Photo by Josh Applegate on Unsplash
Published by Stephanie Wilson, Lead Communications Associate
I learned the joy of reading from a very young age. The imagination that it took to picture the world inside of a book taught me creativity and out-of-the-box thinking. Creatures and characters took on life and spurred improvements in my vocabulary and my relationships with others. Finding others who liked the same books created a community in my school.
As I entered my teenage years, I found myself sneaking a book inside my covers and reading by the light of the streetlight outside my bedroom window. Maybe that’s why I had to get glasses at an early age!
My beloved great-grandmother’s final days were spent with me reading aloud to her. That connection was strengthened by books.
Now that I’m an adult, I can look back and value the connections and knowledge I received from my love of reading. It has become a way to never stop learning and growing in my personal and professional life.
As a parent, I taught my kids to love reading at any level. From novels to cereal boxes, they grew their vocabulary and enjoyment of books on history, fashion, and doomsday adventure stories. My son’s passion for the written word rivals mine. I can’t stress the importance of exposing your children to reading starting from the first words they speak.
I’ve found that exposing yourself to many subjects makes you a well-rounded employee. Our team reads books together and bounces off ideas with each other.
There’s so much reading material for the financial industry. Books about the ins and outs of the market, how to target your client base in advertising, social media engagement (one of my favorites), and many more topics. Nothing is the golden ticket to success, but if you surround yourself with a sprinkling of all subjects, you become a well-rounded financial professional.
Immerse yourself in reading in all aspects of your life. Passing this joy to your children and grandchildren is a gift to them. You may just learn something from the people in your life as well!