MOM STILL WHISPERS IN MY EAR, “PICK UP A GOOD BOOK, READ AND TELL ME ABOUT IT”
Disclaimer: Good Day, Readers. WealthBuildingPowers blog is a financial literacy/competency blog and does not provide specific investment recommendations.
MOM STILL WHISPERS IN MY EAR, “PICK UP A GOOD BOOK, READ AND TELL ME ABOUT IT” READING MADE YOU SUCCESSFUL!”
It’s easier getting Bill Clinton to keep his marriage vows than getting Americans to read!
Thanks to Mom and Dad, I LOVE READING! I read anything (newspapers, online articles, magazines, fiction, nonfiction, textbooks, paper books, e-books, etc.) multiple times a day. I even used to read the interviews in Playboy! Yeah, I know, rough, but someone had to do it.
DECLINING LITERACY – IS A GROWING CRISIS
I TRAVELED THE WORLD THROUGH BOOKS!
As a shy introvert who lacked self-confidence, I grew up in a tiny {~1,700 humans and a LOT more chickens} farming town.
Picture thousands of acres of tobacco plants. I detest the smell of cigarette smoke but love the smell of cured tobacco hanging in the barn. By the way, the wood from those old barns makes spectacular floorboards.
My grandparents and their four children (one my mom) farmed tobacco and other produce. Imagine a bunch of young grandkids riding in the back of old pickup trucks. These working pickup trucks are not the modern F-150 or Mercedes of trucks you see or maybe drive today. These beat-up, dinged working trucks are how I learned to drive a stick shift, which came in handy when I worked overseas.
In the summers, my cousins and I would be in the back of one of those trucks with my granddad or an Uncle driving us to our morning (did I say VERY early) assignments. Granddad would drop the older boys into the fields to harvest the tobacco leaves, and as I was one of the younger kids and spoiled, I was dropped off at the tobacco barn to work with the women. I loved that because I could listen to the gossip. It was juicy! I’m still sworn to secrecy!
The joy of reading gave me the confidence to leave this safe and loving small town and depart for college. Part of me wanted to (and still does) stay in that small town for the rest of my life.
I FOUND COURAGE ON THOSE MAGICAL PAGES
EVERY DAY AND NIGHT, WE READ!
My brother and I slept in a small bedroom room with a bookshelf for the headboard on our twin beds. Both shelves and more outside our room were loaded with books. Every night my brother and I would read something we picked ourselves. I still remember being in a book club and a new mystery book arrived every month! Hey- that was exciting. Amazon was decades from existence.
So as a child growing up in this tiny little town, having seldom left the state of North Carolina, I saw the world. I saw places like New York City, San Francisco, Paris, Rome, London, and many other exciting locations I would eventually travel to. A good writer lets you see, feel, and taste the scenes. I helped the authors solve murder mysteries, learned about vampires (they are kind of scary), and met Huckleberry Finn and thousands of funny, friendly, and evil characters. Those evil characters prepared me for corporate America! My exploration of the world from the safety of home gave me the confidence to leave that small safe town and enroll in college, scared to death.
Later ironically, I worked in Novara, Italy, after college. On the weekends, we explored famous Italian cities, Switzerland, Germany, and so many exciting and unique places. When I was offered this job, I’d never left the country; I think I’d been on a plane once, and suddenly I had this opportunity to live and work overseas. I was scared, but I took the job. As a child, I read about living in Italy, meeting beautiful Italian women, etc. My books gave this small town introvert the courage to take that job which was a lifetime chance. I met a man that would become a great mentor, role model, friend, and my boss, Wendell Williams. And I met a LOT of very attractive Italian women! {Should have put a ring on one!}
Successful people read. And I mean, they read A LOT! But there is an equally important reason to read – JOY! Try it if you do not believe me.
Read a paragraph of work-related literature every day. Professional writing is often dry and dense, so breaking it up into small, daily sprints makes you more likely to get through it. Read something for please EVERY DAY. If you love photography, read and improve your skill sets. FIND YOUR JOY BY READING!
