What Came First, the Leader or the Reader?

They say ‘Leaders are readers’.

It got me thinking about the old conundrum of what came first, the chicken or the egg, and how this applied to leaders.

Does someone become successful, get a position of leadership and then in their quest to nurture and engage their team decide they need to start reading? Reading to learn strategies and skills to help them lead?

Or is it the other way around? Meaning, the people who take the time to read early in life or their career are better skilled, more effective and thus are fast tracked to positions of leadership?

Interesting isn’t it. Like the chicken and egg, I don’t think we will ever know.

I know my journey into leadership was via the former scenario. It was not until I was already in a position of leadership that I was bitten by the book bug. Early in my career I was always proactive and generally interested in learning, but wasn’t inspired to read a lot of books. It was not until I felt the responsibility to help the people in my life looking to me (in part) for leadership, that I realised I needed to be constantly learning and evolving to fulfil my obligation to them.

Nowadays I’m obsessed with reading so I can improve as a leader, advisor, mentor, person and investor. Leadership positions at times can be lonely, so reading is a great way to connect with inspiring thought leaders and view at what is happening in your life through a different lens.

If you don’t read much, think about buying a book as an investment. If it costs you $30, you can read the book looking for that million-dollar idea or ways to exponentially improve your life. I guarantee you the best investment you can make is in yourself.

If you need inspiration, please email me and I’ll send you a list of 10 books we recommend for people who want to grow and get more out of life: [email protected]