Richard’s Book Reading Challenge 2015 – SEPTEMBER Update

http://www.ispeech.org

At the start of this year, one of the goals I set for myself was a book reading challenge.

It goes like this: Read at least two books per month

April Goal Revision: My revised 'elastic goal' is still 24 books but within 8 months now and so 36 books in 2015. As of July, I reached my original reading goal and so I am pressing on with my revised 'elastic goal' of 36 books before the year is out.

As at September I have now read 31 books this year to date...5 to go to reach my stretch target for the year!

'Read' includes audio and includes the following sources:

• Traditional paper-based books - as available in bookshops or via Amazon for example
• Digital reader books - such as Kindle books and eBooks
• Audiobooks - such as those available via Audible and audiobooks.com
• Video streamed books - some classic self-improvement books are surprisingly available through YouTube

I will update this post each month with my progress, to share the material and also to hold myself to account 😉

To receive updates on this post enter your details in the big sign up box on the top right >>>===^^^^^^

Why not share your reading challenges or recommendations in the comments section and then we can keep each other motivated...

My own book...The Property Investor Toolkit: A 7-Part Toolkit For Property Investment Success is now available in book format!

The book is also available NOW on Amazon

---

Current Read or Listen:

The Compound Effect - Darren Hardy

REAL MAGIC; Creating Miracles in Everyday Life - Dr Wayne Dyer

---

September 2015 Update

Property Magic 5th Edition – How to Buy Property Using Other People's Time, Money and Experience - Simon Zutshi 

Format: Kindle

Key Idea:

This is a book aimed at early stage property investors and sets out many of the principles of getting going in property, in particular with regard to finding discounted property deals, or adopting strategies that maximise our available cash resources such as recycling deposits through added value and lease options.

Richard's Insight:

This is the second time I have read this book from Simon Zutshi, albeit this is the 5th edition! Simon is a respected trainer and mentor in the property community and has lots of experience both directly and indirectly. I have to say that I am always impressed by how hard he works and how he puts himself about so readily to support the growth of other people. Of course, he also generates a living by being paid for many of these services, but so does anyone that operates professionally, so that's no problem at all as far as I am concerned...he also offers a lot of free advice and content, along with the paid-for services, so lots of value added.

This is a good book for budding investors to read, as it covers a lot of the basics and also many of the principles that I too subscribe to, such as being ethical and furthering our own learning & development. My only concern is that the idea of recycling cash ad infinitum could put some investors into an awkward position if not careful. By this I mean, refinancing above the original purchase price of a property could, if not correctly managed, lead to a potential gap between equity and capital gains tax should that property be sold at a later date. Similarly, the July Budget, which to be fair happened after Simon completed this latest version of his book, means that mortgage interest relief will be limited to the basic rate. This will lead to increased taxable profits to some higher rate tax payers. I don't necessarily mention these points in criticism of the book, rather that over time things change in property...as is evidenced by the fact this is the 5th edition of this very book!

My conclusion is that anyone starting out in property ought to have this book on their bookshelf...having read it of course! However, don't stop there...read and study widely to have a breadth of knowledge and stay current with all of the latest happenings in the industry.

The Values Factor: The Secret to Creating an Inspired and Fulfilling Life - Dr John DeMartini 

Format: Audio

Key Idea:

Discover and then lead your life in alignment with your highest values. Values here could also be used as another meaning of purpose in my opinion.

Richard's Insight:

When I started to listen to this book, I was a little confused by what I understood to mean 'values' and what the author meant. He explained it well however. For example, I would say that some of my top values are honesty, respect and integrity. Dr DeMartini would call these 'social values' rather than 'personal values'. The social values are good to have, however, what will really get us going and motivated in life are our personal values...our passion, purpose and most enjoyable experiences in fact. This for me is all about sharing my knowledge...that would be my highest value using Dr DeMartini's definition. I am happy to live according to both sets of values therefore 🙂

The book is quite long and does cover similar ground in different ways throughout, however, I do still recommend and value reading it. There are lots of exercises along the way to help uncover what our true values are if we don't know them already. Equally, there are suggestions as to how to realise our highest values in any situation that we may find ourselves, so it is not a 'find your true calling and quit' type of message as such...although eventually that may happen!

There is so much I could say about the author and his wisdom that I cannot do justice to here. Suffice to say these two things: his own story is amazing in itself and so well worth hearing, plus his breadth and depth of knowledge in psychology but also physiology is without limit and I was fascinated by many of the references to the foods that we eat, our physical and spiritual well-being and the sheer depth of detail he uses when presenting personal case studies from some of his students / clients.

The Go-Giver: A Little Story about a Powerful Business Idea - Bob Burg & John David Mann

Format: Paperback

Key Idea:

Givers get more...but not because they seek to get!

Richard's Insight: 

One of my favourite books this year this. It is a kind of parable book, short and easy to read very quickly. It highlights 5 laws of the Go-giver that will ensure success. It also resonated loud and clear with my own approach and personal values and so was a cannot put down kind of read.

The story makes the sharing of the laws very easy o consume and the simple laws are easy to digest and recall. For example, always deliver more in value that you ever seek in payment. That is so simple to understand and retain and yet seems so contrary to how we are often taught with the idea of win / win outcomes, where everyone gets about the same as a result. This principle takes us the extra mile to give more...however in so doing, paradoxically we also then end up getting more too!

It has to go down as a must read in my mind, so stick it on your wish list and read it within a few short hours is my recommendation. I am now reading the follow-up, called Go-Givers Sell More, which takes the concept and approach into what is often seen as a selfish profession, instead making it a value-creating one instead...if it wasn't really all the time!

My recommendation, therefore, is to read this book and perhaps see the world a little differently.