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

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reading a book

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

15 Essential Habits to a Stronger, Healthier, and Happier You

The journey towards transformation is not about perfection but about progress

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building positive habits

What habits can truly transform your life? That’s what you’re here to uncover. In our no-nonsense guide, we’ll introduce you to 15 habits to change your life, each with the power to improve your day-to-day existence.  (more…)

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19 Common Characteristics All Visionary Leaders Have

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visionary leadership qualities

When you look at business leaders like Bill Gates, Sam Walton, Sir Richard Branson, and philosophers like Bertrand Russell, Martin Heidegger, Ludwig Wittgenstein, David Bohm,  C. S. Peirce and inventors like Nikola Tesla, Paolo Soleri, Harvey W. Bailey, Thomas Edison, Alexander Graham Bell and Wright brothers and political leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Aung San Suu Kyi, it becomes very clear that they are all connected through one leadership—visionary leadership. (more…)

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Wealth Lessons Everyone Should Hear for Every Stage of Your Life

Do you have the courage to rewrite your story?

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what i would tell my younger self

Do you see what I see? Likely not, as we each see ourselves through the lens of our own story. (more…)

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How to Choose the Best Affiliate Programs for Your Blog

If you follow these steps, you can create an affiliate marketing plan that makes money, fits well with your content, and connects with your readers

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how to choose the best affiliate programs for your blog

Picking the right affiliate programs for your blog is really important. It can make a big difference in how much money you can make and how much your readers get out of your blog. With so many choices out there, deciding which ones to go with can be tricky. 

This guide is here to make it easier for you. It will give you clear steps and helpful tips to choose affiliate programs that fit well with what your blog is about, what your readers like, and what you stand for. 

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Understanding Affiliate Marketing

Before you start picking affiliate programs, it’s important to really understand what affiliate marketing is and how it works. 

Basically, affiliate marketing is when you promote a product or service on your blog, and then you get paid a little bit every time someone buys something or does something because you recommended it. 

It’s great for both the person selling the product and the blogger, because the seller gets more sales with low risk, and the blogger can make money from their blog.

How to Choose the Right Affiliate Programs for Your Blog

1. Assess Your Niche and Audience

The key to doing well in affiliate marketing starts with really knowing what your blog is about and who reads it. Consider the following:

  • Your blog’s content: What topics do you cover? Ensure the products or services you promote are relevant.
  • Your audience’s interests and needs: What solutions are they seeking? Choose affiliate programs that offer products or services that solve their problems or enhance their lives.

2. Research Potential Affiliate Programs

Once you know what your blog is about and what your readers want, start looking for affiliate programs. Choose ones that are well-known for good products, great customer service, and helpful support for affiliates. Resources to find these programs include:

  • Affiliate networks like ShareASale, Commission Junction, and ClickBank.
  • Direct searches for “[Your Niche] affiliate programs” in search engines.
  • Recommendations from other bloggers in your niche.

3. Evaluate the Commission Structure

The commission structure is a critical factor to consider. Look for programs that offer competitive rates that make your efforts worthwhile. Consider:

  • The percentage of commission per sale.
  • Whether the program offers a flat rate per action (e.g., per sign-up).
  • The cookie duration, which affects how long after a click you can earn commissions on sales.

4. Consider the Program’s Reputation and Sureness

Join affiliate programs with a solid reputation for quality and sureness. This not only ensures that you’re promoting good products but also that you’ll be paid on time. You can:

  • Read reviews from other affiliates.
  • Check the program’s history and background.
  • Look for any complaints or issues reported online.

5. Analyze the Support and Resources Offered

A good affiliate program gives you things like ads to use, training on their products, and helpful managers. Having access to these resources can really help you do a better job at promoting their products.

6. Understand the Terms and Conditions

Before signing up, thoroughly review the program’s terms and conditions. Pay close attention to:

  • Payment thresholds and methods.
  • Any restrictions on how you can promote their products.
  • The program’s policy on affiliate marketing on social media platforms.

7. Test the Product or Service

If possible, test the product or service before promoting it. This firsthand experience allows you to offer genuine charge and build trust with your audience.

8. Look for Recurring Commission Opportunities

Some affiliate programs pay you again and again for subscriptions or services that charge fees regularly. These can provide a more stable income compared to one-time sales commissions.

Implementing Your Choice

After choosing the best affiliate programs, the next step is to smoothly include your affiliate marketing in your content plan. This includes:

  • Creating valuable content that naturally incorporates affiliate links.
  • Disclosing your affiliate affairs transparently to maintain trust with your audience.
  • Tracking your results to understand what works best for your audience and adjusting your strategy accordingly.

Picking the best affiliate programs for your blog involves careful planning, research, and making sure they match what your audience likes and needs. 

If you follow these steps, you can create an affiliate marketing plan that makes money, fits well with your content, and connects with your readers. 

The real key to doing well with affiliate marketing isn’t just about the products you talk about, but also how much your audience trusts and values your advice. 

With enough time, patience, and hard work, your blog can grow into a successful space that earns a good amount of affiliate money and helps your readers choose the right products.

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