A Ditch Digger Who Knows Big Words

It does me very little good, other than reaping the benefits of reading over other forms of entertainment or learning, to envelope myself in invaluable books about business, life lessons, and biographies if I were to, upon completion, simply lay them down  and go about my business-as-usual lifestyle especially if I'm discontent with my status quo. Wouldn't it be much more beneficial to my vocational and personal life if I were to take the lessons and principles from my favorite authors and apply them to my efforts for success?

It's rhetorical because the answer is obvious. 

Even when reading a good work of fiction such as Dickens, Poe, London, Burroughs, Hemmingway, there are lessons to be learned. Certainly immersing myself in those written stories has so much more rewarding benefits as opposed to binge watching Netflix, a Star Wars marathon or (and I cringe at this) 90 Day Fiancé. 

"What possible benefits come from reading fiction that I can't get from watching the movie version?" One might ask. 

For one it exercises the brain and improves cognitive abilities as well as vocabulary not to mention how I can  get completely immersed in the story but the thing that fascinates me in large ways about fiction is the author's life story. Some of the best examples of applied success principles and all it's attributes abide within the writer's own real life and can be helpful to us regardless of our profession. Some of the qualities include...

• Hard work
• Persistence 
• Self belief 
• Motivation 
• Economy of effort 
• Focus 
• Goal setting
• Overcoming obstacles

and their philosophies of success are all qualities that reside in the authors' personal lives and this leads in a big way to my interest in reading the stories they write.

But again, whether its fiction or non fiction, if I reap some benefits from the lessons contained between the covers but then do nothing afterwards, then all I can do is think to myself how I enjoyed it but for what purpose?

It's incumbent upon me to take what principles I can, and make them a reality in my life. If not, then I will just end up being another ditch digger with more knowledge and a slightly better vocabulary.

I've listed some books I've found particularly useful and/or enjoyable:

 See you at the Top, Zig Ziglar

Schulz and Peanuts  David Michaelis

The Millionaire Next Door, Thomas J. Stanley and William D. Danko

Tools of Titans, Tim Ferris

Change Agents, Brian Tracy

Guerilla Marketing for Writers, Jay Conrad Levinson

The Now Habit, Neil Fiore

Ignore Everybody, Hugh MacLeod

A Better Way to Think, H. Norman Wright

Jesus is My CEO, Simon Lee

Late Bloomers, Rich Karlgaard

Swagger, Jimmy Johnson

Walt Disney, Neil Gabler

When Pride Still Mattered, David Marannis

FDR, Jean Edward Smith

Napoleon, Andrew Roberts

Steal Like an Artist Austin Kleon