Audiobook central

Hi fellow readers! (or should I say listeners). 🙋‍♂️🎧

A little backstory

I started this new series in the mid of 2023. It was a particularly diffcult time with life throwing several things all at once. Just one of those years where almost everything could go wrong - a parent falling ill (and living distantly), being forced to move out by the landlord, having another baby and helping the wife cope with pregnancy complications.

That's a lot! Heck yea, I think I would have survived if it all happened in different years - but life deals its cards and we can't control it. Rather, it is what we choose to do with the cards that really matters.

To get my head down, I chose to push myself towards learning other aspects outside of my usual field. Looking back, I haven't truly learnt by myself outside of an academic setting. Yet, my life has expanded into many more areas with a higher demand but less margin for error. This is true in networking, business, parenting and self understanding.

Why audiobooks?

I am focusing my current and future learning via this medium. It has been the most effective for me in this season.

I am no stranger with books, used to have volumes of them during medical school. (I've parted ways with these physical books, check out the deeper reasons on why I choose audiobooks over regular books.)

Here are some of the reasons for me to start this journey of learning:

Continuous learning

I love learning something new. And what's better is that I actually execute some of these new ideas in my life. Don't you just hate being stuck in a rut, being put in a corporate box for one specific function for the company?

I realized that since I left university some time ago, I stopped learning. It was a lie that a graduation is the end of learning and you've got all the skills set for the future. I think school is able to teach one on how to learn; BUT not able to teach every single topic.

Purpose

For 2024, I want to experience and attempt to build up either my services or newsletter. I am approaching these as a 'startup', so learning different ideas including marketing, business, personal branding, sales, etc would be useful. I want to be really focused here and keep building up towards this direction.

Coming from the health sector, these skills are neither taught throughout the job. It is unlikely to find many other doctors who are truly interested in improving these 'non-health' skills within the hospital. No bad voodoo here, and I'm not dissing anyone: it is just a difference of purpose.

I wish to scale and reach a larger audience to impact on health differently.

Connecting with others on the road

Surely there are others who are on a similar journey. I am open and hope to connect with more individuals that share the same thoughts and destination goals.

This space could be a platform for us to find some similarity and understand what parts of the journey we are at.

Communities are a powerful thing. Where ideas can mix and great stuff happens.

If you are here with the same purpose: hit me up and lets chat. Otherwise, if you are just curious or want to follow the road > keep reading on.

Book List

1. 'The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read' by Philippa Perry
2. 'Quiet: The Power of Introverts' by Susan Cain
3. 'Building a StoryBrand: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen' by Donald Miller
4. 'The Steal Like an Artist - Audio Trilogy' written and read by Austin Kleon
5. 'The Storyteller's Secrets' written and narrated by Carmine Gallo
6. 'E-myth: Revisited' by Michael E Gerber (coming soon)

Article List

• Five top reasons to choose audiobooks (over physical books)

Sources

I am getting my audiobooks from two main sources at the moment:

• Google Play Books
• Audible

Some tips here for good savings on both platforms.

• Watch out for random sales
• Google: collect play points every week (it adds up to be redeemable for actual cash to spend on books)
• Google: make purchases during 3x point reward seasons
• Audible: get 1 credit for an audiobook every month; there are seasonal signup promos. Also for prime members > get an extra free book on the first sign up.