Reading: The Gift That Keeps Giving

Last in a 4 part series on "Reading". Click here for Part 1 , Part 2 and Part 3

Some gifts stay with you forever.  For me, that gift was reading, and it came from my aunt.

After struggling with Thomas Hardy’s A Pair of Blue Eyes - my first read, my aunt instead of criticizing handed me Henry James’ short stories.  That one act changed everything.

Over the next two decades, I made it a habit to read one new book almost every week.   This shaped my habits early:

• Start small.  Build your “reading muscles.”
• If a book doesn’t grip you by page 50, let it go.
• Use tools like The StoryGraph to explore.
• Discuss books with friends. It adds depth and joy.
• Set a reading routine.  Say 10 pages every day.

My aunt taught me that reading wasn’t a race to finish.  It was a search for transformation. That gave me freedom and joy.

Over time, I began to seek out authors who helped me relate to people and events, communicate with clarity, and navigate life’s rough patches.  As Burke Hedges said: "You never know which book, at what time, will unlock your next breakthrough." 

[Click here to track my literary journey.]

Do you too have a story to share?   I’d love to hear that - how books shaped your world.  The comments section below is open...`

"Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers." — Charles William Eliot

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From Words to Wisdom – Read. Reflect. Grow.

Third in a 4 part series on "Reading". Click here for Part 1 and Part 2

Reading isn't just a hobby.  It's a powerful tool for personal growth, meaningful connection, and overall well-being.  In our increasingly fast-paced world, we often fall into the trap of skimming content without truly absorbing it.  Genuine learning happens only when we read to understand the deeper message and transform passive reading into active thinking.

The benefits extend far beyond entertainment.  Regular reading sharpens our cognitive abilities, supporting career advancement through enhanced problem-solving and communication skills.  It also serves as a natural stress reliever, providing a mental escape that can significantly reduce anxiety.  Perhaps most powerfully, reading builds empathy by immersing us in perspectives and experiences different from our own.

To make reading truly transformative:

• Take notes that connect ideas to our own life and work.
• Discuss books with others to deepen understanding.
• Practise the "recall test" - remember what we read before moving on.
• Challenge ourself with complex material that stretches our thinking.
• Set aside dedicated, distraction-free reading time.
• Apply new concepts in real-life situations.

Reading across diverse genres broadens our perspective, and cultivates intellectual flexibility.  It connects us to the universal human experience while highlighting unique cultural viewpoints.

In Part 4, we'll explore strategies for curating a reading list that aligns with our goals.  Subscribe to get it as soon as it is uploaded.

“Today a reader, tomorrow a leader.” – Margaret Fuller

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From Stalemate to Success: Unlocking Conflict Resolution (11)

What happens when two strong contenders vie for the same position?  The meeting to finalize, hit a deadlock.  An unconventional intervention saved the situation.  Each candidate was asked to write three reasons, why the other deserved the role, and three for themselves.  They exchanged notes, and read them aloud.  A win-win solution benefiting both was the outcome.

This resolution reflected Harvard's timeless negotiation principles: Separate the people from the problem, and create options for mutual gain.

Conflict isn’t failure.  It’s a doorway to understanding and collaboration.  Here’s how to walk through it:

• Drop the power play: Replace arguments with active listening.
• Swap perspectives in writing: Step into the other’s shoes.
• Clarify the root cause: Is it miscommunication, unmet needs, or clashing values?
• Follow up: Keep the dialogue open to ensure solutions stick.

Effective conflict resolution balances emotions with facts, respects differences, and chooses growth over ego.  It builds trust, and strengthens relationships.

In healthy organizations, constructive conflicts fuel innovation.  Resilient teams don't avoid tension.  They manage it with clarity, fairness, and respect.  Spot conflict patterns early, before they escalate.

Every conflict holds the seed of a better solution.  When handled skillfully, conflict leads to deeper connections, smarter decisions, and lasting success.

 "Peace is not the absence of conflict, but the ability to handle conflict by peaceful means." — Ronald Reagan

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Redefining Reading: Your Rules, Your Way

Second in a 4-Part Series on Reading. Click for Part 1

Ever dreamed of losing yourself in the pages of a book, but found reading a chore?  You're not alone.  Many, struggle to find time or joy in books.  There's often a disconnect between expectations and reality.  Even passionate readers, once struggled with the basics.

To move forward, view oft-repeated "rules" as traps:

• "Finish every book you start" - Turns reading into an obligation
• "Don't use ebooks" - Experiment with all formats
• "Read the classics first" - Difficult texts can kill motivation
• "Your choices aren't sophisticated" - Reading what interests you matters most

Common pitfalls to avoid:

📚 Starting with heavy classics

🫸 Forcing yourself to finish every book

🥱 Believing boring books will "improve"

Make reading a pleasurable adventure!  Start with captivating authors like Neil Gaiman for fantasy, Colleen Hoover for romance, or Raymond Chandler for mysteries.  Even 5–10 minute sessions are valuable.

Read the way you like:

🦘 Skip pages or peek at endings without guilt

👎 Drop books that bore you—dull rarely turns dazzling

🩷 Chase what you love—comics, memoirs, anything!

🚤 Use accessibility tools that work for you

Unlock worlds of fun, insight, and inspiration.

 "A great book should leave you with many experiences, and slightly exhausted at the end."  - William Styron

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Page Turners to Screen Addicts: What Next?

