Let me commend you for your amazing articles. I'm a self-driven, passionate and ambitious college student but I have a major problem. I hate reading and I'm really impatient.

Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe that 'if I master the art of reading, I master the art of being patient'. Could you write an article to help me better adopt reading and being more patient? Thank you.

- dayedaye25@gmail.com


CAREERS: I'm happy you enjoy reading the Careers column.

It's not clear from your email how precisely you're being impatient. Consequently, I'm going to have to make two assumptions. One is that you get easily irritated with others. Also, that it's easy for you to start things, but you get bored easily and find it hard to work through the actual process of achieving your end goals.

I don't believe there is any direct link between an aptitude for reading and being patient. There are persons who love to read but can't stand waiting for anything or anyone. On the other hand, there are people who hate reading who are as patient as Job. There is a lot of merit in your concern over your 'hatred' of reading, however.

Let me commend you for acknowledging the problem posed by this antipathy to reading.

Reading really does represent the easiest, cheapest and most effective means of educating oneself, in and outside of school. Countless studies have conclusively proven that people who read most in their field are usually more successful and influential than those who don't.

Especially as a college student, there is really no way around this, but to learn to develop the aptitude for reading.

Interest and a passion to learn are the driving forces behind people who love to read. They thirst for knowledge, whether in books, videos, audios, Internet, or live lectures. Once you arouse your passion to learn, you'll find reading fun, interesting and infinitely exciting.

Choose a book on a subject you're passionate about and start reading. Forget about completing it. Just read one chapter at a time, or even a few pages. Once you get the habit going, it gets easier and more fun.

Let me say, though, that not everyone learns best by reading. People have different 'learning styles' according to some psychologists. Visual learners prefer reading and watching.

Auditory learners prefer listening to lectures, CDs, or mp3's. Kinesthetic learners learn best by doing.

While everyone employs all these learning modalities, each person has a dominant or preferred style. You should search YouTube, or google 'learning styles' to get an idea of what your preferred learning style is.

Where patience is concerned, there is no magic bullet - you just have to practise. Focus on enjoying and engaging fully in the 'process' of what you're doing, not just the end product.

And train yourself to see things from other people's point of view, by asking more questions and listening more.

Slow down and acquaint yourself with other people's problems and struggles; you'll get a refreshingly new perspective into their world. That will help you to be more tolerant and patient.

Glenford Smith is a motivational speaker and success strategist. He is the author of a new book 'From Problems to Power: How to Win Over Worry and Turn Your Obstacles into Opportunities'. Send feedback to glenfordsmith@yahoo.com