I’m really enjoying writing this series of posts further explaining the ideas in my latest career success coach book, Success Tweets: 140 Bits of Common Sense Career Success Advice, All in 140 Characters or Less.  I hope you’re enjoying reading them.  I’m pleased to say that Success Tweets is now in its second printing.  You can pick up a copy at your local book store, or online at Amazon.com.  Better yet, you can download the eBook for free at http://www.successtweets.com.

Today’s career advice comes from Tweet 90…

Positive time management is an important habit to develop.  Habits are like muscles.  The more you use them, the stronger they get.

Here in Colorado, we are required to get our cars checked to ensure that they meet clean air emissions standards before we can renew our license plates.  It’s a good law, one that helps with the air quality in our beautiful state.  It’s also a pain in the butt.  It requires a trip to an emissions monitoring station and waiting in line for the test.  My plates renew in October, so every other October I spend a couple hours getting my car tested.  It always passes, thank goodness.

The last time I went to get my emissions sticker, Cathy laughed at me as I was leaving the house.  I had my briefcase with me, which had my cell phone, a couple of books and a bottle of water.  She said I would probably be the only one at the emissions testing facility reading a book.  That was OK. 

I had just received a review copy of Gary Vaynerchuk’s new book Crush It.  I wanted to read it so I could review it on this blog – and to learn a few things.  Crush It is a great book – not just for entrepreneurs.  I was really flattered when Jason Sadler the I Wear Your Shirt guy, compared my book 42 Rules to Jumpstart Your Professional Success to it.

Carrying a book with me is one of my time management and career success positive habits.  Sometimes it’s a novel.  Most times it’s a business or inspirational book.  I am in the habit of using spare moments to read and learn.  I was able to read the first four chapters of Crush It while I was waiting for my emissions test.  I also took some notes — ideas that I plan on incorporating into my business.  Not a bad use of my time.

I read while waiting for appointment with clients.  I read while waiting for my dentist, or doctor – and you know how long those waits can be.  I read when I go to get my car washed.  I read before a movie if I’m by myself.  This is a small habit, but one that allows me to read at least two more books a month than I normally would.  That’s 24 books a year – and a lot of good ideas to help me grow my business.  Carrying a book with you — and reading it in found moments — is career advice that I give to all of my career success coach clients.

Reading spurs ideas.  These ideas give me inspiration for this blog.  They help me make decisions about my business.  They help me clarify my thinking on my passion – helping others create the life and career success they want and deserve.  Reading helps me provide better career advice.  Reading will help you become the life and career success you deserve to be.

Reading in spare moments is one of my most positive habits.  What is your most positive habit?  If you are thinking that you don’t have many positive habits, I suggest you check out Dan Robey’s site www.thepowerofpositivehabits.com.  There’s a lot to be learned there.

The common sense career success coach point here is simple.  Successful people set high goals and achieve them.  Positive habits will help you reach your goals – but only if you take the time to develop them.  Remember the career advice in Tweet 90 in Success Tweets.  “Positive time management is an important habit to develop.  Habits are like muscles.  The more you use them, the stronger they get.”  Reading in what I call “found moments” – the time I spend waiting — is one of my positive habits.  I’m amazed at how much I learn just by always having a book with me.  Take the time to develop some positive habits of your own.  You’ll be surprised at how much they help your productivity and your career success.

That’s my take on the career advice in Success Tweet 90 and reading as a time management positive habit.  What’s yours?  What are some of the positive habits that have served you well over the years?  How did you develop them?  Please take a minute and leave comment sharing your thoughts and ideas with us.  As always, thanks for reading.

Bud