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How To Increase Your Business Knowledge For Free Using Leverage
Posted On: September 24, 2008Posted In: Organization and Productivity, Video Blogging
Comments: 41 Responses
You should be increasing your knowledge every day
It’s no question, we should be constantly increasing our knowledge. Â I’m not talking about just hoping from one money making opportunity to the next, but really increasing your fundamental knowledge base. One way I have been doing this recently is getting more into books. Yes, those big rectangle shaped things, with the pages and words inside.
I have never been a fan of reading, though I’ve always been a good reader. I guess I just didn’t see the value! Well, that’s been changing recently, and I am becoming a book fanatic! Picking up anything from business related things, to self help and life lesson type books, it’s all good.
Like I said, one thing I realize, is that most successful business people have read, and continue to read quite a bit. Â As it relates to blogging/marketing, there are many classic authors and publishers that continue to help the successful to this very day. Â The more I research, the more I find.
But books cost money!
Yeah man, the thing is, buying tons of books is NOT cheap! I don’t care who you are, building up your
personal library can be expensive. Especially if you’re like me, and like to gather many at once! Yeah, you can make plans to get one new book a month, or every two weeks, but most are impatient like me and like to have multiple books available for switching if they wish!
So what do you do? Get a second job slanging sammiches to construction workers to feed or need for books? Maybe you give plasma and build up a blood for books drive? Well, one of my buddies Freddie reminded me, indirectly, of a way to leverage other folks resources. Â I took this idea, and applied it to my book fetish!
Get money making knowledge from your local library
Yeah! The library! Duh right? Well, I didn’t even think about it…well, I did, but I was so busy making up my amazon wish list, that I forgot to check the local library. Â Sure, you can’t keep them, but you can get your 
hands on a read many books at once! Then, if you wish, you can buy them for your own library!
Oh yeah….I went to the library, and found some goodness! Many books on my amazon wish-list were there, though not all of them were. Â I did get me enough to get started, and also found others that I weren’t looking for, but that related to what I was trying to read about!
I’ve even heard you can request that your libary buy new books that you want to read! This is awesome and something I learned about from Joel Comm, when he posted about how to read click here to order for free.
Bottom, line is this, you need knowledge. I don’t care what anyone says, reading and gaining knowledge will only improve your personal success. Again, not just new affiliate marketing books, or how to make money online books. You want to gain understanding in the fundamentals like the science behind selling and why people buy, improving your public speaking and sales ability.
Overcoming your fears of speaking in front of people, or how to be yourself. I’ve never really had a problem speaking in front of people, not since I was a young kid, but it’s always good to learn tips and tricks from the professionals. So, even though a lot of info may be out of your reach , like the internet marketing courses….there’s always stuff you can learn from books at the library. Common knowledge? Yep. Can it help you out? Of course!
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September 24th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
Ahhh, now I see- I have to go to bed at 4 am, wake up before 7, and THEN I can finally be the first person to post on NormalJoe’s daily post! Alright then, 3 hours of sleep will have to do.
Libraries. Great idea. I’ve been known to hit a library immediately after getting back to the states rather than wait for Barnes and Noble to order what I know I want. AdSense Code- wasn’t in stock at B&N; what’s that about? No worries- library had it.
I’ve got a link for you though (you know I’m good like that
) http://www.minibookexpo.com – They rotate books from publishers specifically for bloggers who are willing to review the books on their blogs. Claim your book, they ship it to you, you review it, you keep it. Boooya!
Since this is one of the first times you’ll catch me up before noon, I suppose I’ll go have some Kicks for breakfast.
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Normal Joe (2116 comments) Reply:
September 24th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
Cool, I had heard about that before, or something similar! I will go check it out! This is your first number one post! Good stuff, and yes, use that library.
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September 24th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
Yo Joe! LOL@ Kix. I was into Count Chocula and Boo Berry as a kid. lol
I might check out 4 hour work week as well. I haven’t read it. Looks like you picked out quite a few good titles.
Oh, and give me your address dude, and I’ll send you a bookmark! That library receipt isn’t durable enough to last you through all those books!
