I consume a lot of information every week:
- A pile of blogs
- Email newsletters
- News
- Social media
- Whatever book I’m working through (two per month)
All pretty much for better or worse. I go through seasonal information diets—phases where I quit sources or add a bunch of new ones to my plate. There is a part of me that aligns with Warren Buffett’s approach. He’s rumored to spend over half his day reading. He credits reading for a lot of his success. I love hearing that the habit of a billionaire aligns with what I like doing:)
I read what interests me, what I feel obligated to, and for perspective. I read and research for personal obstacles (entrepreneurship, body composition, money). I also dig in deep on indulgences, topics that interest me. I’ve read a ton about rural poverty in the US, the accompanying heroin epidemic, cultural appropriation of American cuisines, and human migration.
I also read for fun. I spent a long time only reading nonfiction, under the false premise that fiction wouldn’t or couldn’t help me.
Should you read this much? I have no idea. There is some of what I consume that is 100% helpful. There is a lot of what I read that is mediocre, unclear, or a waste of time. There is some of what I read that is wrong, damaging, or sends me in directions that take me away from my goals or waste resources.
There are two topics that I highly recommend that have paid huge dividends personally and professionally: money and diet/exercise.
Money
I wasn’t raised with a lot of financial literacy. I have spent the last ten or so years developing my financial literacy. Sparing you the highs and lows of my own education, I have gained confidence and a sense of security while significantly reducing my own stress. Flat out, better manage my assets, and leverage money to work for me makes me a better husband, friend, employee, colleague, brother, and son. If you’re already there, congratulations, really. It’s life-changing.
Beyond you, there are two substantial career bonuses. The first is that money is the language of industry. A firm understanding of what money is and how it works makes you more valuable and useful in your organization. The second is understanding how people interact with money. There is a tremendous amount to be learned regarding human behavior and psychology related to money.
A quick example is that many people have a short-term mindset regarding money—leveraging money for short-term pleasure instead of long-term security or happiness. This dichotomy has a lot of parallels that relate directly to sustainability.
Using the lens of money might open you up to new insights.
Diet/Exercise
Diet and exercise have been important to me for a long time. They are a big part of how I manage depression. That said, I make tons of mistakes, chase fads, and experiment. Every time I think I have it all figured out, things change. It took getting fat in my thirties to accept that this was going to be a lifelong endeavor. Just like money, your energy (diet) and fitness (exercise) are personally and professionally necessary. You should have an approach and philosophy to diet and exercise. It doesn’t have to be crazy.
Again, you get to “feed two birds with one scone” here. The world of diet and exercise is fascinating and provides numerous insights into behavior and psychology. Just like money, there are tons of lessons in how we humans approach health.