Read a book

The simple truth is that you should read books.

You should read books.
It may be a common phrase, but it's true.

It broadens horizons. It leads to self-improvement. And it's simply fun.
You could list numerous reasons, but in the end, it all comes down to that one thing.

Nevertheless, most people don't read books.

I don't have time, it's a hassle, and it doesn't feel meaningful.
I've heard these words many times.

To be honest, from my perspective, this can all be summed up as a lack of motivation, apathy.
However, I don't intend to deny that in itself. People tend to go with the easier option, and it's natural to avoid troublesome things.

The problem is that they want to "change" while remaining in that state.

If you want to change, you have to change your actions.

I want to change, grow, and achieve results.
If you think that way, nothing will change if you continue to act the same as before.

And when I say change your behavior, you don't need to do anything drastic.
Among those, the easiest and most effective is reading.

It doesn't cost much money. It doesn't require a specific location. You can start right away.
I feel it's a great shame that so many people don't do it, despite all the conditions being met.

Is reading a "hobby"?

For example, if asked "What are your hobbies?" you answer "Reading."
It's a common, unremarkable conversation.

The question is ordinary, and the answer is generic.

Actually, I think many people read books.
I read because I like it, and I enjoy it in my leisure time. It's what you'd call reading as a hobby.

That may be the common perception.

I've also tried to read as much as possible since I was young.
However, if you ask me if I call it a hobby, I feel like it's a bit different.

Of course, reading your favorite books and enjoying them is ideal.
The feeling of encountering a fascinating book is something that cannot be obtained elsewhere.

However, you don't know if a book is interesting until you read it.
This is one of the difficulties.

It might be thin and uninteresting if you read it.
Conversely, sometimes the level is too high, requiring a lot of time to understand, and it becomes painful to continue reading.

When you consider reading a hobby,
The moment I encounter books like this, my motivation drops.

And then I stop reading it altogether.

I think this is a very natural flow.

However, in my case, it's a little different.

There is only one reason to read a book.
To improve myself as a businessman.

Whether it's interesting or not is secondary.
Of course, it's best if it's interesting, but that's not the goal.

If I had to say, it feels closer to training.

Those who don't read live within their own world.

Many people who don't read books continue to judge things based solely on the information in their own minds.
You will be making decisions based only on past experiences and limited knowledge.

At first glance, it seems fine, but this is a quite dangerous situation.

Because that person's world will stop at "the extent of what they know."
One's field of vision doesn't widen, nor does their thinking deepen. And they themselves can't realize it.

This situation is the most troublesome.

People who read books can take in the outside world.

On the other hand, people who read books are different.
You can gain knowledge of things you haven't experienced.

You can vicariously experience the successes and failures of others.
You can encounter ways of thinking that are completely different from your own.

This is a very big difference.

Life seems long, but it's short, and there are limits to learning everything through your own experiences alone.
That's why the idea of borrowing other people's lives through books becomes necessary.

■Real estate jobs are distinguished by "reading comprehension skills."

Let's try to substitute it for our work here.

The real estate business is a profession where you encounter written text on a daily basis.
You will become accustomed to facing documents filled with text, such as important matters explanation sheets and contracts.

Moreover, it's not just a matter of reading it.
You need to accurately understand the content and explain it in a way that is easy for customers who are seeing it for the first time to understand.

So, can someone who can't even read a book understand and explain text that looks like a code to someone seeing it for the first time?

To be honest, I think it's pretty tough.

People who are not accustomed to reading articles cannot grasp the structure in the first place.
I sort of understand it word by word and explain it without grasping the big picture.

Then, the customer will never understand.

It won't end with "a job anyone can do."

Real estate is often thought of as a job anyone can do.
That's understandable, especially if you only look at the entrance.

But in reality, it's completely different.

Behind every transaction, various factors are intertwined, including legal, contractual, financial, tax, and local characteristics.
Understand them, organize them, and propose them in the best way.

This is by no means an easy task.

Rather, the deeper I get into it, the more I realize it's not a job that just anyone can do.
This is a job that only a limited number of people can do.

And the difference is made by how much you engage with words every day.
In other words, it's the power to read and the power to understand.

Reading improves work accuracy.

Reading is not merely inputting knowledge.
It improves the accuracy of the work itself.

As the amount of information increases, so do the options for making decisions.
By knowing past examples, we can avoid making the same mistakes.

Furthermore, the increase in drawers will broaden the range of proposals.
As a result, we can offer you better options.

If I were to add one more thing, it would be the "speed of decision-making."

