Televisions are a predictor of wealth.

The job of newspaper columnist Steve Blow takes him into a lot of different homes – from shacks to mansions. “One thing I noticed from the very start – the poorer the home, the more prevalent the television. In well-to-do homes, TV’s are hardly in evidence.” (1)

In poor homes the television blares constantly, discouraging communication between family and friends. In rich homes the house is quiet. Conversation is paramount.

My job for the past 15 years has taken me into hundreds of businesses worldwide. Some were performing poorly. Others were quite profitable. One thing I look for when touring management’s offices for the first time is the presence or absence of books.

Reading transforms the mind. People committed to personal and professional improvement read books. If I see no books in a client’s business, I take a different line of questioning with management. I’ve learned that an absence of books can be an indication of resistance to change, a lack of time for learning, a low priority for improvement, or a “let’s do it my way” management style. All of which are obstacles for continuous improvement.

Thomas Jefferson, principal author of America’s Declaration of Independence said, “I cannot live without books.” Neither can I. I’ve read and own hundreds. This past month I read and put into practice advice gained from three books:

• The Power of Full Engagement: Authors Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz say “managing energy, not time is the key to high performance.”(2) One of their tips I’ve put into practice is working on projects before reading my morning e-mail. The result is more meaningful results every day.
• The Progress Paradox: Author Gregg Easterbrook states, “We live in a favored age yet do not feel favored.”(3) Easterbrook cautions that the intent of spring cleaning is not to create room for buying more stuff. Instead, the goal is simplify. More and more companies are using ICMS’ Gross Margin Profiling to spring clean unprofitable customers. Using ICMS’ software profiler prevents unprofitable stuff from returning.
• Why Courage Matters: Author Senator John McCain with Mark Salter document principles and people of courage. The authors note that we’re all born inquisitive, but some of us lose interest. “Curiosity can encourage our determination to find answers for ourselves through exploration, study, and testing when we do not get them from the human encyclopedia we assume our parents to be.”(4) When my clients, friends, or grandsons exhibit curiosity, I more actively encourage it, not discourage.

Do poor people stay poor in part because of blaring televisions? Or do poor businesses stay that way in part because of a lack of books? Not entirely. But TV’s and books are symptoms. If you won’t turn off the TV and turn on your mind to reading, improvement will be constrained. Here’s the challenge — how do we get this message to the poor?

(1) If They Turn Off the Tube, Could Their Lives Improve?, Steve Blow, Dallas Morning News, April 17, 2004
(2) The Power of Full Engagement, Jim Loehr & Tony Schwartz, Free Press, 2003
(3) The Progress Paradox, Gregg Easterbrook, Random House, 2003
(4) Why Courage Matters… The Way to a Braver Life, John McCain, Random House, 2004