What are You Reading?

I am not a reader in a family of readers. I was always the one who would rather watch the movie than read the book. My bookshelf is full of books, but most of them I’ve only read one or two chapters of. Why don’t they just get to the point and tell me what I need to know?

I’ve always said I would write books for people who don’t like to read but want the information—short, sweet, and to the point. My wife jokes that would be a pamphlet.

But this new year, I’ve really tried to change that by committing to daily reading.

My Journey into Reading for Personal Growth

The first book I completed was Intentional Living by John Maxwell. This book is foundational for anyone seeking purpose and direction. It focuses on discovering your why and living each day with intention. It’s about taking control of your life to create the future you want. It took me a little over a month to finish, and I highly recommend it.

The next book I just finished this weekend was The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth by John Maxwell. My biggest takeaway from this book is that personal growth must be intentional. I had to make the choice to start reading and build it into a habit. I read to learn—to absorb as much knowledge and insight as possible. Armed with a highlighter and a notepad, I filled this book with notes on concepts that stood out or that I want to apply in my life.

Breaking Through Growth Barriers

This book begins by addressing the "growth traps"—the obstacles that prevent us from growing. For me, the biggest challenge was the timing gap—I never felt it was the right time to commit to growth or make changes.

Two other gaps that really resonated with me were:

• The Mistake Gap – I tend to avoid risks.
• The Perfection Gap – I often feel like everything has to be just right before I can start.

A key lesson from this book is: Do it now.

I want to live without regrets and add value to the people I interact with. That is what intentional growth is all about. If you want something you’ve never had, you have to do something you’ve never done. Otherwise, you’ll keep getting the same results.

As John Maxwell says:
"We don’t always get what we want, but we always get what we choose."

Start Your Growth Journey Today

I encourage you to make reading a part of your personal growth plan. If you don’t have a growth plan, now is the perfect time to start! Check out my free goal planner to help you take that first step toward intentional growth.https://www.mytransformcoaching.com/intentional-goal-planner-2025