Knowledge compounds like interests — How to Read, Study and Apply financial wisdom like a pro?
Your mind is your first investment account, what you deposit daily determines your future balance.
I used to be like the cool guys — Think like them, act like them, process thoughts like them, and talk like them.
And what changed?
I don't know, but a sudden feeling came, and I started to picture myself from the perspective of the people we used to call nerds.
There was this one specifically, called Rashin, an Indian young boy, he moved differently. What do I mean by differently is, he resembled what he was reading daily even in his character — The way he stood, the way he communicated, the way he articulated himself, and the way he responded to questions. I would look at him with amazement, reading his Harry Potter book, not those small money management books, this book was like hundred thousand pages.
‘’Book mosquito guy’’, we would say.
But calmly, he would look at us, totally not giving an ‘’L’’ with a boss move, and I would confirm internally and say, ‘’This one is different from the other book mosquito guys we make funny of’’.
So, his way of thinking, studying, and acting, changed the way I preserved books. I started to greet him with respect, and honestly, my other friends were not buying my story.
But I knew why I had to change.
Why did you start respecting him?
Good question! I changed and started respecting him because I aspired to be like him, so, I had no choice but to change. And the next school term, I bought my first novel book and started to imitate him.
What I got wasn't what I expected, because I had to train my brain the habit of reading, so, I would procrastinate and delay, make excuses and drag myself for years.
Until one day, I logged into my Facebook account, and saw a post… It was from Rashin Chetty, honestly, I was proud, he was a junior professor, at 26 years old, at a prestige university teaching literature.
And from that day onwards, I concluded, YOU ARE WHAT YOU CONSUME!
It didn't take months for me to change, because Rashin’s success drove the desire to also reach my essence, so what did I do, I first discovere3d what I adore, ‘’Finance and Information Technology’’, and never looked back.
And here I am, 6 years from that decision, that defeated my doubts and abolished my fears, as a Junior IT Support in business financial systems.
So, what did I do adopt and adapt from Rashin?
The READ, STUDY and APPLY Strategy.
Most of us are only good at reading, and a few of us are only good at reading and studying, but these a minority that reads, study and apply the knowledge they READ.
Let me share this strategy with you:
READ (Get the exposure)
This stage is about exposure, and not mastery. Let this be like your first day at work, like onboarding. Here you have to understand the message, and the authors main idea he wants to share with you.
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Ask yourself:
- What is the author trying to teach you?
- What is the problem the book is trying to achieve?
By doing this, you finish the book with clarity and not perfection.
STUDY (Get the experience)
This is where you make the book your tool, not just for exposure. Here you extract the principles, systems and methods the book is trying to share with you.
Ask yourself:
- How does this principle, system or method work in reality?
- Where can I use this principle, system or method in my life?
By doing this, you finish the second reading plus studying with a practical understanding instead of a theoretical understanding.
APPLY (Get the expertise)
This is the vital phase, because here, you use the principles, systems, or method towards a fruitful goal. Remember, do not be all over, implement one idea at a time, and build one habit at a time.
How to apply these principles, systems, and methods effectively:
- Choose one principle, system, or method to test.
- Set small actions to complete the responsibility.
- Adjust what doesn't work, keep what works.
- And lastly, teach others, your sisters, brothers, parents, or neighbors.
By doing this, the book becomes part of your behavior, not your memory.
This is how Rashin and I changed our mindset. And the lovely fact is, YOU CAN DO IT TOO.
If you found this useful, subscribe to get more informative articles such as this. I publish three articles sharing about my experiences and wisdom I accumulate. I plan to READ 50 books by the end of December 2026. Join my community and let's grow together. Click here to Join.
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If you like, you can get my guide called the LAW OF VALUE — It will guide you on how to create your VALUE, STEP-BY-STEP…
Question: Are you planning on using the READ, STUDY, and APPLY Strategy? If yes, which book are you reading or planning to READ to apply its principles, systems, or methods?
