It’s common knowledge that successful leaders are well-read. I didn’t always have a habit of reading. The decade between when I finished my undergrad and when I started graduate school, I probably read two to three books in total. It just wasn’t a priority. When I was in graduate school for three and a half years, I had to read books at a clip of about one per week. And they were thick. I like learning and I like reading, but without the pressure of academic requirements, I had a hard time keeping the habit.

When I finished graduate school, I made a commitment to myself to keep reading. This wasn’t something that I was going to set aside or procrastinate, like I did when I finished my undergrad. I had four young children. The idea that I’d be able to come home from work, sit down by the fire and read a great book, just wasn’t in the cards. By the time the kids were in bed, my eyes were tired and my brain was mush. Nevertheless, I was determined to make it work. Here are a few tips that helped me build and maintain the habit of reading:

Audio Books

My best time to read is on my commute. I have a fairly long, 30-mile commute, that puts me in the car for about eight hours per week. At that rate, I can read an average-length audio book in less than two weeks. I listen to books most of the time on my commute, but I don’t read exclusively, so I don’t get burned out. Between books, I’ll catch up on some podcasts, listen to the radio, or put on a good playlist.

Overdrive

Back in the day, I used to go to my local library and flip through the limited selections of audio books on CD or tape. That was tedious, time consuming, and not very rewarding due to the lack of selection. Then came along the modern marvel of Overdrive, the free smartphone app that lets you borrow audio books from your local library using your regular library card for access. It’s extremely convenient. It solves so many barriers to reading. It takes no time at all to search and download titles. The selection is really good (at least it is for my local library), and it’s completely free.

Those are the upsides. There are a few downsides. Just like at the local library, you have to wait for popular titles to become available. The library may own six virtual copies of a title, and you may have to wait in line for your turn. I’ve had to wait up to six months for some titles. Once you get it, you have it for three weeks. When the three weeks are up, it disappears from your phone. If you finish it early, you can return it so the next person in line can get started.

Audible

Sometimes Overdrive doesn’t have a title, or the waiting list is just too long. For times like that, there’s Audible. Audible is an audio book service from Amazon. It has a fantastic selection, but it’s far from free. Titles average $15-$30 each, or you can sign up for the monthly plan for $15 and get access to one book per month. Personally, it’s worth it to me to have the subscription.

Between Overdrive and Audible, I can keep my reading list supplied with relevant audio books that I’m excited to read.

Goodreads

Goodreads is a social network for readers. The main reason I got Goodreads is because in conversation with friends and colleagues, people would often talk about good books they’ve read, I’d make mental note to get the book, then quickly forget the title forever. Goodreads is a convenient app to pull open when you are in that conversation. You can quickly and easily search for a title, and mark it “to read.” You can also write reviews and see what your friends are reading. If any of you would like to “friend me” on Goodreads, click here.

Technical Setup

Most of my readers are tech-savvy, so this might be remedial. For those that aren’t, here are a few technical tips: All of the apps I’ve mentioned are available in the Apple and Google app stores for free. Modern cars have USB iPod jacks or aux input jacks for playing audio from your phone. Really modern cars have stereo Bluetooth receivers built-in. I drive old cars. I generally used a cassette adapter with an aux jack, until I got a phone that didn’t have an aux jack. By then cassette adapters with Bluetooth got good enough and that’s what I use. 

FM-modulator adapters vary in quality, and I haven’t used them. For cars new enough to not have a tape adapter, but old enough not to have an aux-input, I’ve personally wired-in an aux jack or Bluetooth receiver. Kits are available online for most factory radios. I also make a practice of hooking up my phone and starting my audio book before I start driving, so I don’t have to fiddle with my phone on the road. Safety first.

Those are my tips for building and maintaining a reading habit. The combination of technology and the commute makes it possible for me. Books are my best resource for continuing my leadership development. I’d like to give a shout-out to my buddy, Adam Wallschlaeger, from whom I learned several of these tips. Have any tips of your own to share? Please put them in the comments below. Like my article? Please share it with your colleagues.