Grow by reading

Hunt For Greatness

Milton Kamwendo

YOU are always one book away from growth that matters.

One book can alter your thinking. One idea can change your direction. One sentence can change your life. One word can turbo-charge you to greatness.

Reading is an atomic habit. It is humbling and empowering. It is disciplining and delighting.

Reading is a timeless habit that catalyses growth and transformation.

To grow in influence, wisdom and impact, you must grow in knowledge.

To grow in knowledge, you must become a reader. This is why many leaders are readers. They read to think better, act wisely and stay ahead.

Without reading, you cannot grow.

Reading is not just an escape; it is an elevation. It is not just a hobby; it is a discipline and a growth strategy.

Reading is to the mind what physical exercise is to the body.

To grow mentally strong, accelerate your reading. Books introduce you to worlds that you have never seen.

You interact with mentors you have never met. It leads you to ideas that you have never imagined.

From Moses writing the Law, Paul instructing Timothy to “give attention to reading” (1 Timothy 4:13) to the notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci and the book-a-day habit of Theodore Roosevelt, the pattern is clear: those who grow deeply read widely.

Your library

A library is more than a shelf or file of books; it is a growth environment.

It is also your private school for greatness. When you build your personal library, you are building your curriculum for transformation.

Every book you collect is a brick in the foundation of your expertise, perspective, competence and future potential.

In the book “Think and Grow Rich”, Napoleon Hill advises that specialised knowledge is critical for success.

He makes a sharp distinction between general education and organised, purposeful and expert knowledge — the kind that builds businesses, solves problems and influences nations.

Hill wrote: “Successful people, in all callings, never stop acquiring specialised knowledge related to their major purpose, business or profession.”

Books are the delivery system for this kind of knowledge.

If you want to lead in finance, build a library on economics, investing and business. If you are a pastor, curate books on theology, church growth and leadership. If you are building a family, read on parenting, love and legacy.

Your library must reflect your vision and magnificent obsession.

A personal library is not a luxury; it is a necessity.

One wise leader said: “If I see your library, I can guess your future.”

This is because your thought diet determines your destiny.

Your anti-library

Italian philosopher Umberto Eco owned over 30 000 books.

He read many, often, but not all.

His library was not a museum of things he had mastered; it was also a reminder of everything he had yet to learn. This was his anti-library.

The idea of an anti-library is powerful: it humbles you. It reminds you that what you do not know is far greater than what you do know. The unread books on your shelf are not spending guilt.

They are invitations to curiosity.

They make you a lifelong learner rather than a self-declared expert.

The anti-library fights arrogance and breeds intellectual humility.

It motivates you to keep seeking, keep learning and keep growing.

When you look at your collection this way, you will not stop buying books.

You will also never again feel that you are done with your education.

There is always more to know.

Your knowledge

To become an expert in any field, you must both practise and read deeply.

Experts are motivated to read. They read to understand the theory behind practice. They read to learn from case studies and failures. They read to keep up with innovations and trends.

They read to reframe problems with fresh perspective.

Experts are not idle consumers of information. They curate knowledge, reflect on it and apply it. This is why your reading must be intentional.

Do not just read for entertainment. Read to master your mission. Read to fuel your growth.

Experts do not wait for training.

They do not blame their organisations for any area of ignorance. They train themselves through reading.

Consider adopting a strategy for your reading mix.

Read 30 percent in your core field, 30 percent in related disciplines (to expand your insight), 20 percent in history and biography (to gain perspective), 10 percent in philosophy/spirituality (to nourish your soul) and 10 percent in fiction or creativity (to expand your imagination).

Your readership

John F. Kennedy said: “Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.”

Abraham Lincoln, largely self-taught, read law books by candlelight.

Bishop Dag Heward-Mills built a worldwide church movement inspired by books, saying: “You become what you read. Read and keep reading.”

Leaders read because leadership requires constant renewal of the mind.

New challenges demand new thinking. Reading gives you access to mentors you could never meet.

Reading gives you time travel to moments of decision.

Reading gifts you with insights that save you from costly mistakes.

A reading leader has an unfair advantage over those who do not read.

As a reading leader, you anticipate change. You communicate clearly with authority and insight. You make wise and informed decisions. You develop others. You think strategically and see a more holistic picture. As a reading leader, you do not stagnate.

Reading allows you to outgrow your limitations.

Your habits

To turbo-charge your reading, set a reading goal. Be they three books a month or 10 pages a day, consistency is key. Growth does not come from volume; it comes from rhythm.

Build your own library and anti-library. Start small but be intentional. Note what you have read. Signpost what you intend to read. Underline insights that jump at you.

Let your shelves reflect your calling.

Keep a reading journal. Note down key ideas, action points and memorable quotes. Reflect and apply. Read actively. Ask questions. Challenge assumptions. Seek application. Engage the content.

Use multiple formats. Combine physical books, audiobooks and ebooks. Turn travel time into reading time. Join a reading circle or book club.

Discuss what you read with others. This sharpens your understanding and accountability. To grow, keep reading. Once you start and taste how sweet knowledge is, you are unstoppable.

Committed to your greatness.

Milton Kamwendo is a leading international transformational and motivational speaker, author and accomplished workshop facilitator. He is a cutting-edge strategy, team-building and organisation development facilitator and consultant. He can be reached at: [email protected]/WhatsApp: +263772422634.