The Silent Advantage
When you think of CEO habits that drive success, flashy things come to mind—early mornings, intense workouts, powerful networks. But there’s one habit that quietly fuels some of the world’s most successful entrepreneurs and leaders: reading. Not occasional reading. We’re talking about a consistent, committed habit of reading one book a week. It might not make headlines, but this quiet discipline builds something more valuable than hype—it builds wisdom, focus, and adaptability.
Why Books Still Matter in the Digital Age
With short-form content at our fingertips and AI summarizing everything under the sun, you might wonder: why read full books anymore? The answer is depth. Podcasts, blogs, and social media posts offer surface-level insights. But books—especially well-researched, well-written ones—dive deep into the thinking, mistakes, and breakthroughs of people who have been there before. Whether it’s a memoir from a business leader, a deep dive into psychology, or a case study on innovation, a book distills years of someone else’s learning into hours of your time. That’s an incredible return on investment.
Reading is Not About Escape—It’s About Strategy
Reading for CEOs isn’t about leisure. It’s about sharpening the edge. Business is full of ambiguity, uncertainty, and high-stakes decision-making. The leaders who excel are often those who’ve trained their minds to stay curious, flexible, and informed. Reading a book a week gives you a constant influx of ideas. It pushes you to question assumptions. It forces you to think beyond your own experience. When you read regularly, you start to connect dots between disciplines. You start recognizing patterns others miss. That’s what turns good leaders into great ones.
Reading Without Application Is Just Entertainment
Shoughi Darakhshan, founder of a multi-state restoration company and a passionate advocate for personal development, puts it this way: “Reading changed everything for me. But it wasn’t just about finishing books—it was about using them.” He’s right. The real power of reading comes when you take the lessons and apply them in real time. A book on negotiation doesn’t just live on your shelf—it helps you navigate your next vendor contract. A book on psychology improves how you manage your team. A memoir on leadership helps you see your own blind spots. The secret isn’t reading more. The secret is reading with intention. CEOs who use books as a tool—not a trophy—are the ones who see measurable results.
How One Book a Week Changes the Way You Think
Reading one book a week isn’t just a goal. It’s a mindset. It says: “I’m never done learning.” That humility is powerful. It keeps you open to new perspectives. It keeps you from becoming outdated. It reminds you that no matter how successful you are, there’s still room to grow. Over time, this habit doesn’t just make you smarter—it makes you more confident. You begin to trust that, whatever challenge arises, you’ve built a mental library to handle it. You’ve trained your brain to think critically, absorb quickly, and decide wisely.
It’s Not About Speed—It’s About Consistency
Now, some people hear “a book a week” and immediately feel overwhelmed. But this isn’t a race. It’s about building consistency, not burning out. Some weeks you’ll finish a 200-page book. Other weeks you’ll power through 500 pages. The point is to keep showing up. Block 30 minutes a day. Listen to audiobooks during your commute. Read during lunch instead of scrolling your phone. Build it into your lifestyle. Over time, the books stack up—and so does your knowledge. What felt impossible at first becomes a natural part of your rhythm.
Read Widely, Not Just Within Your Industry
Many CEOs fall into the trap of only reading business books. But the best leaders read widely—history, philosophy, biographies, science, fiction. Why? Because innovation often comes from outside your lane. A novel might teach you something about human emotion that changes your approach to marketing. A history book might offer context for today’s global trends. Reading across disciplines helps you see the bigger picture. It trains your mind to be more creative and adaptive—qualities every modern CEO needs.
Reading Builds Empathy and Emotional Intelligence
There’s another benefit to reading, one that’s often overlooked in boardrooms: empathy. When you immerse yourself in someone else’s story—especially when it’s far from your own experience—you stretch your capacity for understanding. You become a better listener, a more thoughtful communicator, a more grounded leader. Shoughi Darakhshan credits much of his success in client relations and team culture to this exact trait. “When you read stories of struggle, success, and redemption, it changes how you relate to people,” he says. “You stop seeing problems as just transactions. You start seeing people.”
A Reading CEO Builds a Reading Culture
Great CEOs don’t just read—they inspire their teams to do the same. They recommend books, create reading groups, and build libraries in the office. When leaders model a learning mindset, it trickles down. Teams become more curious. Conversations become more thoughtful. People feel empowered to challenge ideas and offer solutions. A reading culture isn’t just about knowledge—it’s about engagement. And in today’s fast-paced business world, engaged teams are the ultimate competitive advantage.
You Don’t Need More Time—You Need More Intention
One of the most common objections to regular reading is time. “I’m too busy.” But the truth is, most of us have more time than we think. The average person spends several hours a day on their phone. Even CEOs fall into this trap. The key isn’t finding more hours—it’s being more intentional with the ones you have. Make reading a non-negotiable. Schedule it like a meeting. Use it as a reset between tasks. Over time, this one small shift can change everything about how you operate and lead.
Final Takeaway: Learn It. Live It. Lead With It.
Reading one book a week won’t make you an expert in everything. But it will make you dangerous—in the best way. It will make you adaptable, informed, and emotionally intelligent. It will give you frameworks to handle problems and the confidence to lead through change. People like Shoughi Darakhshan are living proof that real success doesn’t come from shortcuts—it comes from commitment to growth. So if you’re looking for a strategy that doesn’t just build your business but builds you, start here. Pick up one book. Then another. Then another. Week by week, watch how your thinking—and your impact—evolve.