Consulting Tip #05 for Reading More – and Join My Reading Challenge! 📚
Hi there,
Continuing with the fresh start theme—what better way to kick off the year than by taking on a reading challenge? If you’re looking for a rewarding way to grow personally and professionally in 2025, I have just the idea: let’s read more books!
I’ve always read a lot, even though I wouldn’t call myself a particularly fast reader. A few years ago, I started tracking my reading on Goodreads, and since then, I’ve been setting myself an annual reading goal.
This year, my goal is 110 books—just like last year. That might sound like a lot, but don’t worry—you don’t need to aim for triple digits to make this a great year for reading. Set your own number—whether it’s 10, 20, or 50 books—and let’s make reading a part of our journey toward growth and inspiration. While there are plenty of speed-reading hacks out there, you don't need them to read more. I believe that reading is about depth, not just speed. Absorbing and reflecting on what you read is far more valuable than rushing through pages. Take your time to understand and enjoy the books you choose.
Reading isn’t just about consuming information—it’s about broadening your thinking, sharpening your problem-solving skills, and deepening your understanding of the world. Here’s how to make the most of your reading time and turn it into a habit that sticks:
💼 Consulting Tip 05: Read Books
Here are some tips for reading more and improving your effectiveness:
1. Set a Realistic Goal
Choose a number of books that feels both challenging and achievable for you. The goal isn’t just to read more—it’s to read consistently.
📌 Pro Tip: Combine different formats to fit reading into your routine. Read heavier topics on paper and enjoy fiction as audiobooks during your commute, walk, or workout.
2. Prioritize Reading
A typical excuse for avoiding reading is, “I don’t have time.” But everyone has the same 24 hours in a day—it comes down to priorities. Prioritize reading over activities like mindless scrolling on social media or binge-watching shows you don’t even enjoy. Unlike these, reading actively engages and challenges your mind.
📌 Pro Tip: Schedule dedicated reading time in your day, just like you would for work meetings or workouts. Even 10–15 minutes of focused reading can make a big difference over time.
3. Be Selective About What You Read
Not every book deserves your time. Focus on books that align with your goals, challenge your thinking, or truly spark your curiosity.
📌 Pro Tip: Maintain a prioritized reading list. Goodreads is an excellent tool to organize, track, and discover great books.
4. Read Both Nonfiction and Fiction
Nonfiction builds knowledge and provides actionable insights, while fiction enhances creativity, empathy, and problem-solving skills. A balance of both makes you a better consultant and a better person.
📌 Pro Tip: Alternate between genres to keep things fresh—one business book, one sci-fi novel, one self-improvement book, one detective story. Also, try reading books in a second or third language to challenge yourself and gain new perspectives.
5. Read Regularly
The secret to reading more? Make it a habit. Even 15–20 minutes a day adds up over time.
📌 Pro Tip: Pair reading with an existing routine—start your day with a book or unwind in the evening without screens. And keep a book handy wherever you are (ebooks are great for this).
6. Join a Reading Circle
Discussing books with others is a great way to get more out of your reading. Whether it’s an official book club, an online forum, or just a group of colleagues, sharing ideas makes books even more valuable.
📌 Pro Tip: If you don’t have a reading circle yet, ask a few friends or coworkers to read the same book and discuss it together.
7. Take Notes While You Read
Writing down key insights reinforces what you’ve learned and makes it easier to remember important ideas later.
📌 Pro Tip: Use a cloud document (such as Google Docs) for easy note-taking wherever you read.
8. Apply What You Learn
A great book is only as good as what you do with it. After finishing, identify 1–3 actionable takeaways and commit to implementing them.
📌 Pro Tip: Set a reminder in your calendar to review and apply key lessons a month after finishing a book.
9. Don’t Be Afraid to Stop
If a book isn’t delivering value or keeping your interest, it’s okay to set it aside. Life’s too short for bad books.
📌 Pro Tip: Use the “100-page rule”: if a book doesn’t grab you by page 100, move on to something better.
📚 Join My 2025 Reading Challenge!
This year, I’m aiming to read 110 books—but your goal can be whatever suits you best. The important part is just getting started.
How to Join the Challenge:
✅ Set your own reading goal—whether it’s 10 books, 50 books, or more.
✅ Mix it up! Read nonfiction for learning and fiction for inspiration and relaxation.
✅ Track your progress. Goodreads is a great platform for this, and it’s free to use. You can track your books, share your reviews, and get recommendations.
✅ Connect with me on Goodreads! Let’s swap book recommendations and inspire each other. You can find my profile here.
✅ Share your takeaways. Post what you’re reading and let me know your biggest insights.
What’s on My List?
This year, I’ll be diving into books on enterprise architecture and leadership, as well as loads of sci-fi and horror, with some excellent literary fiction for balance. I have also set up a reading circle with colleagues, and we are now reading our third book!
💡 Why This Matters
Books are a gateway to knowledge, creativity, and self-improvement. They broaden your horizons, fuel your curiosity, and provide tools to excel in work and life.
Are you ready to take on the challenge? Let’s start 2025 strong with a shared commitment to learning, growing, and reading more great books!
👉 What’s your reading goal for the year? Comment or reply—I’d love to hear about your plans and recommendations!
Best regards,
Eetu Niemi
📚 Looking for More Inspiration?
Check out my books on IT consulting for practical advice, career tips, and strategies to thrive in the industry.
💡 Dive Deeper into Enterprise Architecture
Subscribe to my Substack newsletter, Enterprise Architecture Transformation, for strategies and in-depth analysis on EA and organizational transformation.