When I began my landscaping career, I attended a number of networking opportunities. On one such occasion, I sat next to a man at dinner who owned 12 stores and helped found a local bank.

I asked what his favorite business book was, and he proudly told me he didn’t finish high school and had never read a book. I was shocked.

Why am I telling you this? As time passed, I learned that he was forced to close one store after another. I suspect it was a result of his lack of knowledge, management and business skills. Eventually, he sold all his remaining stores to a competitor.

Increase your knowledge

All of us must strive to increase our knowledge throughout our lives, especially in the professions we’ve chosen. All of the successful business people that I know read and consider reading essential to their ongoing self-education. Think about it: How can we create a “learning organization” if we, the leaders of the organization, aren’t learning?

Not having time to read is no excuse; get audio books on tape. I subscribe to Audio-Tech Business Book Summaries (www.audiotech.com). They e-mail me the entire summary each month, so I have a hard copy or can keep them in my “outlook folder.” I listen to the books driving to clients’ offices, airports, or just doing errands. They’re available on CD, too. The cost for one year is $145, and that gives me two books a month.

Whether you read them or listen to them, books increase your knowledge of business topics such as ethics, customer service, quality control, and negotiating and sales.

Improve your life

The information within books can improve not only businesses but lives as well. The best example of this is the Bible. Millions of people have been, are now and will be affected by that book.

In the business realm, two of my favorite books are Dale Carnegie’s classic, “How to Win Friends and Influence People,” and Dr. Steven Covey’s “The 7 Habits of Highly Successful People.” They should be required reading for all business owners.

But there are dozens of other fine business books as well. E-mail me at the address below and I’ll e-mail you a list of favorite books I’ve gathered from some of the best landscape and lawn care business owners in the country.

Make it a goal to read one book a month. Don’t allow yourself to get too busy to read, listen and learn. To grow and to continue growing, we all need a steady diet of new concepts and ideas. As a business owner or manager, set the example, because if you’re going to lead — you better read.