People with knowledge make decisions quickly because they have the resources for thinking.
Conversely, people with no knowledge lack comparison points, so they take longer to make decisions or resort to guesswork.

This difference is very significant in the field.
In the business world, speed is also a form of value.

How reading directly relates to work

Reading is not merely inputting knowledge.
In the end, it will definitely lead to a job.

Reading specialized books increases knowledge.
Reading novels sharpens your expressive abilities.
Reading business books will help you develop thinking patterns.

Although the genres are different, each one allows me to train myself from a different angle.
And as those things build up, the accuracy of the work will definitely increase.

You can make judgments because you have knowledge. What you can convey is because you have expressiveness. You remain steadfast because you have a framework for thinking.

Each of these will directly lead to the result.

The outcome is determined by your ability to articulate it.

There is another big difference.

It's the ability to put things into words.

People who read books are exposed to an overwhelmingly larger amount of words.
As a result, you will strengthen your ability to organize your thoughts and communicate them to others.

Conversely, people who don't read books tend to grasp things intuitively, but have trouble putting them into words.

Even though I think I understand it in my head, when I try to explain it, I get stuck for words.

In this state, the other person will not understand.

In sales, there's a difference in the persuasiveness of proposals.
Within the company, there will be differences in the accuracy of communication.

This difference may seem small, but it adds up to a big difference.
And ultimately, it leads directly to the result.

Reading changes thinking

Reading books has also greatly changed my way of thinking.

Compared to when I used to rely solely on my instincts, I now think more deeply about things.

Also, the choice of words when communicating with others has changed.

How can I convey this?
How can I get them to agree?

I've come to be able to see things from that perspective.
I believe it's undoubtedly due to the accumulation of my reading.

Everything depends on whether it can be verbalized.

There is one more decisive difference.
That's the ability to articulate.

People who read books are exposed to an overwhelmingly larger amount of words.
As a result, your ability to organize your thoughts and communicate them to others will be refined.

Conversely, people who don't read tend to grasp things intuitively and cannot put them into words.

No matter how good an idea you have, it's useless if you can't communicate it.
If it's sales, it won't lead to a contract, and if it's within the company, it won't be evaluated.

This becomes clearly apparent when you are on-site.

Furthermore, people who can articulate their thoughts can adjust their speech to their audience's level of understanding.
Instead of conveying difficult content as is, reduce it to a level that the other person can understand.

This is an ability that can only be acquired through training.

And the foundation of that training is the amount of words we are exposed to daily.

Reading changes thinking itself.

Reading books has also greatly changed my way of thinking.

Previously, I often relied on intuition, but now I pause and think about things structurally.
I've come to be able to view things from the perspective of "Is that really the right way?" and "Are there no other options?".

Also, I've come to see things as a “line” rather than as “points.”
This means you've started to imagine how your current decisions will lead to future outcomes, and beyond.

When you can do this, you'll be less swayed by short-term emotions and be able to make more fundamental judgments.

Reading has value precisely because it is an effort where differences are unlikely to appear.

The act of reading may seem quiet/understated at first glance.

It's not like you'll see a physical change in your appearance like you would with strength training.
It's not something that shows immediate results like sales figures.

That's why many people don't stick with it.

But conversely, that also means "you'll stand out just by continuing."

Flashy efforts are easy for anyone.
Areas where results are easily seen are also fiercely competitive.

On the other hand, quiet, consistent efforts like reading are not something many people do.
That's why, in the long run, it makes a big difference.

Reading only has meaning when it's done consistently over time.

Of course, reading just one book won't change your life.
It's not that simple.

However, the fact is that nothing will change unless you read it.

Continue, even if only little by little.
And, put even a little bit of what you read into action.

This repetition gives it meaning for the first time.

"No time" is just an excuse.

I often hear the phrase "I don't have time," but in reality, I do have time.

Time spent on your phone, time spent idly.
You just need to turn part of it into a book.

That's all there is to it.

Even 10 minutes a day is fine. If you continue that for a year, it will become a considerable amount.

And that difference will definitely show.

■ Summary

You should read books.
It's simple, but that's all there is to it.

To read or not to read.
That alone changes your thoughts, judgments, and outcomes.

Especially in jobs that require the handling, understanding, and communication of words.

Because we live in an era where many people don't read, simply reading makes a difference.
This is a big opportunity as well.

One last time.

You should read books.

These piled-up efforts make a big difference before you know it.

Anyone who enjoys reading, let's talk about recommended books and interesting books!

We look forward to hearing from you!