I absolutely love books, even though I am a slow reader and hardly ever give myself time to read. But those few times when I am actually able to read a good book are fantastic. Books, used properly, can change lives. So here are two books that influenced my life in a big way.
1. Real Estate Riches
I still remember the day when my friend Gísli put this book in my hands and told me I should read it. I guess you could say that it was a turning point in my life. I had always been a slow reader and I had never enjoyed reading books much, but this book changed that. When I started reading it, I couldn’t put it down. I finished reading it in about 24 hours, which was a first for me since usually it took me weeks to finish books.
The book introduced me to real estate investing. I had actually thought about it before, but I had never realized exactly how to do it. This book was the beginning of a domino effect in my life that ended up with a lifelong fascination with real estate. Following this book, I read Rich Dad, Poor Dad and then dozens of books about real estate investing.
For the next 12 months I couldn’t stop reading and getting to know the real estate market in Iceland. I calculated the income for over 100 different properties and visited over 50 properties to get a feeling for the market. At the end of this 12-month period I bought my first property, and after that there was no turning back. I was hooked.
This has to be one of the most famous books on personal success out there. When I read it, it gave me a completely new perspective on business and success. It introduced me to many concepts that I use in my life today. I have the audio version and I often listen to it while I go out jogging, and it always manages to inspire me. Instead of listing everything that is in the book, I am just going to share with you this poem that is included in the book:
I bargained with Life for a penny
And Life would pay no more,
However I begged at evening
When I counted my scanty store;
For Life is a just employer,
He gives you what you ask,
But once you have set the wages,
Why, you must bear the task.
I worked for a menial’s hire,
Only to learn, dismayed,
That any wage I had asked of Life,
Life would have gladly paid
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