First in a 4-Part Series on Reading

Remember the joy of getting lost in a good book?  The rustle of pages, the scent of paper, the thrill of escape, the feeling of adventure and discovery?  For many of us, those days are fading memories.  Our bookshelves are gathering dust.  It’s time to ask: why did we stop reading? 

The truth stings.  Screens have hacked our brains.  A 2015 Microsoft study says our attention span has dropped to just 8 seconds.  That's shorter than a goldfish’s!  We've traded quiet reading nights for mindless scrolling, swapping deep thought for likes, retweets, and clickbait traps.

The cost?  We’re losing our edge.  Addicted to constant excitement, our focus is fading, and critical thinking is weakening.  We’ve surrendered to a culture of instant gratification and fragmented attention, losing the joy of imagining and reflecting in passive consumption.

But there’s hope.  The reader in us isn’t dead.  It’s just dozing under digital rubble, waiting to be dug out.  The question is: how do we do it?  The answer comes in Part 2.   For now, let us take the first step:

• Read just 5 pages a day; be under no pressure to finish fast.
• Remove distractions; keep your phone silent while reading.
• Re-read a book you once loved; nostalgia can reignite the spark.

Start today.

"A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. The man who never reads lives only one."- George Martin

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Beg, Borrow, Steal: The Brilliance of Creativity (10)

In school, we were once asked to make cardboard pyramids.  While others cut and glued random shapes, I pulled out a pre-cut template, folded it neatly, and unveiled a perfect pyramid!  "Creative!" my teacher exclaimed.

That word stuck.  Years later, I discovered, I'd used a "pattern-drawing" technique from sheet metal fabrication.  That moment taught me - creativity isn’t about inventing from scratch.   It’s about connecting unexpected dots.

In our careers, creativity is problem-solving with flair, turning limits into leverage, and routine into opportunity.  Many see it as a rare gift, but it’s actually a skill.  It fades without use, and sharpens with practice.

So, how do we unlock it?

• Cross-pollinate.  Borrow across disciplines.
• Ask questions:  “What if we flipped this?”
• Let failures show you new roads.
• Play like a child.  Experiments spark magic.
• Keep asking “why” until the rules loosen.

Creativity isn’t a lightning bolt.  It’s a slow burn, lit by curiosity, fueled by imagination, and fanned by action.  Look sideways, dig deeper, and reshape the ordinary into the extraordinary.

As Nassim Nicholas Taleb said:

 “The enemy of creativity is the illusion of originality.”

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Stay Ahead with Continuous Learning (9)

Success isn’t just about talent.  It’s about mindset - a growth mindset that turns challenges into opportunities, setbacks into lessons, and fortless  mastery.  Unlike a fixed perspective which sees abilities as static, believe firmly that skills can be expanded through learning and persistence.

It’s a mindset you can build.  Treat skills like muscles.  They grow with use.  Obstacles? Think of them as workouts, not concrete walls!

Here's how to get there:-

✅ Reframe stumbles:  Mistakes aren’t failures. View them as helpful feedback.  Detours often offer the best views.

✅ Invite feedback:  Don’t take it personally.  Take it as fuel.

✅ Lean into discomfort:  Feeling unsure means you’re learning.  Growth starts at the edge of comfort.

✅ Persist smartly:  Grit isn’t grinding.  It’s growing.  Try the 5-hour rule: spend five hours a week learning, re-learning and de-learning.

✅ Reflect and adjust:  A quick pause to assess, sharpens your next move.

✅ Stay curious:  Explore, Click, Learn.  The world’s at your fingertips.

✅ Learn with others:  Surround yourself with curious minds.  Growth loves company

The reward?  You’ll adapt faster, think sharper, and catch opportunities others miss.  Lifelong learning is your superpower.

Choose growth.  You’ll never lag behind.

“The illiterate of the 21st century won’t be those who can’t read, but those who can’t learn, unlearn, and relearn.” – Alvin Toffler

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Leadership Isn’t a Title. It’s a Toolbox. (7)

My professor once said, "You're not a born leader.  But at the same time if anyone thinks you can be easily led, he is in for a rude awakening".  Today i realize that leadership isn’t inborn, nor is it a byproduct of authority.

The Cult of Leadership:

The corporate world obsesses over “leaders,” but ignores that real leadership is about taking initiative.  A plumber doesn’t wait for orders.  He spots a leak and fixes it.  Ask yourself: what would happen if you lost your title tomorrow?  Would people still seek your advice and value your input?  If the answer is yes, you’re a leader.  If not, you’re just demanding compliance.  True leadership cares, does not control.

Influence Works Sideways:

The best ideas often come from the quietest voice in the room.  Influence spreads laterally.  A junior tackling a real issue can outshine his manager.  Respect adds weight to a title, not the reverse.

The “Sweeping Floor” Rule:

A leader doesn’t just bark orders.  He grabs a broom and joins his team. Influence grows from action, not accolades.

Leadership Without Visibility:

Some of the greatest leaders thrive in the background.  Like a colleague who anonymously mentors juniors, and uplifts them without craving recognition.  It's not about being seen; it's about making a difference, even when no one notices.

The Courage to Stand Alone;

Leadership stems from service, not status.  The goal isn’t to gather followers but to inspire others to step up and lead because leadership multiplies when shared.  As Ralph Nader said:

"The function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers."  — Ralph Nader

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