A Token Pic For Those Who Hate Reading
Is reading really not good for you? Like what the heck man! What needs be the reading folk? It no help you vocabulary or make smart. OK! maybe, I might have over emphasized that last point, but I am pretty sure that you are probably wondering what the heck is he up to again?
Well, it is very simple. I am an entrepreneur who is always alert to cool business toys, ideas, and such. In fact, it can sometimes drive me crazy once an idea gets in the noggin. That is actually why when I need to be super-focused I stop reading things. So, when I say that this is according to new research, I mean the experimentation that I do on myself for the benefit of social networkers everywhere. It is research of a sort!
Here is the problem with reading new information for a social networking entrepreneur.
Those darn books give you ideas! Can you actually stand that? They make you think!
In fact, yesterday I was reading a new white paper that Aweber put out with Marketing Sherpa and deep within their 36 page report they actually gave me a gem of an idea. Now, here is the challenge. I am not sure if I will have time to do this, but because this is definitely a Christmas idea the good Jew that I am says go for it now! However, if I do have time I will have to blame them. Well, not blame, but partially credit.
Actually, I am thinking about this idea. To calm your nerves I want to let you know that it relates to email marketing and conversions. Geez, Andy! Real surprise that a white paper from Aweber would give you an idea about email marketing. But seriously, it really did.
And therein lies the problem. I read something and have a natural impulse to put it into action. Sometimes, I resist the urge, but the reality is that good ideas are to steal a phrase from Seth Godin Ideaviruses! They just dominate your thoughts, invade your imaginations as you see how you will make this dream reality!
For me, there is nothing more dangerous and as amazingly powerful as ideas. That is actually why I read. Sometimes, I am in a rut and just figure out something awe-inspiring in the midst of a boring ebook or blog post. The rest of the information might be ho-hum as I breeze through. However, there is that one moment as I read that information where the lights go off and twenty browser tabs later I have the beginning of something great. That happened to me in the midst of an ok post a few days when they gave an email marketing idea that just took me away from some things I was currently doing. By the way, it is working out great so far, however, I am keeping this one close to the vest until I have more research to report back.
In fact, that is part of why I write on my blog. For me it is not enough to just have the idea, but sometimes as I go through my guinea pig phase it helps me to flesh out the idea on my blog (Note: For new readers that is when I subject myself to the rigors of a new and dangerous experiment in internet marketing, social networking, and search engine optimization).
So dere! Hey dere! How dis relate dere to social networking dere! Well, the reality is that the information that I discuss on my blog does not just appear out of thin air. Except of course the information that I devised out of thin air. (Personal note gone public: Good blog post for the future. Creating blog posts out of thin air. The science, the magic, the alchemy).
Instead, it generally comes to me from experimentation and reading. Lots and lots of reading. I probably read at least 3-5 blog posts every day along with 1 e-book as well. That was actually the best part of joining the War Room on Warrior Forum. Someone is always sharing something amazing there.
The culmination of that knowledge generally finds its way onto this blog in some shape or form.
In conclusion, I hate reading, not because it makes me smart! No that would just be a cop out! Nah! I hate reading, because it gives me ideas that spur the imagination to do more! What other reason could there be for hating reading!
Slightly Sincerely,
Andy Nathan
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Shiny object! Shiny object! This post reminds me of a friend of mine who has imaginary gremlins doing his work…well they may not be imaginary. I told him that my elves working furiously but merrily in a hollow tree of course kept getting great ideas for new things to do. “Chop that tree down now!” was his advice and while I can’t quite bring myself to do that — it has curbed some of the enthusiasm and the elves seem to be better about bringing up new ideas AFTER the important meat and potatoes type things are all done.
Kathryn,
Exactly! I think I must have the same scenario.
Glad i am not alone here!
Andy
That is the purpose of those reading materials, Andy. To inspire you, to tickle your mind, to motivate you to do something.
Maybe you are just reading the materials that are not not fit for you. Go for materials that are designed to entertain. There are a lot of them out there.
Yes, your title misled me. You didn’t quote any research. Not unless you are just using reverse psychology.
Christopher,
I think I was maybe to tongue and cheek for this post. The challenge is not that I do not find the right information. The challenge is that I find too many great reads.
Yes, there was no research outside of my own experimentation/research.
Andy
Hey Andy, yes,it was Very tongue- in- cheek. Hilariously so. (And you did say right at the outset that the research was the ‘experimentation you do on yourself’.) You remind me of some mad social Networking Professor! Great way to get people to click on and read more, and then a bit of humour to reward them for doing so. Plus a nugget or two of wisdom. Kudos, I think you achieved it all 🙂
Mandy,
Mad social networking professor! Thanks! 🙂
Glad you enjoyed the extremely tongue-in-cheek post!
Andy
There are a lot of great books out there that you can read that will give you ideas and motivate you. You just have to be reading the right ones for you.
Ted
Ted,
It is not a problem of finding books that motivate me. Instead, this is a challenge of finding books that do not motivate me! Appreciate the comments!
Andy
Hi Andy,
Wow! That was a great tittle. You have stop me and think for a while. Well my problem is when I start reading books I get sleepy all the time 🙂 lol!
Cindy,
Glad to get you thinking! Some books put me to sleep. Others make me hyperactive!
Andy
I love thinking as well, but from a very practical standpoint, thoughts that don’t influence action at some point are, by definition, useless 🙂
Pen and sword in accord my friend!
Nicholas,
I like that! Pen and Sword in accord!
Andy
Ideaviruses…how terrible. Can they be removed like computer viruses….empty the mind and reboot? We wouldn’t want to have any ideaviruses left. perish the thought.
Say, Nicholas…is there someone who can do my thinking for me,….that way I might avoid the deadly ideavirus!
David,
If we could just keep the good ideaviruses it would be nice!
Andy
If I had a dime for every time I’ve stopped writing to read something I was researching for the writing you get the picture. 10 cents for each of those “titled” blog posts that are languishing in “draft mode” would be ok too 😉
Doreen,
Oh yeah! I am glad that I am not alone in the venture of mis-guided reading. Have enough blog post drafts as well. 🙂
Andy
Andy,
I know exactly what you are saying! That is why I love/hate the war room of warrior forum! So many great ideas. So many great things to read and learn from, or be inspired by. Trouble is, it is way to easy to spend all my time learning and being inspired, and not building my business. Love the tongue in cheek style of this post…definitely grabbed my attention!
Lorraina
Lorraina,
That is exactly the challenge I have when I read. My mind gets inspired to do way too many activities for the time in a day.
Andy