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Success Advice

The System for How to Read a Book to Change Your Life

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Do you love picking up a new book because you want to change your life for the better? Me too! I couldn’t wait for Crushing It or The 5 Second Rule. But, you have to know how to read a book effectively if you really want to make progress. Statistically, we forget 90% of what we read. That’s ok though because a lot of it is not needed, like emails, advertising, etc.

When you read a book you want to remember the important parts, so you have to figure out how to get the takeaways and implement them. Keep these things in mind as we dig into how to read a book:

  1. More time with the material means you’ll remember it more.
  2. Taking action is the most effective way to see an impact.
  3. Mastering a topic requires focus and study.
  4. Learning requires repetition.

A System For How To Read A Book To Change Your Life

To start you will need a book, a pen, a notepad or sticky notes and a planner. You will benefit from reading the book multiple times, but if you know you won’t do that, marking the book and taking notes can be highly effective.

When I mark in a book I use a series of symbols to mark different points in the book.

For example:

  • ✷ –  An asterisk to mark important points for implementing
  • ★ –  A star anywhere that resonates with me
  • “ –  A quotation mark for a quote I want to remember
  • S –  A big S for a story or excerpt on the topic

And I underline all of these as well, including summaries, high points, basically anything I like. I have hundreds of highlights per book and the symbols help me differentiate them. Of course, what you choose for symbols and highlighting is up to you but I’ve found that a pen is best, as I can also circle and write in margins.

Note: You can do this on a kindle, with different colors and it looks pretty nice. I even did different colors on my Mac in Preview on a PDF. But again, you’ll learn more with the book in hand, and it’s better on your eyes.

“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies, said Jojen. The man who never reads lives only one.” – George R.R. Martin

Why Do It This Way?

I’ve been reading a lot of books and this kind of highlighting has made it very easy to skim back through and find the important pieces for memorization. This basically makes it so I can reread a book in less than an hour and get all of the good stuff.

Take Notes When Reading

I recently bought lined, colored, sticky notes with tabs for taking notes when reading, they are called Redi-tag Divider sticky notes. As I read, I look for calls to action such as questions at the end of a chapter, exercises to do to implement the material, etc. I’ll take a sticky note and leave it sticking out at important benchmarks in the book. On the sticky note itself I’ll write down my answers to the exercises, write a note about how I can implement what is suggested or how to make it easier or more successful.

You Need to Apply What You Learn To Make an Impact

Most people want to pick up as much as possible and see change in their lives from a book they read. That’s where applying what you learn is important, because if you don’t use it, you lose it. Implementing takes more work, and that’s why I suggest having a notepad and calendar around to help. While taking notes you’ll want to write down any ideas you have on taking action.

For instance, in The 5 Second Rule I really liked the chapter on health and the motivation I found in it. One of the quotes was “…is this really what I want? Am I really fine being the size I am?” I wrote this down as a motivation quote to use in my calendar.

In Crushing It, Gary Vaynerchuk wrote about wanting to change your life, to live a life that makes you happy, so I wrote this down and included it in my calendar. You can do this while you are reading or once you are done. You’ll want to go to your planner and write in something motivational or challenging from the book, every day for a month. This gives you enough time to take action on a couple of concepts, and it will encourage you to go back and read through your highlights as you strive to change more.

“I have been impressed with the urgency of doing. Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Being willing is not enough; we must do.” – Leonardo da Vinci

If You Really Want to Learn & Change, It Takes Time

A lot of modern authors offer courses in addition to their books. Book clubs are also a great way to take a book to the next level.

Here are a few reasons it’s better to take a guided course or join a book club:

  • You can’t speed through the material and you spend more time thinking about it and trying to apply each principle to your life.
  • Daily course work encourages you to build habits.
  • Guided courses often have support for overcoming obstacles, getting encouragement, and answering questions.
  • Group discussions give you insights you probably wouldn’t have picked up anywhere else.

There are a lot of ways you can use the concepts in a book to change your life, lately I’ve been reading Think & Grow Rich, The 5 Second Rule, Crushing It, and You Are A Badass At Making Money, and they’ve all contributed to my own life improvements. I just keep referring back to the content to make sure I use what I’ve learned.

How do you read a book to most effectively take action on it in your life? Comment below!

Image courtesy of Twenty20.com

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Success Advice

11 Mark Manson Lessons That’ll Redefine Success in the Digital Age

Success in the digital age isn’t about hacks, it’s about the raw, real lessons Mark Manson actually lives by.

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In 2016, Mark Manson released The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck, a brutally honest, thought-provoking book that redefined self-help for a new generation. (more…)

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Change Your Mindset

The Secret Daily Routines Behind History’s Most Brilliant Thinkers

Uncover the daily rituals and hidden habits that powered history’s most brilliant minds to success.

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Why Daily Rituals Matter

Every great achiever has one thing in common: discipline. Behind the novels, inventions, discoveries, and masterpieces are small, consistent habits repeated daily. (more…)

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Did You Know

How to Turn a Simple Link-in-Bio Into a Powerful Brand Hub

Transform your forgotten bio link into a high-impact gateway that fuels engagement, clicks, and conversions across every social platform.

