Unlock Your Potential as a Reader

We are creatures of habit (whether intentional or unintentional).

In my last post, I started to unpack the habit loop to help you become a reader. This week, let’s take a deeper dive into the Four Laws of Habit and how you can use them to unlock your potential as a reader (or anything for that matter).

(Before you dive in, you may want to review Identity-Based Habits. This will give you the inner motivation you need to make the habit stick.)

The Four Laws of Habit

You can use the Four Laws to help you build good habits or break bad ones:

The 1st law (Cue)

Make it obvious (or make it invisible)

The 2nd law (Craving)

Make it attractive (or make it unattractive)

The 3rd law (Response)

Make it easy (or make it difficult)

The 4th law (Reward)

Make it satisfying (or make it unsatisfying)

Law #1 - Make It Obvious

To make reading obvious, place books in strategic places: the bathroom, on your bedside table, next to your favorite chair, and always carry a book in your bag when you go out in just in case you have unexpected downtime.

Next to the chair in my office, I have business or personal growth books. Right now, I’m reading "The Road Less Stupid" by Keith Cunningham and "The Celebration of Discipline" by Richard Foster.

On my bedside table, I typically have a science or history book (and occasionally a fiction book). These are suitable for putting you to sleep after a page or two. There are currently three books on my bedside table: The Bible (I usually read a Psalm or Proverb before bed), "Brain Energy" by Chris Palmer, and "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" by J.K. Rowling.

Near the sitting area in my bedroom, I have a copy of 1984 by George Orwell, which I generally read on Saturdays.

Finally, my “Master Book List” (a simple Google doc) ensures I always have a plethora of possible books to choose from. Whenever I hear about a book that sounds interesting, I simply add it to the list. Most of my recommendations come from podcasts or other growing people. One of my favorite questions when I meet with someone is, “What are the best books you’ve read in the last 6-12 months?”

If you want to become an avid reader, ask yourself this question:

Where could I strategically place books to make it obvious and remind me to read one page at a specific time?

You probably already have several places in mind. If you can, grab some books and place them in strategic places right now.

Law #2 - Make It Attractive

To make reading attractive, identify the types of books you enjoy reading or find interesting. Is it historical fiction? Fantasy? Romance? Non-fiction? Personal growth? Biographies? Memoirs? Periodicals? The newspaper?

Over time, I encourage people to read in genres out of their comfort zone, but in the beginning, start with books you like!

What are the top three genres or types of books you like to read? Write them down.

Law #3 - Make It Easy

If you want to make it easy, try using the Two-Minute Rule. It states, “When you start a new habit, it should take less than two minutes to do.” (James Clear, “How to Stop Procrastinating”)

It’s a variation of the Two-minute rule by David Allen which says, “If it takes less than two minutes, then do it now.” (Getting Things Done, New York: Penguin, 2015).

James goes on to say, “Work backward from magic.” Start with a magical outcome and then chart a course all the way back to the chair you're sitting in. If you can’t do that, then it’s just a dream.

What type of reader do you want to become, and what’s the step right in front of you that takes two minutes or less?

Here are three examples of the two-minute rule as applied to reading:

• “Reading before bed each night” becomes “Read one page”.
• “Read every morning” becomes “Read one page in the morning”.
• “Read at lunch” becomes “Read one page at lunch”.

Another thing you can do to make it easy is to start by reading books you already own but have never read.

Law #4 - Make It Satisfying

If you want to make it satisfying, reward yourself!

When establishing a new habit, it helps to reward yourself when you do the behavior. Over time, your mind will start associating the behavior with the reward, thus reinforcing the habit loop. Once a habit is established, you no longer need a reward (unless you want to, of course). The reward becomes the habit itself!

I did this with exercise. Because I love podcasts, my reward for exercising is that I get to listen to a podcast when I exercise. This is a reward I’ve kept! Sometimes I think I exercise just so I can listen to podcasts!

What type of reward would make reading satisfying to you? Write it down.

I recommend making the reward something that reinforces the habit rather than something in a completely different realm. For example, rather than eating a dessert after a week or a month of reading one page every day, reward yourself with something that reinforces your new habit: purchase the next novel in the series once you finish this one, subscribe to a particular magazine you like, buy a fancy box set of your favorite fiction series, purchase that new non-fiction book you’ve been wanting, or download an audiobook for your commute to work.

Final Reading Tips

A few other tips to help you become a reader:

• Read four books from different genres at the same time. That way, if you get bored of one, you can easily pick up another.
• Make reading your default. When you have spare time (a few minutes before dinner or in between meetings), pick up a book!
• Listen to world-class leaders and thinkers while in the car or exercising. Here are a few podcasts I like: The Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast, A Bit of Optimism with Simon Sinek, Church & Culture with James Emery White, Deep Questions with Cal Newport, The Diary of a CEO with Steven Barlett, The Tim Ferris Show, Decoder with Nilay Patel, and The Greg McKeown Podcast.
• Join or start a book club. This creates accountability. No one wants to look stupid by showing up at a book club not having read the book!

Ready, Set, Read!

Here’s a recap of what we discussed:

Make It Obvious - Put books in strategic places so everywhere you turn there’s a book!

Make It Attractive - Identify three types of books you enjoy reading and start a master book list.

Make It Easy - Use the Two-Minute Rule to identify a reading habit that takes two minutes or less (example - read one page per day).

Make It Satisfying - Reward yourself for becoming a reader. Use rewards that reinforce the person you want to become (see above for examples).

Set a specific time this week to go over the Four Laws, then start reading one page per day or read for a certain amount of time each day.

What are some of the things that have helped you become a reader? Share in the comments!

Happy reading!

Kent

PS - Join hundreds of weekly readers looking to develop themselves and make a difference in the world. As my gift to you, you will also receive my ONE THING Worksheet to help you crush your goals. Sign up in 2 seconds.

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