OUR TIMES
The Power of Reading By Vijay Eswaran
n today's world of high-tech one's mind, but reading what ego, it is possible to take its audiovisual performance, a person has written becomes advice at your discretion and at your pace. A book does not nag for many people reading has imprinted in our very psyche. you, it can just sit on a shelf become an almost archaic pracA networker needs to read just as much as a musician tice. With the advent of 3-D or on your desk as a silent but needs to play. Hearing is only constant reminder of what you film, IMAX. James Cameron's Avatar and Blue Ray DVD's, part of the process. Reading have learned and what you wbat appeal does tbe bumble ! strengthens our ability to comstill need to learn. It is a subtle paperback have, in comparison? i municate so we can go out and intrusion and sometimes even However, the reality re. reproduce what others have a subtle seduction drawing you mains that the written word been able to accomplish. back to where you need to be. will never go away for as long Reading gives you power: I am grateful to the written as humans hunger for knowlthe power of your imagination, word for being my mentor and, the power to learn, the power to on occasion, my mistress, by edge and understanding. No other form of communication gain and share ideas, the power pushing or by pulling, but eito shape your thinking. can replace reading, for this ther way, constantly moving me In networking, we know that along the patb of change.• simple reason: it allows us to walk into another person's from thought comes word, from mind. word comes action, from action j Reading is the closest comes babit and from babit we experience to a virtually teleform our character, which in turn becomes our destiny. In pathic connection between two short, what we think, we beindividuals: the reader and come. It is critically important the writer. Even if the author for networkers to cultivate, has left us centuries ago, we maintain and elevate the art are still able to experience the world as be or she perceived of reading so tbat it becomes it at the time of writing. No part of their lifestyle. Reading VljAY ESWARAN is chairman and CEQ of a multinational conglomeramount of modern audiovisual centers the mind, balancing us, ate headquarlered in Hong Kong. He reenactment can ever replace reenergizing us from the core. also is a veteran nen-vorker, popular As a networker, I have the power of this connection. speaker and author of In the Sphere For the average networker, been mentored by many great of Silence, a bestselling book on his life philosophy. Vijay Eswaran lectures being able to read the thoughts individuals I have never even at leading universities and business of those who have gone before met. In the absence of a realforums around the world on a variety and learn from them is not just life mentor, I've always found of subjects ranging from spirituality to tbat the next best thing is to a boon but a necessary tool. leadership. To hear someone speak only turn to a book by someone I www.networkingtimes.coml/inkl eswaran leaves a fleeting impression in respect. Since a book has no
I
18
Networking Times