Growing up, I wasn’t naturally inclined toward reading; it was a challenge that didn’t come easy. Yet, thanks to my mom’s gentle but firm insistence, reading became a crucial part of my life. She encouraged my sister and me to find stories we loved and always have at least two books on deck — one for pleasure and another to drive us forward. Now, each year, when Book Lovers Day comes around on August 9th, I can’t help but think of how reading has become so deeply ingrained in my life.
My mom’s approach was simple but transformative. Whatever ambition I had; I needed a book to match to help me grow. So, when I was absorbed in basketball during my youth, I’d read biographies of athletes. This habit morphed as my aspirations evolved, mainly when I started focusing on becoming a trial lawyer and, later, when founding The Button Law Firm. My reading list grew to include pivotal works on law, leadership, and business strategy. My mom set this in motion, and I still follow this practice today.
Cultivating a Learning Culture at The Button Law Firm
At BLF, Ashley and I have woven this ethos of ongoing education into our culture. We believe continual learning and professional development are significant in personal growth and service excellence. This is why we’ve established book clubs in each department with recommended readings that reflect our core values and enhance our skills. I also have favorite books that I make a point to reread annually.
For instance, “Good to Great” by Jim Collins is a staple in my annual reading list. I turn to it time and again to discover new insights into taking our practice from good to outstanding. Each read reveals something I hadn’t noticed before. That’s what’s incredible about books; you can find brand new insights as you revisit them during different phases of your career or life.
Onboarding with Purpose: Essential Reads for New Team Members
We also emphasize the importance of books in onboarding new team members. “Extreme Ownership” by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin and Dale Carnegie’s “How to Win Friends and Influence People” are required reading for any new BLF team member. These books are fundamental to understanding the teamwork and client-centric communication that are paramount at our firm.
The Five Key Benefits of Team Reading
Books do more than just inform; they inspire and challenge us. In fact, there are five key benefits that these team readings provide us:
- Advance knowledge: Reading ensures each team member remains informed and continues to learn new practices, research, and perspectives.
- Strengthen mindset: Aside from the nitty-gritty details a book may discuss, the author’s overall mindset may be the most influential in uplifting our team and changing their outlook.
- Fast-track experience: Books can fast-track any team member’s experience into a shorter time frame. You can condense a decade of experience into just two years with the right reading list.
- Stay creative: Reading will always be an incredible source of inspiration and creativity, which helps the team embed their own unique ideas into whatever they do.
- Transform ideas: Different books offer new ideas and the opportunity to turn those ideas into practical measures for BLF. We have to ask, “How can we take this idea and apply it to our firm?”
Book Lovers’ Day reminds us of the power of books to shape not just individual careers but also the ethos of an entire organization. Here’s to more reading, learning, and growing together.
