The Value of Reading
Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers-Harry S. Truman
Periodically, I like to take a detour from the course format to share with you information I think is interesting, useful and timely. After the past few weeks working on our financial template and then doing some heavy thinking, I will take us off on a tangent to give your brain a rest. I hope you will agree the time is worth it.
Visiting Historic Washington DC
We visited Washington, DC, and Northern Virginia recently to see some friends, family members and visit some of the sights in DC. You may know that I grew up just south of historic Alexandria, Virginia, a stone’s throw from George Washington’s home of Mt. Vernon (Note 1), along the Potomac River, a few hundred feet from Fort Hunt (Note 2). Fort Hunt, and likely the land I grew up on, was originally part of George Washington’s estate. Fort Hunt is one of those historical places you probably never heard of.
Diane had always wanted to visit the Library of Congress, so she obtained tickets online, and we visited on the Thursday of our arrival. What’s really fun is that they have a happy hour inside the library on Thursday evenings, and it's a great event. We also visited the Old Post Office Watch Tower (Note 3). We then walked past the White House (Note 4), observing all the protestors chanting and carrying signs. Someone is pretty much always protesting something in Washington, DC, somewhere and at some time. We then proceeded to walk past the Washington Monument (Note 5), along the reflecting pool (Note 6), and to the Lincoln Memorial (Note 7). Besides sharing the Lincoln Memorial with tourists from all over the world, and the shear awesomeness of the memorial and its meaning, I just had to stand on the steps overlooking the reflecting pool and pretend I was Forrest Gump and say “…That’s all I have to say about that” while pretending Jenny was in the reflecting pool yelling ‘Forrest, Forrest’! Ha! Our day had started with a 3:00 am alarm in Tulsa and finally ended back at the hotel around 8:00 pm. The next day, we visited the National Museum of American History (Note 8), where, among many interesting exhibits, we saw the original Star-Spangled Banner that flew over Fort McHenry (Note 9) in Baltimore on September 12-15, 1814. It was the Star Spangled Banner flying over Fort McHenry during the Battle of Baltimore that inspired Francis Scott Key to write The Star Spangled Banner, our US National Anthem. Seeing all of this and now writing about it gives me goosebumps, as I think about the history behind it all.
Even though I grew up literally 15 miles from the White House, I really did not see much of Washington, DC, except a few places on school trips. I’ve seen more since I left, and we’ve tried to visit something pretty much every time we return.
Here is a piece of advice, although you didn't ask for it. I never took my kids to Yellowstone National Park, but I visited after they were grown up. I wish I had. It is absolutely stunning. The kids have seen some of Washington, but I wish I had planned a week or more there with them. And here’s the great thing: you can see almost everything for free. You may need reservations or tickets, so it's essential to plan very well and allocate your time carefully. Oh, and try not to go when school is out. Yeah, that makes it very hot, very expensive, and not so much fun…And a final thing. As you think about where to take your kids, compare the cost of going to Washington, DC, to a week in Disney World. Yes, I know, I know, they want to see Mickey and Donald! Believe me, take your kids to Washington, DC, when they are teenagers.
All leaders are readers
OK, moving on. We will explore your career and professional goals in more detail later in the course and these blog posts. One of the concepts we will cover, which we touched on briefly over the last few weeks, is how your success in the professional world provides the means to meet your financial goals, allowing you to enjoy your personal goals and achieve your dreams, ultimately living your best life.
Key concepts of professional success are reading, learning, and growing. My trip to the Library of Congress (which is actually three buildings, Note 10) brought that all home to me as we obtained library cards and stood in the Jefferson Research Center. We were able to see President Jefferson’s actual White House office and his original personal library (both relocated)! What is the purpose of the Library of Congress? Essentially, it is the Library of the United States and serves as the research arm of Congress (Note 11).
I’ve mentioned a few times that I developed the course and established Afterburner Success Partners out of concern about how difficult it is to achieve financial security and freedom unless one is deliberate, disciplined, diligent, and methodical over a very long period. This includes lifelong learning, which is most often associated with reading.