Cheers!
Jay
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Normal Joe (2116 comments) Reply:
September 24th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
Hahahaha, yeah man, I got some goodies! I have a bookmark I took from one of my kids! I need some more though lol.
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September 24th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
Cool post, but I wouldn’t call going to the library “using leverage”… haha, I’d call that “going to the library.” Nice try though Joe, I saw where you were going
I’m going to look into getting Joel Comm’s most recent book most definitely
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Normal Joe (2116 comments) Reply:
September 24th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
Thanks for stopping by you bum! Well, depends on how you look at leverage, especially if you have the library purchase a new book! I know, being a schoolboy, it’s normal for you. But us old folk forget about stuff like this man! I was like… “oh yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah” I forgot about that place lol
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September 24th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
Man reading is where the party is at! I’ve been living at my current location for almost two years an have yet to visit the library down the street. I gotta stop slacking and go spend an afternoon there.
My mom never let me eat Kix or Count Chocula as a kid, she was always a big health nut – why explains my lack of “sweet tooth” now.
@ SuteJ – The 4 Hour Workweek is an awesome source of motivation. Tim Ferris is hardcore, and put’s it all in black and white. Be weary though, not everything in that book applies to everyone, but the concepts are brilliant enough to read thoroughly regardless..
That book is what inspired me to start TheAtHomeCouple.com!
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September 24th, 2008 at 6:08 pm
I wasn’t a big fan of reading until I figured out what type of books I enjoyed. I don’t like reading books like harry potter, I like to read books to learn. I want to say: I spent 12 hours reading this book, but I learned this and this from it…This way it’s not wasted time. Not that million of people are wasting their time reading harry potter, but you know where I’m going.
The library is a nice place to get books for free, but usually they are not that up to date on the new trends!
Maybe your local library is better than mine!
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Normal Joe (2116 comments) Reply:
September 24th, 2008 at 6:52 pm
That’s the thing man…it’s great to get your hands on those classics! Some will even buy the newer books if they don’t have them. Most of the stuff I got are the classics that stand the test of time, and that include fundamentals that never change.
The newest one was 4 hour work week. Either way, it’s just another way to get some good info.
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September 24th, 2008 at 8:46 pm
Hey Joe,
I like your style dude, and I’ve been getting into IM a lot here lately, and have been hearing a lot about commenting and such. And you are funny man, I laughed several times to your last video showing the books you just got at the library! And great info, I’m getting more and more into learning about sales and copywriting, which seems to be at the heart of IM, didn’t think it was, but I believe it is and you are on to it my man. I just heard John Cow’s interview with you is how I found out bout chew!!
Thanks,
I will be checking you out more,
James
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Normal Joe (2116 comments) Reply:
September 24th, 2008 at 9:19 pm
Hey welcome to the site James! Glad you was feeling the content. Yeah man, I just try to be myself, that’s the only way I feel comfortable. I’ll still study, learn, and apply what I know…just in my own way.
I feel if you can connect with people, and they connect with you…then you build relationships and not just one time customers.
I look forward to seeing you around man.
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September 24th, 2008 at 8:51 pm
Excellent post, Joe! And thanks for the link love. It is appreciated.
Yes, my old friend, the library is the place to be. Before I moved to a larger area, I was VIP in my old library. Seriously, everyone there new me. I didn’t even need my library card. I’m telling you, I was VIP!
Reading is great, Joe, and I don’t want you to think that I am trying to discourage you, but look into the audio section there as well. You can get many of these same books on audio take and learn while you work. I love audio learning and books on audio. LOL, one of my partners cannot stand it. She loves to write in the books and have them for reference.
That is great, but I find that sometimes you have to switch it up. Particularly, since you are taking so many topics on at once, you may find that another learning source is what you need.
I will say this, you have one of the sleeper all time GREATS in that stack. Influence is the greatest. I stumble onto it in a used book store and was like, “Wow, I am pissed no one put me up on this book.”
