The Power of Reading: A Gateway to Success

Expand your mind. Unlock your potential.

Some of the smartest people in the world have shared their thoughts, experiences, and wisdom through books. When you read a book, you are essentially having a conversation with these great minds. Why wouldn’t you take advantage of that?

Many of history’s greatest leaders were avid readers. Presidents like George Washington, John Adams, Abraham Lincoln, and Barack Obama all prioritized reading. Social leaders such as Malcolm X and Mother Teresa, as well as business giants like Warren Buffett and Elon Musk, have all credited reading as a key component of their success.

People who rise quickly in their professions often accelerate their learning by studying the experiences of others. Biographies are an excellent way to gain insight into the learning processes of successful individuals. By reading about their journeys, challenges, and triumphs, we gain valuable knowledge without having to experience every lesson firsthand.

Reading also enhances our ability to connect with others by expanding our perspectives. When we expose ourselves to different viewpoints, cultures, and ideas, we develop a broader understanding of the world. This, in turn, makes us better conversationalists and more empathetic individuals.

In college in 1985, I had a young, inexperienced strength and conditioning (S&C) coach, 26 years old, who recommended How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie. Encouraged me to read it, I took his advice. That coach, Mike Boyle, has since become one of the greatest influencers in the S&C world—an icon in the industry.

Later, while working at Notre Dame, Coach Lou Holtz invited a speaker to present to the team. The speaker challenged us to read a book a month, breaking down the numbers: 12 books a year, 60 books in five years. This simple but powerful math revealed how reading could lead to exponential personal growth.

Jeff Olson, author of The Slight Edge, suggested reading just 10 pages a day. This small habit quickly accumulates—300 pages a month, roughly one book per month. Such a habit creates a consistent learning routine that compounds over time.

Louis Simmons, one of the most brilliant minds in strength training, was a voracious reader. He recognized that Eastern Bloc countries were ahead in advanced strength training research. Seeking to bridge the gap, he found translated Russian texts to accelerate his learning. Visiting Louis at Westside Barbell, I saw stacks of books everywhere. He would quote these texts over breakfast, not just reading them but actively applying their lessons with his athletes.

The best S&C coaches that I was fortunate to work with daily were constantly reading. James Dobson, Rai Braithwaite, Bryan Dermody, Jake Anderson, Joel Welsh and Nick DiMarco. They brought ideas to the staff meetings, always pushing us to improve our approach. They made me think and grow. Each one of them moved on to become leaders in the field, running their own programs.

Reading proved to be a powerful tool in shaping the culture of our team, beginning with our own staff. As we engaged in reading, we frequently found ourselves saying, "The players need to read this." This realization led us to introduce books to our leadership group during the offseason, fostering meaningful discussions that strengthened our understanding of leadership and communication. Over time, we recognized that a cornerstone of leadership is language, and as our leaders absorbed these lessons, their conversations with teammates evolved. Eventually, this expanded into team-wide reading, which played a crucial role in defining our core values and cultivating a shared vision. This approach galvanized our team in pursuit of a common goal, reinforcing the impact of reading on both personal and team development.

Today, books are more accessible than ever. With a few clicks, Amazon can deliver a book to your doorstep. Kindle and Audible provide instant access to digital and audiobooks on your phone. In less than a minute, you can have a wealth of knowledge at your fingertips. Instead of scrolling through social media during downtime, opening a book can turn those moments into valuable learning opportunities.

We are constantly bombarded with superficial content on social media, where everyone consumes the same information. Why be like everyone else? If you want to stand out, you need to read what others aren’t. Books offer a competitive edge, a way to think differently and gain insights that most overlook.

So, take up the challenge. Read daily. Expand your mind. Unlock your potential.