Find Your Own Meaning In Everything You Read

Written by Mike Shapiro | | August 23, 2016

James Clear did us all a great service with his recent Book Summaries, posted on his website. He summarized — in 3 sentences — each of 39 books he read about business and living in general. In the process, he gave us a model for a simple but effective way to get the main message from each book we read and reminded us of the importance of getting new ideas from books.

Presented as I was with all the advice James found in all those articles, I was struck by the difficulty we face in reconciling and taking that advice to heart and turning it into meaningful action:

  • Focus on customers, but don’t let things they say dictate our actions to build products we hope they will ultimately buy.
  • Set and work toward goals, but recognize that some things are beyond our power to change (and it’s really all about the journey, after all).
  • Be mindful of everything we do, but know that most behaviors are driven by the unconscious mind rather than our intentions.
  • Connect with others. It’s a key component of personal happiness, but keep in mind that seeking to maximize happiness can make you self-absorbed and lonely.
  • Take personal responsibility for everything we do, but understand that randomness, chance and luck play a big role in success.
  • Strive for excellence, but don’t compare yourself to others.

So what are we do do when trying to reconcile these sometimes conflicting bits of advice?

  1. Take notes, as James advises, but make it two sets of notes: one to record your summaries of key points the author is making and the other to capture your own thoughts that pop into your mind while you’re reading.
  2. Don’t be constrained by the author’s interpretation and conclusions about his observations. Look for alternative explanations and insights.
  3. Make your own meaning from the threads of the article. Recall your own memory of similar events you’ve observed, and record what comes to mind.
  4. Look for something you can try — a simple step, an experiment, some action that will move you forward and in a position to observe more new things and get more new ideas.

You don’t have to reconcile every piece of advice with everything else that comes your way. Think about it this way: There are two kinds of experience you can learn from — yours and someone else’s. Use your reading as one of many ways to magnify the wide-ranging experiences you’re exposed to, and to jump-start your own ideas for action.