Keep Your Kids Reading for Fun
Place books around the house
Take your kids to the library to do their homework.
Read yourself!
I was influenced to read because I saw Mom, Dad, and my brother reading. They were NOT going to leave me out of the club!
TOO MANY BOOKS! NO SUCH THING!
Here is the nightmare scenario, you run out of books! Absolutely NOT allowed in my house. My shelf of to-be-read numbers is typically about 90 books. Just having them available reinforces the idea that there are ALWAYS more stories to read and enjoy.
READ TOGETHER!
Choose a book that appeals to both of you and take turns reading it together. Then (WAIT FOR IT) discuss the book. Yes, actually talk to each other without a smartphone.
CONCLUSION
Do you want to be wealthy or your kids to be successful? READ!
There is a significant literacy crisis in America today. Twenty-five million children in the U.S. cannot read proficiently.
WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. Read to your young children. Buy books for kids as gifts. Donate your time to groups that support, encourage, and love reading.
Want to change the world? Bill Gates says you should READ A LOT!
WHAT SUBJECTS DO YOU WANT TO READ MORE ABOUT? WHAT QUESTIONS CAN I ANSWER? UNTIL NEXT TIME!
LET’S MAKE SOME MONEY – CRYPTOCURRENCY IS STILL ACCEPTED!
YOUR GREATNESS IS NOT WHAT YOU HAVE; IT’S WHAT YOU GIVE! CHARITIES I SUPPORT
St Jude Hospital: https://www.stjude.org/
Wounded Warrior Project: https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org
Folds of Honor: https://foldsofhonor.org
Wilson’s No-Kill Animal Shelter: https://wcnkas.org
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https://wealthbuildingpowers.com/?p=11739
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A RAINBOW OF ROLE MODELS {WEDNESDAY SERIES} – MARIO HOOVER – 16 YEARS OLD!
WHAT WE BECOME DEPENDS ON WHAT OUR FATHERS TEACH US AT ODD MOMENTS, WHEN THEY AREN’T TRYING TO TEACH US”
https://wealthbuildingpowers.com/2021/11/03/what-we-become-depends-on-what-our-fathers-teach-us-at-odd-moments-when-they-arent-trying-to-teach-us/
DADS WHO RAISED ME TO BE MORE THAN I COULD BE!
DADS WHO RAISED ME TO BE MORE THAN I COULD BE!
Jamie Dimon, Chairman and CEO JP Morgan Chase, and Company, 2021 Letter to Shareholders
WANT TO LEARN HOW TO BECOME WEALTHY – READ “THE MILLIONAIRE NEXT DOOR”
THE ONE BOOK YOU SHOULD READ…….
FINANCIAL LITERACY IS JUST NOT THAT COMPLICATED – TRUST ME!
https://wealthbuildingpowers.com/2019/04/01/financial-literacy-is-just-not-that-complicated-trust-me/
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ABOUT ME
I am a proud nerd (as my beautiful wife and daughter have told me), investment and finance blogger with an N.C. State, Chemical Engineering, University Rutgers, MBA and Harvard University, Advanced Management education.
I left a corporate career because I desired to make a difference as a speaker and writer. I was blessed to be coached and mentored by strong women and men in my family and professional life. It is my time to serve and give back.
DISCLAIMER
I started my first business at ~13 years of age (a small but brilliantly created plant nursery). I am a successful investor in stocks, options, real estate and am happy to share my finance and investment lessons. I am NOT a licensed financial advisor. Please do not construe my suggestions on this blog as recommendations for your situation. As an investor, you must establish your risk/loss tolerance. Investment in any asset involves risk, including complete loss.
Please seek your licensed CPA or fiduciary financial advisors for individual financial advice.
I write this weekly blog to make an impact by reaching an audience and demonstrating the need for financial literacy. I will help you get there.
