Yesterday, I discussed Twelve Reasons I Will Be Rich. Today I’m going to look at the flip side and give you three things that are preventing me from being rich.
- I’m Lazy – The was an obvious one, wasn’t it. People who know the online Lazy Man, would argue that I’m always commenting, participating in forums and Google Groups, etc. Offline Lazy Man is the complete opposite. I procrastinate getting going is the mental equivalent of climbing a mountain. This is the reason that everytime I get a great idea for a product or service, it doesn’t lead to anything. I’m too lazy to follow through.
- I’m a Horrible Networker – Much like the previous point, online Lazy Man is the exact opposite of offline Lazy Man. Online Lazy Man has about 17 email thread going on with other bloggers at all times. Offline Lazy Man finds meeting people and extraordinary difficult thing to do. It may be simple shyness or it may be social anxiety disorder.
- I’m the Slowest Reader I know – I’d say I spend about 70% of my non-sleeping day reading. Whether it’s other programming code for work or websites, I’m usually reading. When I’m not reading on a computer, I’m reading magazines. Ironically, since I never read books, Energi Gal complains that I don’t read enough. The problem is that I’m such a slow reader that it takes 3 minutes a page no matter what the content is. It could be a picture book and it would take me 3 minutes to read a page. The only thing I have going for me here is that I have as close to perfect comprehension as I think there is. People ask me questions and I’m able to dig up references that I’ve read 9 months ago with a couple of Google queries and pass along the answer.
I’m not sure I’m ever going to overcome #1. I’m hoping to within the confines of it, utilizing my online work ethic. I think I can also overcome #2 to some extent. I read that if I read How to Win Friends & Influence People
Perhaps these won’t prevent me from being rich. More than likely, they are simply preventing me from reaching my full potential. Let me know in the comments.
1. There are plenty of books on overcoming laziness but the bottom line is that if you realize it’s going to come between you and your goals and remind yourself of that every time it starts to creep up on you that should provide enough motivation to do something about it.
2. “How to Win Friends & Influence People” is a good start and an easy read. “Never Eat Alone” (http://www.amazon.com/Never-Eat-Alone-Secrets-Relationship/dp/0385512058) is also excellent and easy to get through.
3. You can find online and offline programs to help you increase your reading speed and I’d also recommend “How to Read a Book” (http://www.amazon.com/How-Read-Book-Touchstone/dp/0671212095).
The ONLY thing keeping you from being rich is that kind of mindset. Those other three things…not requirements..mindset? Completely required!
You should definitely be able to solve #3. As Craig said, there are many books and courses on speed reading. I haven’t used any myself, but Steve Pavlina (a fairly big personal development blogger) swears by PhotoReading – http://www.stevepavlina.com/photoreading/.
I love the book, How to Win Friends and Influence People. It’s a definite must read, and not only once. I view it more as a reference book. I also like Napoleon Hill’s Think and Grow Rich.
If you are lazy (#1), you can always hire someone to do the legwork for you (if you believe in your idea). But, if you are a horrible networker (#2), you may not be able to meet the right people to hire. And, if you’re a slow reader (#3), you probably wouldn’t make much progress wading thru a pile of resumes. Do you play the lottery?
it looks like you have it going on here. your website is interesting.
networking is an interesting concept but perhaps overated.
it seems you do not read – you study. and reading on a computer is not the same as reading print on a physical page.
the truth is that everyone has strengths and weaknesses. so what. there are many ways to success as long as you are aware.
Craig, all-in-all, I’m okay with my Laziness. Perhaps with hypnotism or something similar I could overcome it, but it’s one thing that I’m not going to try motivate myself to change. It would be like motivating myself to be an NBA player, it’s not going to happen. I’ll check out the two books though.
Prlinkbiz, have you been reading the Secret? ;-) I’d read it if I wasn’t such a slow reader :-).
1MansMoney, I don’t play the lottery, so I’m going to have to pretty much make the slow and proven way. It’s not a bad thing though.
Marcia is right, I study more than read. She also caught what I was saying. Yesterday, I covered what I do well financially, and today I’m covering what I need to work on. I encourage everyone else to do the same even if they don’t publish a blog.
Why do you believe that being a quick reader would help you become rich?
I ask because I’m a naturally quick reader but lazy and a poor networker. I’d love to know how I could use my quick reading to my advantage (as long as it doesn’t require too much effort of course ;) )
LOL Haven’t read the Secret- did watch it though a while ago. I have always believed if you think you can, you can.
I believe being a quick reader is important because I could absorb more information faster. Knowledge is power right?
Plus if you spent 12 hours of day doing something and you were slow at it, wouldn’t you think that would to success? Me neither.
Laziness can be changed. Take small steps. Instead of getting nothing done towards your ideas, do one little step, and then another, and so on. It works out well for me.
And hey, maybe you’re not as lazy as you think. You started this web site after all!