reading vs. applying

“Knowledge is nothing without action. Nothing changes until you do something. What you do will directly determine what you learn.”

— James A. Belasco

As you go through inspirational and educational books in the subjects of personal development, philosophy, and success mindset, you start developing an ever-increasing awareness and appreciation of the talents and gifts that you’ve been blessed with. You should realize that as you receive proper mentorship and instruction, you can equip yourself to use these latent talents in the real world, helping you attract the life and lifestyle that you truly desire. 

However, there’s one thing that you must keep in mind: No amount of reading, listening or memorizing will bring you the success you’re looking for. Learning is good, but it’s the understanding and application of the ideas and insights in the books that matters the most. As Tony Robbins puts it, “Knowledge is not power. Knowledge is only potential power. Action is power.”

So, don’t be in any hurry to finish books. Your goal should not be to read as many books as possible. Your objective must be to absorb, understand and apply what you read. Even if you read one page of a good book a day and properly digest it and apply what you learn, that might be more than enough to reach your highest potential and achieve your big, hairy and audacious goals. 

Go slow and ‘savor’ the books. Focus on scanning, not skimming. And consume learning materials with intentionality, not intensity. When it comes to taking your life to the next level and achieving greater success, understanding and applying always trumps reading and memorization.