Hello Leader,

If you want to grow as a leader—and as a person—there's one foundational habit that can reshape your entire journey.

It's not complicated. It's not time-consuming. But its impact compounds over time.

It's so simple that most people won't do it!

✅ This practice will help you:

• Develop a growth mindset through humility, curiosity, and consistent effort
• Increase your confidence while you continually improve
• Learn from the best leaders from around the world and throughout history
• Make better strategic decisions through expanded knowledge and perspective
• Master proven leadership techniques from decades of collective wisdom
• Develop deeper empathy by understanding diverse viewpoints and experiences
• Build a powerful mental framework for solving complex challenges
• Stay ahead of industry trends and emerging leadership approaches
• Transform abstract concepts into practical leadership tools
• Grow from being a Good Leader into a Great Leader by expanding your influence

So, what's the habit?

👉 Read. Every. Day.

Simple, yet profound. Let me share why this matters.

Years ago, a mentor told me: "If you read for 15 minutes a day, you'll change your future."

Initially skeptical, I decided to try it. Today, I can trace nearly every significant leadership breakthrough back to insights gained through consistent reading.

Why? Because small, consistent habits create compound growth over time. 📚

Start Here: 4 Books That Will Transform Your Leadership Journey

Read to Lead by Jeff Brown & Jesse Wisnewski

– The ultimate guide for turning reading into actionable leadership growth. Perfect for busy leaders who want to maximize their reading ROI. Jeff Brown hosts the Read to Lead Podcast, where he interviews leading authors monthly to help leaders get insights from some of the world's foremost leadership experts.

The Maxwell Daily Reader by John C. Maxwell – This a great choice if you are starting out and need something simple to get you up and running. A year of curated leadership lessons you can digest in 5-10 minutes each morning. It is ideal for building a sustainable daily reading habit.

The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John C. Maxwell: A foundational leadership book that outlines timeless principles that effective leaders follow to influence and inspire others. Each law, such as the Law of Influence and the Law of the Lid, emphasizes that leadership is developed daily through intentional growth and consistent practice.

Atomic Habits by James Clear – Master the science of habit formation to make your reading practice automatic. This will help you turn intention into consistent action.

Jump Start Your Reading

Suppose you don't have a great book to start your daily routine of 15 minutes per day. You can get jump-started with these great leadership blogs from which I love reading and learning daily.

Recommended Blogs To Read:

• Admired Leadership: The Field Notes cover thoughts on the kinds of challenges common to all leaders: Building relationships, making decisions, giving advice and counsel. The Admired Leadership Field Notes literally come from 30 years of actual notebooks!

• Leadership Freak: According to the Center for Management and Organization Effectiveness, the Leadership Freak blog is the most socially shared leadership blog on the Internet.

• Seth Godin: It comes out every day, and he is approaching 10,000 posts. His blog offers daily insights on marketing, leadership, creativity, and the power of making a difference.

Making Your Reading Habit Stick

1. Start with just 5 minutes per day and gradually increase to 15

2. Link reading to an existing habit (like your morning coffee)

3. Keep your current book visible on your desk or nightstand

4. Track your progress in a simple reading journal

As John Maxwell notes: "Successful leaders are learners. And the learning process is ongoing."

Your Leadership Challenge This Week

1. Choose your reading time (morning coffee? lunch break? before bed?)

2. Pick one of the books above that resonates most

3. Set a visible reminder in your space

Remember: You're not just reading—you're investing in your leadership journey.

What are you reading right now? Hit "Reply" and let me know—I'd love to hear your current book choice and biggest takeaway.

You can grab my Leadership Reading Guide if you would like more Leadership Book Recommendations. 12 books that will take your leadership effectiveness to the next level.

Grab yours here: Leadership Reading Guide

Learn | Grow | Lead

Have a great week!

Mark J. Cundiff

👉 www.markjcundiff.com

P.S. Want to make this even more powerful?

Find a reading buddy and share insights weekly.

Reply if you'd like to join a Leadership Reading Book Club.