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Success Advice

You Can Either Make Time to Read or Continue With a Poverty-Ridden Life

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Poverty comes in many forms, and neglecting to read books leads to all of them. We can certainly speak of material poverty, and it’s a demonstrable fact that people who read more books end up making more money. Not just a little bit more money either. I’m talking ‘what-are-all-these-extra-forks-even-for?’ kind of money.

But there’s also “mental poverty”, and what we can refer to as “poverty of soul,” which are both equally pernicious. So how do we avoid ending up like this? How do we avoid wasting our one and only lives in obscurity, ignorance, and pain?

Answer: We dust off our library cards (or our e-readers), we commit to the fact that reading books can literally save our own lives, and we arm ourselves with the knowledge we need to be able to read more of them, and to read more effectively.

5 Minutes Every Hour Costs You Everything

When someone else wastes your time, it doesn’t cost them anything. However, it costs you everything. Time is literally what your life is made of, and when you throw it away as though it were nothing, you’re committing an insidious form of suicide.

Thousands of years ago, the Roman statesman Seneca noted that we constantly chase money and possessions, yet we let time slip away as though we had an infinite supply. Those five minutes we waste here and there all add up over time.

So, a question: Which is more valuable, Time or Money? From mindless IG scrolling and wasteful meetings, to waiting around for others so that we can move forward with a project, we all waste so much time. That being said, the best way to save more time is to figure out how we’re spending it now.

So stay conscious! Track where your time is going, and you’ll see all these places where you’re mindlessly blowing through time that you can’t afford to waste in the first place.

“Books train your imagination to think big.” – Taylor Swift

Myself, I’ve been awake for about 8 hours today and I’ve already wasted 45 minutes. I know this because on my phone, I track how many minutes I waste each day, rounded up to the nearest five minutes. In my case, it was some IG, a pointless conversation I could have excused myself from, etc. Some days I waste 4 hours. It’s shameful.

Think about it: If you waste just five minutes out of every hour that you’re awake, and you’re awake for 16 hours each day, that’s 80 minutes you’re letting slip away into eternity, never to return. 80 minutes a day! That’s 560 minutes a week and 29,120 minutes a year, which translates to more than 485 hours a year. Every. Single. Year.

Please, take back some of that time for yourself and use it to read some of the best books ever written. When you think about it, it doesn’t take that much time to read a book. If you read 20 pages in an hour, then after 15 hours you’ve read a 300-page book. All you have to do is repurpose the time you would have wasted over the course of 1.6 weeks of running on autopilot.

In the time it takes for you to open a book and read just one sentence, your life can be completely transformed. In the time it takes to read 10, 50, 100 whole books? You’ll hardly recognize your literate, articulate mug in the mirror.

Switch Up Your Stack

There’s no need to finish one book completely before moving on to the next one. In fact, you’re killing your reading gains if you do this.

Now, I may get some pushback on this from people who say that reading more than one book at a time is too difficult for them. And hey, fair enough. We all learn differently. But I would argue that you used to switch back and forth between books all the time. In fact, you did this in school every single day!

You never just studied one subject in high school. Rather, you switched back and forth between textbooks, between subjects, period after period, day after day. Not only that, but you learned!

So give your big beautiful brain some credit! If you knew about all the complicated calculations that your brain has to make in order to even open a damn door successfully, then you might be willing to place more trust in its awesome power.

What I would suggest, in order to maximize your effectiveness as a reader, is to read in different formats, across genres. What do I mean by this?

Well, me,  I’m just such a great big nerd that I have five different reading apps on my phone, and piles of physical books everywhere. But that just allows me to read wherever I am! If I’m driving to the gym, I have an audiobook going. If I’m standing in line at the grocery store, I have iBooks open on my phone. Wherever I go, there are the books.

For example, right now I’m reading Happy by Derren Brown (iBooks), Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell (physical book), Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman (physical book), and The Rise of Superman by Steven Kotler (audiobook), among others. Three nonfiction books and a book of poetry. Well, guess what? I don’t always feel like reading poetry!

Sometimes I read fiction too. It’s also not always feasible to be listening to an audiobook. So I keep my options open, and in so doing, I never run into a situation where I “can’t” read. I always have some book, in some format, in some genre, that I feel like reading, and that I’m able to read, wherever I am and whatever I’m doing. You think that lets me read more books? You bet.

“A peasant that reads is a prince in waiting.” – Walter Mosley

Hit the Books

The best books are like flowers planted in the garden of the mind. I truly believe that. I first encountered that idea in James Allen’s absolute classic As a Man Thinketh. But whereas Allen was speaking about our thoughts, instead of books specifically, the greatest books are where some of our greatest thoughts come from!

Don’t worry about not remembering every single thing that you read either. It all subtly changes you over time, and every book you read becomes part of who you are. Yes, “learning how to learn” is important, but don’t stress yourself out.

The thought I want to leave you with is this: We don’t need any more information. We are simply drowning in information, but what we really need is wisdom and action. Wisdom from the best books, but also action; action that helps us to crystallize our learning and attain to the highest heights of our individual potentialities.

There’s a time for reading books, and there’s a time for action, and so I want to make sure I remind you to stop waiting for the perfect time to start, stop waiting for someone else to come save you, and stop wasting so much time! You will never, ever get any of it back.

Matt Karamazov runs the charity, Volunteer to Save, and reads 100+ books every single year. One of his obsessions, besides reading, writing, and bodybuilding, is to help other people read more books as well. If you want to read more books this year than you ever have before, click here. 

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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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