Growing up, my dad always told me:
- The more you know, the more you grow.
- The more you learn, the more you earn.
- And the more you read, the more you lead.
Those words have stuck with me, but sometimes life gets busy, and finding time to read can feel like a challenge.
Did you know the average American only reads about four books a year? With resources like audiobooks and e-readers at our fingertips, why aren’t we reading more? This thought hit home for me when something extraordinary happened during Sunday night’s NFL playoff game.
Picture this: the Philadelphia Eagles were up against the Green Bay Packers. Cameras zoomed in on AJ Brown, one of the Eagles players. But he wasn’t strategizing plays or catching a breather—he was reading a book on the sidelines! That book, Inner Excellence: Train Your Mind for Extraordinary Performance and the Best Possible Life by Jim Murphy, is all about mental resilience and peak performance.
AJ Brown shared how much reading helps him with his mental game, even during high-stakes games. He said he reads a passage from the book, and it prepares him mentally to perform his best. He even brings the book to every single game. Can you imagine? An NFL player, during a playoff game, making time to read!
After commentators mentioned the book on live TV, it skyrocketed to bestseller status—even though it’s been out for five years! It went from its previous rank of 523,497th to #1 Best Seller on Amazon within hours. That moment was a powerful reminder: If AJ Brown can find time to read on the sidelines of an NFL game, then surely, we can find time in our daily lives to read more too.
So, on this Front-Row Friday, I encourage you to pick up a book—any book—and dive in. Whether it’s a physical copy, an audiobook, or an e-reader, let’s make time to learn, grow, and lead through the power of reading. Here’s to embracing the wisdom of books and making them a part of our success story.
Have a great day, and I’ll see you next time!
Your Head Usher.
Marilyn
