Why You Need an E-Reader Today!

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E-Readers Are The Future

Reading is something that everyone should do everyday. There is so much you can get out of reading. The problem is we are consumed by technology that takes us away from reading. If you ask anyone successful reading is part of the key to their success. They might even say they read every day. Getting an E-Reader can change the way you look at reading. They are definitely one piece of technology that will bring reading back into your life. At this point you’ve probably heard E-Readers like the Nook or Kindle. If you’ve ever wondered why you should buy one keep reading!

What Makes E-Readers Great? 

Reading is something that can be challenging to do in modern times. We are always on the go and trying to make the most of our days. Regular books just don’t have the kind of features that make them fit into our modern lives. Not that regular books have any real flaws, I have a library growing and I love it! E-Readers definitely have an advantage here just look at these benefits.

Apps

The Nook and the Kindle both have apps that allow you to have access to your books anytime. You can install these apps on phones, tablets, and computers. You may have bought the book specifically for your E-Reader but it’s not stuck there. If you are on the go you can read from your phone!

BacklightingBacklighting

One of the biggest challenges with reading a regular book is getting the right lighting. With most E-Readers (the cheaper ones skip over this perk) you having settings for the backlight. That means no more carrying around a light or struggling to find a place to sit with the right lighting. You could read in a dark closet if you wanted to! There is no limit to where you can read when you have a built in light.

Multiple Books 

This isn’t for everyone but I enjoy reading 2 or more books at a time. If you like to switch it up after a chapter or 2 then an E-Reader is a great choice for you. It’s easy to switch between books and you don’t have to carry them around. Even switching devices (hey look at the apps coming in handy) you still have access to the last page you read. If you have a hard time focusing on 1 book for a long period of time, this benefit is for you!

Lightweight

Technology is an amazing thing. At one point in time if you wanted to have access to 100 books you’d have to go to a library. If you wanted to move those books, good luck. Now we have the ability to carry 100 books easily in 1 hand. If you’ve ever lugged around a 1,000 page book you’ll understand how nice it is to not carry around 1,000 pages. You can easily slip an E-Reader into a pocket, purse, or backpack. It will barely make any difference.

Library ServicesLibrary Services

Depending on the E-Reader you choose you may have access to library like services. You can avoid buying every book and start checking them out. With these services you can even look back at your history and easily recheck out books. If you already love the library you’ll love not having to commute or wait for a book to be returned by someone else. E-Libraries will change the future of reading!

Types of E-Readers

After reading through all those perks you may be wondering “What’s the best E-Reader?” and the answer is it depends. Every E-Reader is going to have its own services, operating systems, and features that may vary. What I can do is give you a list of the 3 most common E-Readers brands on the market.

You can’t go wrong with any of these brands. Pick one that has the features you think suit you best. After you’ve picked one enjoy it and don’t look back!

Enjoy a New Experience

Nothing beats sitting down with a good book. Now you have even more options to dive into reading. If you aren’t already reading everyday, use this as an opportunity to create a great and long lasting habit! Remember reading is a keystone habit and can foster other great habits. Speaking of great habits, this is one to share with the people you care about. Don’t let them living a life without reading!

Now that you see how great E-Readers are, it’s time to do some research. If you’ve taken anything from this post it should be that there are a ton of options out there and it’s up to you to decide what’s best. I want you to take the time to research 3 models of E-Reader. You don’t have to buy one (even if you should!) but take the time to compare 3. Once you’ve picked your favorite make a plan to buy one. Tell the same family member or friend from before that they are holding you accountable for your plan. Don’t let something small hold you back from reading more often!

How to Set Life Changing Goals

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Big Goals Lead to Big Success

How to set goals is a question that is asked constantly. It’s a great question to ask because goal setting is one of the most important steps to becoming successful. Setting goals for yourself gives you a chance to outline all the things you need to do to get where you want to be. It’s like a road map to all the dreams you’ve ever had about achieving more.  We’ve all heard either “ask a stupid question, get a stupid answer” or on the more positive side of things “as a great question to get a great answer”. Setting goals works the same way. If you set a big goal you will achieve big dreams.

Now you may be asking “what is goal setting and how am I supposed to be doing it?” Well to start the goal setting definition is the process of identifying something you want and setting up measurable goals and timeframes to to achieve what you originally wanted.This sounds simple enough but it can be difficult depending on what you dream about achieving. Here are some goal settings examples that you may have heard of before.

  • Become a millionaire
  • Be self employed
  • Spend more time with friends and family
  • Vacation more often
  • Retire early
  • Buy a new house
  • Buy a nice car

In reality the list can go on forever. If we were going to list out everything we want in life it would take us a lifetime of writing and we still wouldn’t finish. Now you can see there are different types of goal setting too. Not everyone wants to run a business, move to a new house, or become the next Bill Gates. That’s where we get into the different types of goals to set and how to set them.

How to set what kind of goal?

Now you may be wondering what kind of goal should I be setting? The answer is it depends. If ask a million different people how many types of goals there are you will get a million different answers. Short term goals, long term goals, personal goals, professional, artistic, financial, relationship… I think you see what I mean by a million different answers.

