[Podcast Episode #7] The Billionaire’s Secret: The Power of Devouring Books

Let us introduce you to a truth that quietly separates those who merely hustle from those who create meaningful impact: It’s not just what you know—it’s what you do with what you know.

In our latest episode of Get Your House in Order, we unpack something deceptively simple but profoundly powerful—reading. Not reading as a pastime, but reading as a discipline, a spiritual practice, a tool for transformation. The episode weaves personal reflections, billionaire habits, and grounded strategies that you can implement today.

It begins, as many great lessons do, with a story.

Cris Auditore Zimmermann shares an unforgettable visit to the home of a billionaire friend. It wasn’t the opulence that left a mark. It was the library. A sanctuary of thought, built brick by brick with books. Each title representing a season, a solution, a stepping stone. That library wasn’t just a collection—it was a cathedral of learning. And in the silence of that space, a single truth rang out: those who shape the world are often shaped, first, by what they read.

But let’s not romanticize this too quickly. Reading, for some, begins not with fascination but frustration.

Dr. Philip Zimmerman pulls back the curtain on his childhood struggle with dyslexia. For him, books were once battlegrounds. The words blurred, but the wounds they left were painfully clear. And yet—through resilience, mentorship, and a hunger for more—Philip reclaimed reading. He reframed it. And in doing so, found a healing rhythm in the written word. His journey is a reminder: the doorway to growth often opens through the very pain we’d rather avoid.

Now, here’s the common objection: I don’t have time to read.

Let’s challenge that. We make time for what we value. The issue isn’t time—it’s priority. Cris calls out the irony of endless scrolling, binge-watching, and digital noise. What if, instead, we committed to reading one book a week? Not for volume’s sake, but for velocity—because a mind in motion, fed by fresh ideas, builds momentum that changes everything.

And yet, reading alone won’t transform your life. That’s only half the equation.

The real magic? Implementation.

Cris reminds us that ideas, left on the page, are like seeds never planted. We must till them into our routines, water them with action, and harvest them in our businesses and relationships. Success doesn’t come from what you know—it comes from what you apply. That’s the rhythm of Renaissance thinking: absorb, reflect, act.

To support this, we recommend developing a personal reading strategy. Don’t just wander through bookstores or scroll Amazon. Curate your intellectual diet. Choose topics aligned with your mission—sales, leadership, influence, personal mastery. Build a plan. Follow it like an athlete in training. Because, in truth, that’s what you are—a leader in training, always sharpening the blade.

And in one of the most heartfelt moments of the episode, Philip circles back to hope.

Books, he says, are not just tools—they’re torches. They light the path when life gets dark. They whisper, “You’re not alone,” when the world goes quiet. And when we read stories of others overcoming, it rekindles the fire within us to keep going.

So let me leave you with this: What are you reading right now? Not just to consume—but to transform?

We invite you to reflect. Share. Engage. Tell us which book has shifted your thinking. Which line pierced through your comfort. Which story reminded you of who you’re becoming.

Because the power isn’t just in the page. It’s in how you live what you’ve learned.