Is the Performance Accelerator Plan Right for You? Decide for Yourself
Since February 2013, I've been creating and hosting reading challenges. The first one I created for myself because I wanted to immerse myself in a fun activity after my mother died unexpectedly. My heart shattered into many pieces when I got the news. I read 80 books and virtually visited 29 countries through the books I read.
My virtual travel lasted four months. I've been creating and hosting challenges since then because I got a first hand look at how a reading challenge can help you in your career. Today, you can decide if the Performance Accelerator Plan is right for you.
The Performance Accelerator Plan is an adult reading program. You complete it in a year, reading a book every six days. If that sounds too intense for you, then you can opt for the lite version of the reading challenge where you read 15 books in 10 months. I want you to create an audacious reading goal to accomplish what you never thought you could.
Is the Performance Accelerator Plan Right for You? What to Expect from the Employee Reading Program
To get the most out of the Performance Accelerator Plan takes preparation. You have to invest the time to choose the right books to read. Although you are reading books to learn key skills, you are also reading the world, and reading across disciplines. This means you are reading different genres, cultures, gender, generations and so on, to get a broader perspective on life, work, people and the world in which we live.
Each month, you read a book from a continent, written by an author born in a country different from your own. Then you have four other books to read that can help you to grow personally and professionally. Each month, one of the requirements is to read fiction. However, studies have shown that reading fiction can help you to be more empathetic.
Additionally, well-developed characters allow you get insights into human nature and people’s behaviors. The extreme reading challenge is called the Performance Accelerator Plan because you can grow in your career if you choose the books to read and follow the instructions. A big part of the reading challenge is about work – how to become more valuable and marketable at the end of 52 weeks. Therefore, you will read some business and work related books.
Participants’ Comments on the Reading Challenge
There have been many iterations of the reading challenge since I first created it in 2013. Here are some of the comments from back then. Please note that many people participate in the challenge, who are not a part of the Facebook group. If you decide to join the reading challenge after reading this post, please consider joining the Facebook group, because you will find a community of avid readers cheering you on.
Testimonials: Is the Performance Accelerator Plan Right for You?
“Avil Beckford, thanks for hosting the challenge. What I learned during the first month will fill a book…. I’ve written a novel during the last six or seven weeks using techniques I learned in books that are part of the Read the World challenge.” Gershon Ben Franja
“I am too [Learning a lot from other participants]. I’m actually really grateful for this challenge. I was in such a reading rut and this has opened me up to so much more! Ugh… No, I’ve not been good about notes. It’s my habit to keep a little notebook of the books I read, a little summary and any new words I learned, but, most of my reading is done when I can grab a few minutes between cases at the hospital and I’m just too lazy!” Kaitlin Moore-Morley
“I have found in my own work (professional and personal) that *changing my thinking* is the hardest thing for me. All of these books changed the way I think. Over the month, I have thought about them all and the insights that I have gained from them. I have discussed them with family, colleagues, neighbors, even! They have changed me. I was not expecting this. I did not think that I had chosen personal paradigm-shifting books to read this month.” Kelley McDaniel
“Also the book I read just before this one “Literacy with an Attitude” I actually used part of it in a lesson this week, spec. Finn’s levels of literacy, i.e. performative (sounding out words and writing simple sentences), functional (reading & writing needs of an average person in an average day), informational (basic meaning-making, literacy required for success in school) & powerful (using reading, writing, speaking & listening to successfully advocate & negotiate on your own behalf & in your own interest).” Kelley McDaniel
“On another note, I wrote to Robert Cialdini, author, “Influence: The Science of Persuasion”–my week 3 book–and he wrote a very nice reply back to me, “Kelley–Thanks very much for your kind words regarding INFLUENCE. And thanks as well for your perceptive account of the principles of Influence at work within the land sale currently being negotiated in your neighborhood. I thought your observations were right on target–impressively so. Cordially, Bob Cialdini”” Kelley McDaniel
Is the Performance Accelerator Plan Right for You?Why Participate in the Reading Challenge
I asked participants why they chose to participate in the reading challenge.
Avil Beckford: What do you hope to achieve by participating in the Read the World Challenge? I want you to spend some time thinking about this question, then write your answer here. By doing this, all of us will be able to help each other to achieve their goals. I have carefully chosen the elements in the Challenge, because I want you to develop new skills that can aid your career, in addition to developing cultural sensitivity towards others who are different from us. I want the 52 weeks to be a year of transformation for all of us.
“That graphic novels were included in the book challenge was a selling point for me!” Kelley McDaniel
“I joined this group after Avil Beckford made some excellent book recommendations in another group. I’m excited to get new book ideas. Thanks for your hard work, Avil. This is a quiet corner of the internet away from the ‘stuff’ elsewhere. Usually, I can’t explain why I do something except to say, “I have to.” 22 days ago, I started writing a novel. I’m incorporating many of the concepts from the books I’m reading.” Gershon Ben Franja
“I joined this challenge for a couple of selfish (smile emoticon) reasons… 1. To take my reading more seriously this year. 2. Loved the ‘reading the world’ part of it. 3. Learn and sharpen my skills.” Vaishakhi Bharucha
To read more recent testimonials, please read the post, CASE STUDY: How the Performance Accelerator Plan Helps You Secure Authority.
Performance Accelerator Plan: Path to Success
A reading challenge is a path to success, if you choose the right books to read. In addition to reading the right books you need to apply your newfound knowledge. Is the Performance Accelerator Plan right for you? What do you think? If you want to read more books and read with the intent to learn like Elon Musk and Warren Buffett, this is one way to do it. You will learn the key skills the World Economic Forum says you need to thrive in 2020 and 2022.
Is the Performance Accelerator Plan Right for You? What You Get When You Join the Performance Accelerator Plan
- Test your knowledge of each book you read using an essential skills assessment tool.
- Template to learn any content (skill or subject you want to learn).
- Knowledge Exchange: Facebook group with co-learners to accelerate your understanding and knowledge of the skills.
- Process for profit reading. The profit is in the ideas you generate from the diverse knowledge available from the books you read during the Performance Accelerator Plan. What if you found that one idea that could change your life?
- Develop the “superpowers” that come with cumulative learning.
- Get a book lover’s mini toolkit and the following e-books:
- How to take effective notes.
- Spot ideas when you read books.
- Book tracker/reading log.
- Workbook to learn problem solving, critical thinking, creativity, and decision-making.
- Create a project to work on to apply the learned skills. Choose wisely because this will help you to profit from the ideas you find in the books you read.
- Get an on-boarding booklet to help you to successfully complete the Performance Accelerator Plan.
- Get the Most Out of Reading Books PDF download.
- Receive 60 emails with the type of books to read.
- Books off the beaten path to give you an edge over your peers.
- Choose the right books to read.
What are you waiting for? Join the Performance Accelerator Plan today!
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Performance Accelerator Plan
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