We had this kooky, quick connection. Our first names are the same. Our initials are the same. The first syllable of both our last names—are colors. We're "broadcast brothers" with vast radio experience. And we both have a passionate, never-ending, insatiable love for books.

Please meet Jeff Brown, host of his very popular and successful Read to Lead podcast. Annually recognized as one of the "best business podcasts". And he's the author of Read to Lead.

Recently, I was interviewed by Jeff on his podcast. We focused on strategies in the 5th edition of Peak Your Profits® / Your Explosive Business-Growth System. (If you'd like to listen to our conversation, please go to: https://readtoleadpodcast.com/ and in the Search box on the upper right-hand side, please enter: Jeff Blackman   then hit Enter or Return and you'll go directly to Episode 445. Thanks.)

If you dig reading, or listening to fascinating authors who share their philosophies, strategies and tactics to help you achieve new levels of success, (personally and professionally), you'll dig Jeff Brown's podcast. Plus, he has a fun, engaging style—where he enthusiastically exclaims, "Leaders read and readers lead!"

However, now—I get to flip-the-tables on Jeff—and ask him questions. And you're the beneficiary!

Jeff Blackman: Why are readers, leaders?

Jeff Brown: Readers don't become leaders just through the act of reading. However, I know of no quality leader who refuses to carve out time to learn and grow. And books are the best, strongest option. Ezines, articles, podcasts and videos are great, but they're not books. A book is curated over months and even years. And vetted by lots of people before it ever gets published.

Jeff Blackman: How can one become a more effective reader?

Jeff Brown: If you typically take notes as you read, meaning you stop and restart a lot, try separating the two disciplines. Set a timer for either 25- or 50-minutes (the Pomodoro Technique) and just read. {The Pomodoro Technique is a time management strategy based on 25-minute stretches of focused work—broken by five-minute breaks.}

As you read, rather than take notes, limit yourself to making simple markings in your (obviously) physical book: an asterisk or star for something of particular resonance, a question mark for something you're not sure you understand or maybe even something you disagree with, and a "Q" to signify a pithy passage or quote to remember.

After a short break (a 5-minute break after a 25-minute session or a 10-minute break following a 50-minute session), go back through the chapter or section you just read and now take notes using your previously made markings to guide you.

I've found separating the two disciplines aids considerably—in your ability to retain and comprehend what you read.

Jeff Blackman: Why is reading so important?

Jeff Brown: You learn new things. It challenges your thinking. And research suggests these additional reading benefits. It:

• Empowers you to more readily empathize with others

• Improves your decision-making

• Reduces stress

• Helps you sleep

• Helps prevent cognitive decline as you age

• Strengthens your brain

• Makes you more creative

• Improves your vocabulary

Jeff Blackman: How many books do you read annually? What are the qualities you look for?

Jeff Brown: At least 50 (for the weekly podcast) and perhaps another ten or twelve. I first think about "why" I might read a particular book. What do I hope to gain? When reading the Table of Contents and the inside front and back cover— if it can address a problem I hope to solve, I dive in. I usually give a book about 50 pages to decide if I'll stick with it. Consider 100 pages minus your age. Let that number be the number of pages you "give" a book, before you "quit" a book. The older you become, the fewer pages a book gets!

Jeff Blackman: Why did you create your Read to Lead podcast?

Jeff Brown: My love for books, their impact on me, and a desire to help more people easily access them. I wanted them to experience what I have. If someone can't or won't take time to read a book—they might be willing to glean its key insights through a conversation with the author.

For many, the Read to Lead show has become their way to "audition" books. The biggest "complaint" I get from listeners and viewers—is how much their book budgets have ballooned!

Jeff Blackman: How do you respond to others, who claim they're too busy or have no time to read?

Jeff Brown: They're lying to themselves. If that's one's claim, it simply means they don't consider reading important enough to carve-out time for it. That goes for anything one feels they lack the time to do. That's fine, so long as one understands—not doing that thing is a choice.

Only when the "thing"—rises up your list of priorities will it ever stand a chance of taking hold and becoming a habit. Once you've made the decision to give the thing priority, you'll schedule the time, like any other appointment or meeting. Michael Hyatt, one of my mentors says, "What gets scheduled, gets done."

Jeff Blackman: How does reading influence the various aspects of one's success—i.e., professionally, creatively, a more balanced life, etc.

Jeff Brown: If you're unwilling to admit what you don't know, or you're unwilling to have your current beliefs challenged, then you're not likely to pick up a book anytime soon. In fact, these are the two most common reasons people don't want to read: they dont want to learn and they don't want to change their minds.

We don't want to learn—simply because learning means admitting we don't know something. It's easier to not learn and just go back to what we know.

And if a book is going to help you get somewhere you've been unable to get to on your own, it means changing your mind about something.

Learning: admitting we don't know something...

And changing our minds: admitting we were wrong about something...

Make us uncomfortable. Yet any worthwhile pursuit requires a certain amount of discomfort. That's what makes it worthwhile.

Jeff Blackman: Related to reading, tell us about your strategies to master note-taking and why it's such an important skill?

Jeff Brown: Most of us take notes on content we consume. Yet many of us never do anything with those notes, let alone ever get to a place where our new notes, ideas and insights are connecting with our existing ones.

If you don't do anything with your notes, then I argue—there's little point to having consumed the content in the first place! Granted, there are exceptions.

Some content we consume for how it impacts our thinking. But with most books, podcasts, videos, and online articles, we're spending time with them to learn something new. Or to see if what we currently believe holds-up or needs adjustment. After we finish a piece of content, there's often a to-do list to implement. Your notes and how effectively they're captured—determine your success.

In my Note-Making Mastery Course, we identify your note-taking style. As you learn to better Collect, Connect, and Crystallize your thinking, you're better equipped to Create from that thinking. To learn more about Jeff's Read to Lead podcast and his Note-Making Mastery Course, plus the Read to Lead Community, please take a peek at:

ReadtoLeadPodcast

and

Note-Making Mastery Course

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