The 4th of July

Do you read self help books? Do you read books about marketing? Or management? Or motivation? Or innovation?

When I pose this question (and I do it frequently) to friends, business associates and people I meet on planes, trains and buses, I am very often amazed at how many people proudly admit that those types of books are a “bunch of BS and are nothing more than plain common sense” and they don’t need a self help book for that.

“Nope”, they say, “I don’t read these types of books.” Rather they state they are content in “being who they are” and “knowing themselves” well enough that they “don’t need any help.” 

Or the best excuse is, "I'm too busy to read and learn anything new."  Boy, wouldn't you hate for your heart surgeon to tell you that?

Is it the fear that holds them back from finding out that if they read these types of books and have to admit that they don’t know something they would get lost in the void?

Better to go on doing what they are doing and continue flailing round waiting for the “business to come back” then learn some new ideas, implement suggestions from experts, take some courses and get better at running their business? 

Maybe self help isn’t comfortable and maybe it is even a little painful, but don’t you owe it to yourself and the people that work with you and for you to get them to reach for a higher bar; to achieve more than they ever thought they could and be the best they can be?

Please, on this 4^th of July, declare your independence from the status quo, from business as usual and head to a new landing spot, away from the stagnant waters in which you may very well be swimming.