If you want to increase your impact in your life and work, you need to change your diet. Not necessarily your food diet, but the content from all media you consume on a daily basis.
When it comes to your amazing mind, the popular expression “garbage in, garbage out” is abundantly true. You see, what we reflect to the world about ourselves tends to be powerfully influenced by all of the we input we receive. For most of us, that comes into our head in the form of various types of media – including books, newspapers, magazines, TV shows, e-mail and the web. Many people fill their heads with the mental equivalent of garbage – mindless comedies, TV news that tells us everything that’s gone wrong where we live and around the world. trashy novels, Facebook and amusing web pages. Is it any wonder many of us have become apathetic and hopeless?
Why not be more intentional about the content you consume?
Your brain is an incredible storehouse of information, which you can tap to develop ideas, plans and, ultimately, greater success. Doesn’t it make sense to fill the raw material pile of your mind with the best possible “fuel?”
Where should you focus?
Here are several high-quality information channels you ought to focus more time on to increase your odds of success:
In your industry: Consume Books, magazines and blogs that are aimed at helping you keep up with the latest tools, technologies and trends in your profession or industry. But remember, to use a poker analogy, up-to-date industry or professional knowledge is only “table stakes” – it gives you the right to play, but doesn’t guarantee you’ll win. You need to invest thinking time to discern the implications behind the visible trends. That will help you to stand out from the pack of your peers. Extend your lead by reading materials from other industries or professions that face similar challenges to yours. How did they solve these problems? How can you adapt what they’ve done to your circumstances?
Creativity: Read books, consume podcasts and acquire brainstorming tools that help you to become a better, more flexible creative problem solver. This skill is critically important today, and business owners and leaders seek people who have ideas that can help to grow the business and gain competitive advantage.
Personal development: Read books, magazines and blogs that share timeless principles of success and inspire you to greater levels of achievement and contribution. Learn from the successes and failures of others. Always be on the lookout for common-sense nuggets of gold that you can adopt as your own.
Professional development: Any kind of structured, ongoing learning is an excellent investment. It will almost always expand your knowledge and capabilities – and therefore your value.
Conferences: Attend industry or professional conferences, where you will encounter new ideas, people and sources of inspiration.
Expanded networking: Spend time each week talking to and meeting with people who can help you to stretch your mind in new directions. Move beyond the “usual suspects” – your close friends and colleagues – and force yourself to have lunch several times a month with new people who you can learn from. Chris Brogan and Julien Smith, in their new book, The Impact Equation: Are You Making Things Happen or Just Making Noise?, call it “leveling up,” to borrow a turn of phrase from the world of video game strategy:
The bottom line
Your current inputs are what will determine, to a surprising extent, what your future output will be. Now is an excellent time to figure out what you want to accomplish in the years ahead, and adjust your media diet accordingly. Of course, everyone needs some mental “downtime” when they can just relax and enjoy some entertainment. But the point is to mindfully focus your inputs to support your goals and aspirations.
Don’t leave this process to chance. Opportunities come to minds that are prepared for them. Think of your mind as a garden. Is yours weed-infested and worn out, or is it tilled, watered and well cared for? The choice is up to you!