That book was so deep, I still haven’t finished it. There is so much in that book. Now that I know my man Joe is on it, I am going to have to finish it.
Last thing, look into used book stores as well. I spend a lot of time there and money. You get the same books, for for a fraction of the cost. I use to live in Texas and they have a chain of stores called Half Price Books. simply amazing. As big as a Barnes and Noble, but with all discounted books….and audio.
I’m with Joe!
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Normal Joe (2116 comments) Reply:
September 24th, 2008 at 9:17 pm
Brutha you know you talkin my language! I was up in the audio section! They didn’t have none of these though…they didn’t have as many biz style books in the audio section, less people kept them! I saw a few though, I’ll be looking on the website, they have a setup with a digital place, you can download the mp3’s!!!! Yeah boyeeeeeeeeeee. I like listening in the car and stuff, I got a frank kern interview I”m gonna put on disc for tomorrow!
I really need to get an ipod, cuz I got a gang of audio and I love to listen to it. It’s very natural for me to consume, I’m a music dude so….I’m partial to audio. But I like a good read every now and then. We got a few used book stores, and I’m gonna have to go peep them out.
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September 24th, 2008 at 9:45 pm
I thought you were going to say “Ummm umm good for the cereal”…had me fooled lol. The library is one of those places many people tend to forget about (Me included) they might tie it to some book report lol….I think i might head down to my lobrary 2morrow…see thanks for reminding me ( Hope I dont owe a fee – lol)
Desmond
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Normal Joe (2116 comments) Reply:
September 25th, 2008 at 5:36 am
Hahahaha, you know what yo? I was thinking the same thing! “Hope I don’t owe a fee, I need to get me some books!” Go check it out man, and report back as to what you find, it would be interesting to see what you come up with.
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September 24th, 2008 at 10:02 pm
@Normal Joe – Thanks for the welcome Joe, I’ll defnitly be checking you out more!
James
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Normal Joe (2116 comments) Reply:
September 25th, 2008 at 5:35 am
No problem dude, I look forward to you being part of this community.
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September 25th, 2008 at 12:20 am
@Normal Joe – I agree, getting your hands on classics ensure a certain level of quality. Things don’t change that much to be honest, even in the web industry. If you take a look at markets working well on the Internet, it’s all about finance, health, business, making money and dating. These are sure bets and will always be…So the fundamentals are extremely important to make your way to the top!
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Normal Joe (2116 comments) Reply:
September 25th, 2008 at 5:35 am
Yep, alot of those old school, mail order, direct marketing cats had it on lock. The mediums change, but the principles don’t, and of course the bottom line for all sales/marketing is customer relationships. I like reading the old school or “non fad” stuff, cuz it doesn’t change.
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September 25th, 2008 at 12:38 am
I agree!
Lucky for me, my local library is two city blocks away! I can go everyday, but of course I don’t — it takes me about 2 weeks to read a 1,000 page book.
So I end up reading about a book per month, since once I’m done with a book I go over it for another 2 weeks, so I remember the majority of it.
But overall common knowledge is very important, and books is the way to gain it.
Hey Joe, since you’re getting into books now, I recommend you read Freakonomics. It’s a philosophy book, so it’s far away from the MMO niche. But I’m sure you will enjoy it!
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Normal Joe (2116 comments) Reply:
September 25th, 2008 at 5:33 am
No doubt man, I’ll have to see what’s up with it! I don’t know about no thousand pagers man, I don’t like reading that much. And if I can find it on audio, all the better!
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September 25th, 2008 at 11:30 am
@Luis Gross – Make Money Online –
Dude, Freakonomics was awesome! It will really open up your mind to a new way of thinking and viewing statistics that you see everyday in the news and media. Not directly related to MMO, but will give you a different perspective of your stats and site growth. Great suggestion!
I know now that I have to add a book/reading/review section to my blog! I love this stuff too much. Thanks for reminding just how much!
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Normal Joe (2116 comments) Reply:
September 26th, 2008 at 5:51 am
Yeah boyeeeeeee, you need that. I know you got some goodies man, with all that motivation flowing over in your neck of the woods.
