This habit is what keeps the world’s best performers at the top of their game. Learn about it here!

From the desk of Miles Everson:

I hope you’re doing well!

Every Friday, I tackle topics about health, wealth, well-being, happiness, the future of work, book reviews, marketing, tips, etc. in the hopes of helping you elevate your personal life and career life.

Today, I want to talk about the best investment you can make for yourself!

Want to know more?

Continue reading below!

This habit is what keeps the world’s best performers at the top of their game. Learn about it here!

The best investment you’ll ever make doesn’t require a wealth manager, a well-curated business plan, or a high-return portfolio.

Instead, the best investment you can ever make…

…  is in yourself !

According to  Bill Hoogterp , a career coach who has worked with multiple top performers and even celebrities and C-suite executives, the one thing people in these circles do well is  investing in themselves .

Hoogterp says committing to improving yourself leads to exponential returns, especially if you commit to do so on a weekly basis. He adds that this can come in the form of training, getting coaching, watching TED talks, or even reading books. It doesn’t matter which you choose, as long as you put your maximum effort into it.

Now all this sounds good and ambitious, but how exactly do you start?

Should you enroll in a class, pursue a certification related to your work, or get a graduate degree?

While those are the most common and viable options, it doesn’t mean they’re the only avenues for you to invest in yourself.

One of the best ways to go about improving yourself is by taking up reading. It doesn’t matter whether you haven’t yet or have stopped, all that matters is to integrate this activity into your daily routine.

Reading doesn’t only help you gather more knowledge, but it’s beneficial in helping you develop your discipline and focus—traits that are important to have now more than ever in this ever-connected and fast-moving digital world.

While there are other knowledge and information sources such as podcasts, audiobooks, or documentaries, Hoogterp is a strong advocate of reading because according to him,people retain almost 31% more information through the activity.

Retention is even made better when you scribble notes as you read through books, articles, or any other form of written content.

Aside from gaining knowledge, this benefit can help reduce your stress levels, as reading is another form of meditative activity that helps in cutting down on stress.

From a career perspective, reading isn’t just a form of information adhering, it also helps you stay informed of industry trends, further develop your critical thinking skills, and enhance your attention to details further.

Now that you know the benefits, how exactly can you kickstart your reading journey?

• Start Small

  You don’t have to read full-length books or 1,000-page whitepapers to kickstart your reading habit.

  The best and most practical way to make reading a habit is by prioritizing consistency over quantity. This means consuming short-form content and integrating it into your daily routine.

  By smarting small, you can build your reading habit slowly but surely… and when you do, it’ll be much easier for you to transition to long-form content such as research papers, books, and whitepapers.

• Make Time to Read

  According to Hoogterp, Bill Gates initially struggled to finish his backlog of books and articles that he wanted to read.

  Instead of letting this backlog pile up further, what Gates did was to dedicate a whole week reading through the material he hasn’t read.

  Disclaimer : We’re not asking you to do what Gates did. Instead, the point here is to make time for your reading. This can be done by identifying pockets of time throughout your day and designating these as your reading time.

While reading may seem like a simple way of investing in yourself, it is definitely effective in taking your personal and career life to the next level.

Not only does this activity help you gather information and stay updated on trends related to your profession, but it also helps you sharpen your attention to detail and improve your focus.

So, what are you waiting for?

Whether you're just getting started or need to catch up to your backlog, consider this your friendly reminder to dive into reading!

For a daily version of this newsletter, please subscribe  here.