcoming IDEA event on March 25th is a great place to start.
P.S. Regarding my use of the word 'sin' in the headline. I truly believe that failing to address areas in my life that I know are harming me or others, falls under the definition of 'sin.' Which is...'missing the mark.'
