Mastery: One Sentence Could Change Your Life

Issue No. 48 | November 27th, 2023 | Read Time: 2 Minutes

If you ask the question

"Do you finish every book you start?"

to someone who reads, you're bound to get a bunch of different answers depending on who you ask. 

It's such a controversial topic within the reading community. There are those who refuse to finish a book unless they love the first chapter.

There are those who will stop reading halfway through if they don't like it.

And there are those who won't put the book down until they've read the whole thing.

I'm part of the all-or-nothing group.

But don't get me wrong, out of the 150+ books I've read, I wish I never read half of them. 

They were either extremely dense, contained a bunch of repeated information, or never really provided anything of value.

But was it a waste of time reading them?

I don't think so.

Because whenever I open a book, I don't expect every single page to blow my mind.

In fact, as long as I can walk away with one piece of advice that I can use in my daily life, I'll be happy. 

And sometimes, all that takes is one sentence.

For example, John C. Maxwell's book

Put Your Dream To The Test

was a great book, but didn't really tell me anything I didn't already know.

But there was one sentence that made reading the entire book worth it. It went like this. . . 

"You can listen to your fears and pay with your life. Or you can pay the price of overcoming your fears and live."

That exact quote still hangs on my wall to this day.

Or

It's All In Your Head

by Russ. It's a good book, but by no means great.

Except for this one sentence that encouraged me to start practicing gratitude every day. . .

"If you're not grateful for the blessings you currently have, what makes you think you're going to receive more?"

I can go on and on.

I've read countless amount of books where I never really got anything out of them, except for one sentence.

And honestly, that one sentence makes it worth it. 

And even if you're not a reader, take this lesson to start being more aware of what's being said around you.

Whether it's podcasts, motivational speeches or just talking to a support group, keep your ears open for that one piece of advice that could possibly change your life. 

Because a lot of the time, all it takes is one sentence. 

Until next time,

Isaiah Taylor

Dive Deeper

What I'm Currently Reading -

Right now I'm in the middle of reading The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt by Edmund Morris. A lengthy biography on the early life of our 26th President. 

• If you'd like to see my book notes pertaining to this book or any others I have previously read, then check out my websiteisaiahctaylor.comto view my entire library of notes and summaries.

Quote Of The Week

• "Believe you can and you're halfway there." — Theodore Roosevelt