There is a popular theory on success that goes like this: "You are the sum of the five people you spend the most time with." The concept is basic: to succeed, regularly surround yourself with the kind of people you want to become. As a busy female entrepreneur, wife, mother, sister, boss, friend, community member, charity volunteer, and so on, my response to that comment has always been, "Easier said than done." Besides, I already had a way to surround myself with the right people - until this happened...
My Favorite Pastime Got Squashed
I've always been a big reader and self-help junkie. From an early age, if there was an area of my life I wanted to improve, I'd go find five books on the subject and dive in. When the internet came along, my ability to feed my love of self-help knowledge only got bigger. I could access written and video self-help content 24/7. It shouldn't surprise you that I ended up building an entire business (this website!) dedicated to giving people self-help advice for their careers. I'm grateful every day for the power technology gave me to help millions of people. But, it also created a problem: so much good information to consume and not enough hours in the day.
Information overload quickly hit me and I found myself blurry-eyed, needing glasses, and developing some serious creases in between my eyebrows from squinting. I had to start to filter what I read and watched. Given I write and read all day for a living, by the end of the day, my eyes were too tired to be able to indulge my passion for self-help resources. Add to that the after work responsibilities of caring for my family, and I also felt I had no time. My self-help past-time was pushed to the weekends, and even then, I'd needed a break from the screen. Simply put, there was not time to indulge my passion for learning and growing.
Lack Of Time Wasn't My Real Problem
Last year, I found myself burnt out on life. The stress of growing a business, raising kids, maintaining a marriage, caring for sick parents, all while trying to keep myself healthy took it's toll. I got sick a lot and felt like giving up. Then I remembered that pesky phrase,
"You are the sum of the five people you spend the most time with." I realized I needed some quality time with mentors who could help me get back on track. However, I had no time to attend networking events or work face-to-face with mentors. And honestly, the people I wanted to spend time with were successful people far flung across the globe. They were the people in the books I read and the videos I watched.
I was venting one day about this to a colleague when she suggested the Audible app. "What's that?" I asked. She explained I could listen to audiobooks on my phone. Intrigued, I downloaded the app. Wow. I suddenly could hear self-help books instead of read them. I know, you're thinking, "J.T. audiobooks have been around forever." But, it just wasn't a habit I had gotten into. I never needed to, until now. All of a sudden, I had a way to benefit again from all those self-help books that had helped me in the past. I could do it while running on the treadmill in the morning, driving the kids to dance class after school, or sitting on the couch after dinner. My eyes got a rest, but my brain got the self-help nourishment it was craving. It was a total game-changer.
The Audible app was easy to download on my iPhone. I purchased the book on Amazon and that gave me access to the book in my app. The app keeps track of where I left off, but also lets me go back to previous chapters. My favorite feature though is the ability to "clip" and save particularly important passages. I can label them and even share them by email or social media. As a writer, I'm often inspired by a quote or a short discussion. Saving these clips lets me go back later, review them, and then incorporate my thoughts into my writing.
Then, This Happened...
Last week, when the opportunity came across my desk to introduce readers to a new audiobook on Audible,
The Power of Broke: How Empty Pockets, a Tight Budget, and a Hunger for Success Can Become Your Greatest Competitive Advantage, written by Damon John, the shark of ABC's
Shark Tank, I agreed. Yes, they hired me to share my story. BUT, this was one I was happy to tell. Listening to audiobooks
(like this one) is exactly what has helped me to keep my confidence up. These books are the company I keep. I tell my clients, "I you want better mentors, try Audible audiobooks."
What I loved about Damon John's audiobook is how he lets us inside the mind of a
Shark Tank investor. Using his vast amount of entrepreneurial knowledge, you learn what things you should be focusing on in order to increase the odds of success. He openly shares his own experiences. Moreover, the storytelling manner in which he delivers the information helps you wrap your head around what really needs to be done to make your start-up survive. I was inspired by his passion and grit. He really reminds you that a true entrepreneur learns from their mistakes and keeps on going!
I encourage you to
click this link and try it Audible free for 30 days. Choose an area of your life you want to improve, find five audiobooks on Audible, and listen to them. I guarantee you'll be motivated to take action and improve your situation. Those five mentors you listen to will help you get there!
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Audible. The opinions and text are all mine.Photo Credit: Bigstock