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September 25th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
I picked up 4 hour workweek you sum bee
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Normal Joe (2116 comments) Reply:
September 26th, 2008 at 5:51 am
Sum bee…I should have got a commission lol. You know you wanted it.
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September 25th, 2008 at 6:19 pm
I used to hate reading , but after being a regular reader online…I ve started to read a lot more books….Positive management books are my favourite
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Normal Joe (2116 comments) Reply:
September 26th, 2008 at 5:51 am
Exactly, sounds just like me. Didn’t used to like it much, but now I do. I guess I found something interesting to me.
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September 25th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
One of my new cubicle-mates wandered in yesterday, saw a few books on my desk and asked, “wow, Will, you read?” Um, yeah. He told me he couldn’t remember the last time he finished a book and seemed very surprised that I crack open a book or two.
When did ignorance become an desirable trait?
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Normal Joe (2116 comments) Reply:
September 26th, 2008 at 5:48 am
Welcome to the site Doctor!
I’m not sure, I guess all the tv, internet, mobile internet stuff removes the desire for a good book. I still think reading is one of the best ways to gain knowledge. That can be reading online or off, but there is some great knowledge tucked away in those books.
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September 26th, 2008 at 3:15 am
Lol @ Doctor Will
If, like me, you live in London then you will surely know that ignorance is an entirely desirable trait! I was actually reading a book on the train this morning about CSS and it got some very strange looks indeed – a far cry from the free morning papers that every man and his dog seems to read.
@ Not Your Average Joe: Good to see that you are getting your read on! Great post brother man. Not sure about those kix though!!! There are some great comments here but I think the underlying tone is that reading is good, knowledge is power and the library is awesome. As an avid reader of books I can safely say that there is much more useful information in some of those books you have there as opposed to some of the copycat mmo blogs we all know and hate.
You going to have a book review or two coming soon?
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Normal Joe (2116 comments) Reply:
September 26th, 2008 at 5:47 am
Yeah man, them Kix were not the bomb at all! Haha, reading is cool man, I never was a big reader outside of what was needed for school, but whenever I get interested in something, it’s not hard for me to read about it.
I will start doing regular book reviews of the one’s I read.
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September 26th, 2008 at 3:29 am
@Freddie –
Isn’t it great?
It’s one of my favorite books!
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September 26th, 2008 at 6:15 am
Oh i love that book
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September 27th, 2008 at 10:02 am
I think you hit a great point here. The 4-Hour Workweek is a great book and if you really don’t want to spend your money then you can check out the library for some really great resources. I never really thought about it but the library is a great place to get a lot of interesting books. The way I got started was actually by reading a book about webdesign that someone had given to me. Its all about the first step that can lead you to a path of success and thats all it takes. I like the idea you got going on here Joe.
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Normal Joe (2116 comments) Reply:
September 27th, 2008 at 11:09 am
Whatsup Enkay! Good to see ya. Yeah man, if you’re not in school, you tend to forget that all these are, are just books. Hahaha, I think most equate library with work, or research papers…and automatically block it out! They have the goodies there man.
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October 3rd, 2008 at 4:47 pm
Totally agree. Books is the answer
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Normal Joe (2116 comments) Reply:
October 4th, 2008 at 8:37 am
Books are definitely good man, I’m lovin them.
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October 18th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
The library sure is a location that keeps on providing attendees of it with material that they might not have gotten elsewhere. There is a certain level of material which tends to be obtainable only through interactions with certain individuals or through the works they have put out.
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Normal Joe (2116 comments) Reply:
October 18th, 2008 at 6:23 pm
Yeah man, especially for those on a budget, they will buy books for you, or even send books to your house if they aren’t checked in when you go. Valuable resource to at least find books worth reading, and buying later.
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September 26th, 2008 at 10:42 pm
[...] of IM with Joe gives a tip on how to increase business knowledge for free by using other available resources. Some of us really like spending and all that, but then there are always other things that you can [...]
September 28th, 2008 at 5:31 pm
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