Read, Grow, Succeed

When you’re green, you’re growing. When you’re ripe, you rot.
~~Ray Kroc

The day we stop learning is the day the end of our success begins. Every bare wall in my home in Texas has floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, all full to overflowing. There are two reasons for this. First, I don’t know how to throw out a perfectly good book. Second, I believe that I must ever expand my mind — exercise it, challenge it — to grow. History is full of great people, many of whom never finished college, or even finished fifth grade, who achieved success because they were determined to learn from the successful folks who preceded them.

Frank, a college classmate of mine, the son of a wealthy businessman, received a 4.0 GPA and was always light-years ahead of his peers in raw intelligence, debating skills, writing skills and core knowledge. Was he born any better than the rest of us? I used to think so. However, one day, I had the privilege of visiting his home.

As we walked through the front door, Frank’s father met us in the foyer and ushered us into his den, where comfortable LazyBoy chairs awaited, surrounded by literally thousands of books on every subject imaginable. He said, “Gentlemen, pick a book, any book, and start reading. By dinnertime, you should have at least a chapter or two consumed, and I look forward to discussing what you’ve learned over dinner.” There was enough literature in that one room to support a hundred PhD programs. I was impressed, but mostly intimidated. I picked out Shakespeare’s “The Merchant of Venice” and sat down. Frank’s dad watched us until we had our books open, then quietly left the room.

As I left Frank’s house to return to my dormatory room, it dawned on me why Frank had excelled throughout college, and why he seemed invincible. The boy never stopped learning. He didn’t know how to end a single day of the week without reading at least a chapter or two of some book. I once asked him if he ever stopped to play games. He replied, “Yes, I play chess, because it forces me to use all my intelligence, foresight, heuristics, perception, strategic thinking, and tactical skills in order to dominate my opponent. I don’t learn from any other games, so Chess it is.” I had the pleasure of being badly beaten by Frank at chess once. Only once. I wouldn’t play him after that! It only took him 16 moves to checkmate. I didn’t have a chance.

From that one encounter with Frank’s dad, I resolved to become as well-read as Frank. I continued with my music and other pursuits as well, but I always found time to read. I am 100-percent convinced that the readers among us are the champions. Those who’d rather play games and revel in a world of pop culture will soon enough join the “entitlement” crowd who demand that success be given to them, instead of them earning it.

So, in the context of becoming a successful entrepreneur, a leader in business, or achieving financial independence (whatever defines success for you), I recommend that your library include at least the following books. If you don’t already have them, and cannot borrow them at the local library, I’ve made each one a link to its corresponding Amazon.com page, where you can save money by getting a used one. The condition of the book is irrelevant. It’s the content that we care about.

If you’d like to recommend a book that I haven’t listed (which I may actually own but didn’t include here), please let me know, and I’ll consider adding it to the list (after I’ve read and approved it).

Happy learning, happy growing, happy succeeding!