read a self-improvement book

most self-help books are terrible

let's be honest — 90% of the self-improvement section at the bookstore is fluff wrapped in a motivational cover. but the other 10% can genuinely change your trajectory. the problem isn't reading self-help. it's reading the wrong self-help.

why the right book at the right time matters

a good self-improvement book isn't someone telling you what to do. it's someone articulating something you already felt but couldn't put into words. that's why the same book hits different at 20 than it does at 35. timing matters as much as content.

the books that tend to stick aren't the ones promising overnight transformation. they're the ones that challenge a specific assumption you didn't even know you were carrying. "mastery" by george leonard will dismantle your obsession with quick results. "the subtle art of not giving a f*ck" by mark manson will make you question what you've been giving your energy to.

how to actually get something from it

don't just read — engage. highlight passages. write in the margins. after each chapter, ask yourself: "what's one thing i can apply this week?" if you finish a book and nothing changes, you didn't really read it. you just moved your eyes across pages.

head to amazon's self-improvement bestsellers and pick one that addresses your current struggle, not your aspirational identity. reading about leadership when you can't manage your own schedule is putting the cart before the horse.

the real challenge

commit to one book this month. not an audiobook at 2x speed while you're doing dishes. actually sit down and read it. take notes. apply one idea. that's more than most people will do in an entire year.

if this resonated, share it with someone who needs to hear it.