Since I authored the course in 2019, my concern has increased in proportion to the amount of screen time young adults use over time. Is this really the best use of their time, and does it prepare them for the future? Yes, I understand everyone spends a large part of their day on a computer for school or work. I also know that a lot of material that used to be printed is now digitized, and we must access it via a device. However, as I observe what’s going on, I can’t help but think there is a lot of wasted time. Some of the statistics I quoted in recent weeks seem to bear that out, and here are a few more for you (Note 12):
Worldwide, people spend an average of 6 hours and 40 minutes per day on screens.
In the US, the average daily screen time reached 7 hours and 3 minutes.
Nearly half (41%) of American teenagers (ages 13-18) spend more than 8 hours per day on screen time.
Entertainment screen time among children in the US has risen from 4 hours 44 minutes in 2019 to 5 hours 33 minutes in 2021.
South Africans spend 9 hours 24 minutes on their screens each day (that’s 2 hours 44 minutes more than the global average).
On the other hand, and to be fair, libraries are not dead yet, and Gen Z and Millennials are using them regularly (Note 13).
The bottom line
I’m guessing that we all intuitively know we should be reading more and spending less time on our devices. I’ve mentioned that I substitute teach at a local technical college, and late last year, I taught a complete semester of high school students. I was so pleased that the rules had just been changed to allow me, as an instructor, to have the students put their phones away during class time. It was not easy for many of them, but I think it’s a start to getting us to read more and spend time on what is most important.
If you have children, grandchildren, nieces, or nephews, encourage them to read by taking them to the library or buying them a book. You will be glad you did! That’s all for this week!
The reading room at the Jefferson Library of Congress. Absolutely stunning!
What’s in it for Me
Reading is fundamental. For you and everyone. Consider donating to rif.org (Note 14).
Call to Action
Click on the links in Notes 15 and 16 for some extra, interesting reading.
Recommended Resources
The Daily Stoic is a website of ancient wisdom for everyday living. Click on the link in Note 16 to sign up for the daily blog. Visit the Afterburner Success Partners website for more recommended reading and links for easy purchase.
Up Next
What is financial freedom to YOU?
Notes
Please note that as an Amazon Affiliate, I may earn a small commission on the sale of any of these recommended resources.
Mount Vernon: https://www.mountvernon.org
Fort Hunt: https://www.nps.gov/gwmp/learn/historyculture/fort-hunt-history-and-culture.htm
The Old Post Office Tower: https://www.nps.gov/nama/planyourvisit/opot.htm
The White House: https://www.nps.gov/whho/index.htm
The Washington Monument: https://www.nps.gov/wamo/index.htm
The reflecting pool: https://www.nps.gov/places/000/lincoln-memorial-reflecting-pool.htm
The Lincoln Memorial: https://www.nps.gov/linc/index.htm
National Museum of American History: https://www.si.edu/museums/american-history-museum
Fort McHenry: https://www.nps.gov/fomc/index.htm
Library of Congress: https://www.loc.gov
The Library of Congress frequently asked questions: https://www.loc.gov/about/frequently-asked-questions/
Revealing Screen Time Statistics, Backlinko: https://backlinko.com/screen-time-statistics
New ALA report: Gen Z & Millennials are visiting the library & prefer print books: https://www.ala.org/news/2019/12/new-ala-report-gen-z-millennials-are-visiting-library-prefer-print-books
Reading is fundamental: https://www.ala.org/news/2019/12/new-ala-report-gen-z-millennials-are-visiting-library-prefer-print-books
Truman Quotes, Truman State University: https://www.truman.edu/about/history/our-namesake__trashed/truman-quotes/
7 quotes from great thinkers on reading by Ryan Holiday: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ryanholiday_7-quotes-from-great-thinkers-on-reading-activity-6931312661070581760-f3HH/
The Daily Stoic: https://dailystoic.com