What you need to remember is a goal should have 3 main characteristics. First goals should have time limits because it creates urgency. Second they should be attainable because if it’s not possible you won’t do it. Third goals should have a specific topic because you need to know what you’re working on. Now with that in mind we need to talk about how to set goals and achieve them.

There are many different methods to goal setting. Everyone should try different goal setting methods until they find one that works for them. I’ve found that the most empowering goal setting methods are SMART goals, picking The ONE Thing, or using the 10x Rule. These methods will all have different steps to set goals but they will all have the 3 main characteristics of a goal.

SMART Goals

 

SMART Goal setting is one of the most common types of goal setting. Many people actually credit Peter Drucker for its invention. Using SMART goals makes sure you have every aspect of a goal that is needed to achieve it. SMART is actually an acronym. Although there have been different words used this is the most common way you’ll find it.

S.M.A.R.T.
  • Specific

A goal should be specific. If the goal is not clear it will be hard to stay focused. This is one of the situations where using the 5 “W’s” can be beneficial. Goals are not meant to be broad pick something that is extremely specific like learning 100 german words.

  • Measurable

 Goals need to be measurable so that you can track progress. This measuring will also create excitement if you think about how close you are to finishing. The most important question to ask yourself is “How will I know when I’ve accomplished my goal?” Find a way to measure that answer.

  • Achievable

Your goal needs to be possible but it needs to push you to your limits. Don’t pick something like make 10 trillion dollars this year. That goal won’t be possible and it will hold you back. If you want to increase your income look at where you are at now and decide on something that will be difficult but achievable. A great question to ask is “how realistic am I being and how will I achieve this goal?”

  • Relevant

Pick a goal that is relevant to the things you enjoy, other goals, and what matters to you. If you don’t like cars don’t make a goal of learning to rebuild an engine. You will lose interest. Goals are about finding things that are relevant to you and sticking with them until you accomplish them.

  • Time Bound

Goals need to have a time limit set on them. Eventually is not a good example of a time limit. If you want to achieve a goal pick a time that will keep you motivated. Ask yourself  “Can I do this in X months, in X weeks, in X days?” only you can pick a time limit for your goals.

The ONE Thing

This method of goal setting comes from Gary Keller’s best seller “The ONE Thing”. It has set new standards for what people can achieve. It has also become one of my personal favorite books. If you get a chance to read it you should.

Using this method of goal setting you still need to follow the 3 main characteristics of a goal. It needs to be attainable, specific, and have a time limit. When you are picking your “ONE Thing” you still need to keep those characteristics in mind. Your “ONE Thing” is going to be the only goal you focus on once it’s picked. Which means this goal needs to be the most important thing to you. This goal also needs to be bigger than you can imagine. A good way to do it is to go 10 times bigger than what you want to achieve. Your “ONE Thing” will be broken down into many smaller things as you go. The best way to describe this method is with a list.

What is your “ONE Thing”?
  • What is “ONE Thing” you can do this year? 
  • What is “ONE Thing” you can do this month? 
  • What is “ONE Thing” you can do this week? 
  • What is “ONE Thing” you can do today? 
  • What is “ONE Thing” you can do right now? 

Each step must lead to the next step when using “The ONE Thing” method. Your goals will be set from the end to the beginning one step at a time. This method is very flexible because as you learn and get closer to your “ONE Thing” you will be able to change what you are doing for each step. I highly recommend reading “The ONE Thing” by Gary Keller if you want to get the full experience from this method of goal setting. It is really a lifestyle more than anything.

10x Rule

The 10x Rule is a lifestyle that Grant Cardone lives by. In his book “The 10x Rule: The only difference between success and failure” he talks about how you can achieve success through putting in more effort than anyone else will. This method of goal setting is more of a lifestyle than any other method mentioned.

The 10x Rule is about setting goals for yourself that are 10 times as big as what you want to accomplish. When you pick a goal that is 10 time bigger you will have to put in 10 times the effort. Going for such a big goal and putting so much effort in means you are guaranteed to at least reach your original goal. The 10x Rule is about getting away from average. You want to be the best at your life.

This is the simplest method to use for goal setting because you are going to change your entire lifestyle. Anything you do needs to be 10 times what you expect. If you aren’t putting in the effort to be extraordinary you are being average. It is easy to be average but average people don’t live extraordinary lives. Grant Cardone does a much better job at explaining the 10x Rule than I could ever do. I highly recommend reading his book and getting involved in the 10x lifestyle.

Follow Through With Your Goals

You have gone through the effort of learning about goal setting. You’ve sat down and taken the time to make your goals. Now it is time to follow through with your goals. This is not the time ask “how to achieve our goals in life” or “how to achieve goals successfully”. This is your time to get out there and follow through.

By now you will have created a list of goals to set for yourself. These are the things that you have always dreamed of. Why would you want to let yourself down? Take action and start living your dream, reach your goals by following through. You now know of 3 things that your goals should have. You know 3 types of goal setting methods that you can use. Don’t sit around waiting for your dreams to come true, make them come true. Taking one step towards your goals each day will let you live a life you never thought was possible.

If you think goal setting will change your life please subscribe to our newsletter. If you have family or friends that are interested in learning more about goal setting let them know by sharing the post on your favorite social media. Thanks for reading!