Excerpts:
What kind of books do you usually read?
Biographies are my go-to genre. I usually read biographies of people I look up to. After that, I read a lot of self-improvement books. They aren't self-help books, but just any book that adds to your knowledge and improves it. For example, if I want to know more about subtraction management, I'll be looking for books related to it. I think it's a genre of its own. I don't read fiction at all. I haven't read one since the first grade.
So reading is a serious business for you? How do you choose your reading materials?
Absolutely. I don't read for fun. Everything I do has to be productive in one way or the other. So whenever I read, I read for ideas and theories that can be used in whatever I attempt, so that I keep on getting better at it. There are areas where I lack in, and if I know that I need to work or learn more about it, I read about it. That's usually how I choose books to read. I also look for recommendations for good books, and of course, whenever biographies about certain people come about, I get them.
What are you reading these days? Do you read often?
I'm reading The Lean Startup by Eric Ries right now and I'm finding it pretty useful. I do read often, usually every night before going to bed. I make it a point to read at least a chapter or two. E-books have proven to be a boon as they are convenient and can be used anywhere.
Is there any book that has left an impact on you?
The Art of War by Sun Tzu is the one. It is a compilation of what a commander told his army in the wake of a battle. Later, the business gurus framed the lessons in business contexts. It's about war, but you can compare it with business, as it is not less than that. It gives you a solution for all kinds of predicaments you face in business or elsewhere. It is easy to read and leaves you with many things at once. By the time you finish reading it, you are a changed person. Besides that reading Malcolm Gladwell has made me think deeper about networking, an essential skill in business. It is also an important skill in life.
What is the takeaway for people who aren't exactly in the business field by reading these books?
Suppose you're an artist, no matter how much you're into your art, in the end, you've got to make a living out of it. If you say that business is not your thing because you aren't a businessman, then that's a misconception. It's an illusion, because no matter how good an artist is, if he fails at selling his art and networking, how will he be able to survive? After all, you have got to make money out of what you do. Business might not be a cup of tea for everyone, and not everyone will enjoy reading such works, but at least you will remember the things and theories in them in the hour of need and that's all that matters.
How essential is it to read these books to succeed in business?
One man's ideas alone aren't sufficient enough to teach you everything that there is. Every book that you read will give you a different perspective and that will come in handy. Maybe you'll learn something that you never thought of. It ensures a constant flow of new ideas, no matter
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