What if you could double your reading speed?

Well by the end of this article, you will have a handful of speed reading hacks which you can apply anytime, anywhere to double your reading speed.

For many entrepreneurs (and wannabe entrepreneurs), speed reading is a cool skill to learn that lets them read faster and more efficiently. However, when it comes down to the basics, choosing the right books to read is even more important.

Over time, I have developed a system for reading books called Just In Time Information based on the just-in-time production or the Toyota Production System, which essentially means reading the right books for the actions you are going to soon take. This helps to avoid information overload and actually encourages action towards the goals you are after. Just In Time Information also helps to retain comprehension of what you read because you will soon apply it in real life.

This method also helps to improve the reading experience overall because it helps the reader focus and avoid paralysis by being in perpetual information gathering mode.

And it can help you think bigger and accelerate your speed of implementation.

5 Speed Reading Life Hacks For Smart Entrepreneurs

Did you know that a simple 10 minute reading session with a good book, not only builds good habits, but also dramatically improves your mindset? If you want a quick run down of cool reading tactics and tips, I shot this quick video for you.

Tl;dw if you did not want to watch the video, here are the 5 speed reading life hacks presented just for you.

1. Read Classics In The Morning 0:12

When you wake up in the morning your mind has essentially just come out of a dream state, and so oftentimes getting your mind ready and inspired to perform requires strong daily habits. Some people call this “caging the monkey mind” and it is extremely effective for gaining control of your mindset and thoughts. If not daily habits, a healthy support system will get your mind ready. Priming your brain for success is like stretching before taking a 3-mile jog. Eventually with enough energy and effort in reading a good book in the morning will become a strong, daily habit. I love reading in the morning because I get to enjoy the beginning of my day with an inspirational thought.

2. Have An End Goal In Mind 1:11

Whether you are building an online business or training to become the world’s best ballet dancer, it is important to only consume information that directly attributes to your goals. The mind is like a canister of Play-Doh. Play-Doh can be molded into anything you wish, but if you don’t consistently shape it, the Play-Doh is going to go stale. So, if you’re building an e-commerce brand around remotely controlled hoverboards then your best course of action would be to read books on Engineering, Marketing, Sales, Copywriting, Branding, Strategy, Search Engine Optimization, etc as you build your goals. Doing this in addition with getting to know your niche very well is the key to sustained innovation.

3. Read The Right Books 4:20

Reading the right books is like making good decisions in life. Each book is a mystery of its own, and it’s up to you to uncover the messages and knowledge that the author is trying to convey, and apply it in your own situation. So, if you are serious about making an imprint in the world, reading should be viewed as part of the process for good execution as opposed to entertainment value.

These are the three types of books I recommend to maximize a healthy mindset with ancient and modern knowledge.

1. Classics – Examples: Plato, Socrates, Confucius, Aristotle, Epicurus, Marcus Aurelius, Lao Tzu, Pythagoras
2. How To – Examples: How To Win Friends And Influence People, How To Read A Book
3. Autobiographies & Biographies – Examples: Shoe Dog: A Memoir By The Creator Of Nike, Sam Walton: Made In America

Having an end goal in mind along with reading the right books, in essence, helps to double your reading speed (or even triple)!

4. Trick Your Brain To Think Of Reading Like Working Out 8:08

The reality is that many teachers assign after-school reading assignments to completed by a certain time frame. Consequently, teachers will have their students write an essay or answer questions based on the text read. As a result, the school system has conditioned many people to view reading as “work”. Depending on who you are, and how successful you were amongst your peers, you may view reading as a form of labor. If this is the case, dig deeper into why you feel this way and discover a good book like The Alchemist or Disrupt You! You may find that it is possible to double your reading speed simply because you enjoy the act of reading a good book.

5. Nap After Reading To Retain Memory 10:41

The reality is that we only retain about 10-20% of what we read in our cognitive memory. Well, In addition to taking good notes, naps can empower your brain to truly learn by osmosis. Research shows that long naps help boost memory and enhance creativity. Slow-wave sleep — napping for approximately 30 to 60 minutes — is good for decision-making skills, such as memorizing vocabulary or recalling directions.

Have you ever watched a masterpiece film over and over just because you wanted to and picked up new details that you did not notice the first time around? Reading a good book can have this same effect. In fact, I read Think And Grow Rich over and over, on audiobook and in physical form, because I believe in the power of memory retention and specialized knowledge. Therefore every time I experience the book, I learn something new that can be applied immediately.

I hope you gained more than a few tips on how you can double your reading speed today. Learning to speed read is awesome and is one of the reasons why I am devoted to a lifetime of learning (and is also why Entrepreneur Finesse has so much content on books and knowledge).