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Social media is one of the greatest marketing tools in 2025. According to a recent study, some 86% of marketers globally use platforms like Facebook and Instagram for advertisements, while 94% use it for content distribution.  (more…)

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Personal Development

These 11 Habits Will Make You More Productive, Successful, and Confident

Boost your focus, confidence, and results with 11 powerful habits successful people use every day.

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Successful people love to help beginners. They have an incredible work ethic and rarely complain. As a result, others naturally look up to them and want to follow in their footsteps.

But here’s the truth: there’s no success without sacrifice. You’ll need to give up comfort, excuses, and sometimes even social approval to accomplish your goals.

Value comes from solving problems, and these 11 powerful tips will help you become more productive, successful, and confident, starting today.

1. Take Short Breaks After Finishing a Task

Psychology shows it’s important to reward positive behaviour.

After completing a big task or finishing a book, take five minutes to walk, stretch, or simply breathe. This quick reset helps your brain recharge and strengthens focus.

Many great writers swear by morning walks, solitude, and reflection can unlock creativity.

But if you refuse to take breaks, don’t be surprised when burnout hits. Your brain needs recovery time just as much as your body does.

2. Schedule Your Most Important Tasks First

Multitasking kills productivity. If you want to get more done, try time blocking, a method where you dedicate set periods for specific tasks.

Productivity expert Caitlin Hughes explains, “Time blocking involves scheduling blocks of time for your tasks throughout the day.”

For example, if you’re a writer:

  • Research your topic at night.

  • Write your first draft in the morning (don’t worry if it’s rough).

  • Edit in the afternoon, great writing comes from rewriting.

You can’t buy more time. Use it intentionally and without regret.

3. Eliminate Distractions from Your Workspace

Focus is the foundation of success.

According to Inc. Magazine, it takes an average of 23 minutes to recover from a distraction. That’s nearly half an hour of lost productivity every time you check your phone.

Put your phone away. Close unnecessary tabs. And yes, limit your Netflix binges.

Meeting deadlines consistently is one of the fastest ways to stand out and earn respect.

4. Take Full Responsibility for Your Life

Entrepreneur Derek Sivers once said, “Everything is my fault.”

This mindset doesn’t mean self-blame; it means self-ownership. Stop pointing fingers, making excuses, or waiting for others to change.

If your habits (like smoking or drinking too much) hold you back, it’s time to make better choices. Your friends can’t live your dreams for you; only you can.

5. Invest an Hour a Day in Learning New Skills

Knowledge compounds over time.

Whether you read books, take online courses, or practise a craft, consistent learning gives you a competitive edge.

I used to struggle with academic writing, but I improved by studying the work of great authors and applying what I learned.

Your past doesn’t define you; your actions do. Every new skill adds another tool to your arsenal and makes you more unstoppable.

6. Develop a Growth Mindset

Psychologist Dr. Carol Dweck introduced the concept of fixed vs. growth mindset.

  • A fixed mindset believes success is based on natural talent.

  • A growth mindset believes success comes from effort and learning.

Choose the growth mindset. Embrace challenges. See failures as feedback. In today’s fast-moving digital world, adaptability is your biggest advantage.

7. Learn Marketing to Reach People Who Need You

I once believed marketing was manipulative, until I realised it’s about helping people solve problems.

If your work provides genuine value, marketing is how you let others know it exists. Even Apple spends billions on it.

Don’t be ashamed to promote your skills or business. Without visibility, your ideas will never reach the people who need them most.

Creative professionals who understand marketing and sales have an unfair advantage.

8. Ask Your Mentor the Right Questions

Good mentors can fast-track your growth.

While mentorship often costs money, it’s one of the best investments you can make. Great mentors don’t care about titles; they care about your progress.

If you don’t have access to a mentor yet, books are your silent mentors. Read the best in your field, take notes, and apply what resonates.

9. Build Confidence Through Action, Not Affirmations

Author Ryan Holiday once said, “I don’t believe in myself. I have evidence.”

Confidence doesn’t come from shouting affirmations into the mirror; it comes from proof. Doing hard things, keeping promises to yourself, and following through.

When you consistently take action, your brain gathers evidence that you can handle whatever comes next. That’s real confidence, grounded, earned, and unshakable.

10. Focus on Your Strengths

Your strengths reveal where your greatest impact lies.

If people compliment you on something often, it’s a clue. Lean into it.

A former professor once told me I was creative, and that simple comment gave me the confidence to go all in. I studied creativity, applied it daily, and turned it into my career advantage.

Double down on your strengths. That’s how you build momentum and mastery.

11. Identify and Challenge Your Limiting Beliefs

Your beliefs shape your reality.

For years, I believed I couldn’t be a great writer because of my chronic tinnitus and astigmatism, sensory challenges that made concentration difficult. But over time, I realised those struggles made me more disciplined, observant, and empathetic.

Your limitations can become your greatest motivators if you let them.

Avoid shortcuts. Growth takes time, but it’s always worth it.

Final Thoughts

Becoming productive, successful, and confident isn’t about working harder than everyone else. It’s about working smarter, consistently, and intentionally.

You don’t need to overhaul your life overnight. Start small: take a break after your next task, schedule your priorities, or spend one hour learning something new.

Every habit you change compounds into long-term success. Remember, true change comes from practising new behaviours.

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