Prior to 2018, I had only read one book all the way through in the past 10+ years. (Gasp, I know. Thank you to Gary Chapman and The 5 Love Languages for breaking the streak ). This is because I have a B.S. in exercise science and a Doctorate in Chiropractic. For school and my profession, I was inundated with digesting thick textbooks and scholarly research. Years of academic reading burned me out on reading anything, even NYT bestsellers.
However, a couple years ago, I attended a mentor panel that changed my perspective on books. As the director of a STEM program for first-generation students, I had taken my college students on graduate school tour to Atlanta, GA. On the first night, we attended a mentorship panel comprised of young professionals in the tech industry. After 2 hours of inside tips, “I-wish-I-would-have-done-such-and-such-when-I-was-your-age” advice, and pure inspiration, one college student asked a simple, yet forward-thinking question,
“What is one thing I should be doing now to prepare me to be successful in the future?”
The 6 mentors agreed: Read.
This really struck me, because I know the young professionals knew that most college students barely do the required reading for their classes, much less reading for leisure. I also knew that these young professionals had made the mistakes and missed the opportunities, and this advice to read was coming from a place of personal reflection and experience.
I took the advice to heart, even though I was the same age of the mentors on the panel. Why? Because I’m still preparing to be successful myself. There is a lot I desire to accomplish, but I felt like I needed to be a better me in order to get there. What better time to prepare for the future than the present?
What better time to prepare for the future than the present?
Dr. Asha
That being said, I committed to more reading in 2018. Here are the 3 books that changed my mindset and my life…
Called to Create by Jordan Raynor.
Shortly after this trip, I walked away from the consistent paycheck and comfy, predictable job. I felt scared and alone. I plugged away for a few months, pitching speaking engagements and starting a chiropractic clinic all by myself. Four months in, I hustled myself into a depression.
That’s when I stumbled across a devotion entitled
Called to Create: A Biblical Invitation to Create, Innovate, and Risk . Shortly afterwards, I bought the book by the same name. (It doesn’t hurt that the author happens to be a graduate of my alma mater, Florida State University. And, he attended FSU at the exact same time that I did. Go ‘Noles!)
Create taught me that I was approaching entrepreneurship all wrong! Success isn’t achieved individually. It’s achieved collectively.
Success isn’t achieved individually. It’s achieved collectively.
Dr. Asha
In Create, Jordan shares about a group called The Inklings. From this community of writers, we have classic works like The Hobbit and The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. I learned that the media’s depiction of cut-throat business men and women who sit at the top of a tower and bark down decisions was not necessarily the best way to be successful, nor was it the only way.
My perspective of business success changed from being a one-woman show to a community affair.
Dr. Asha
My perspective of business success changed from being a one-woman show to a community affair. I was inspired to start a group for women in wellness (WiW), where we vent, trade advice, and provide accountability. More recently, this group has provided a platform for business opportunities as well. As a motivational wellness speaker myself, I would often get asked, “Do you know someone who can speak on mental health?” Or “Do you do you also talk about financial well-being?”
Instead of saying “No,” I can now say, “There is someone in the Temple Fit Co. family who would be perfect for your audience!” Learning about the Inklings was the inspiration for this mantra: Community Over Competition.
WiW Christmas 2018 
WiW at a community event 
WiW teaching at a college student conference
Community over Competition.
Dr. Asha
Click here for the next conversation in this series (Part 2)…
Dr. Asha—speaker, educator, published author, and radio host—is aptly known as the Creator of Healthy Conversations. Her life purpose is to teach the busy and overwhelmed how to live life abundantly. She is an educational consultant and owner of the Temple Fit Company, LLC, and she is the director of Temple Fit Health, Inc. faith-based wellness nonprofit organization. Grab one of Dr. Asha’s recent books and book her for your upcoming program.