This month, we had the opportunity to sit down with John Baumann, president and CEO of Colony Brands, to discuss his reading habits. An active participant in a number of community organizations, John makes the most of what little spare time he has to read books that inspire him. He arrived to our interview ready to discuss the duffel bag full of books he'd brought with him.
John's love of the printed word started at a young age, when his father read to him from favorite books handed down through generations before dinner each night. Growing up, he was - and still remains - a big fan of Dr. Seuss, who he calls a "fantastic writer and storyteller." John received his bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and he remains an avid newspaper and magazine reader today.
In looking for new books, John gravitates towards nonfiction titles that focus on overcoming obstacles in life, whether big or small. "Books like this, to me, are really nourishment for the mind," he notes. "Happiness is not always the result of the success of the endeavor, but the obstacles and challenges along the journey."
His latest read is "Crazy is a Compliment" by Linda Rottenberg. In it, the author asserts that being bold in your thinking and looking outside of the box is what sets you apart and help you make your dreams a reality. "You can approach any endeavor with an open mind, whether it's business, philanthropic, or personal," says John. "Others may say you have outrageous thoughts, but you can find a different source of truth than the tried and true if you go with your own gut."
Another book that resonated with John is Charles Duhigg's "The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business." The book suggests that changing a single habit can release personal power you may not have been aware that you had. John was able to help a family member with ideas from the book. "A book can plant a good idea in your head," he affirms. "That's what makes it inspiring - when you can actually put what you learn into practice."
With all the reading required in his work at Colony Brands, John finds it hard to relax at day's end with fiction. Instead, he finds vacation the best time to enjoy an engrossing Robert Ludlum novel. In fact, when asked what character he'd like to be from a book, he chose Ludlum's iconic protagonist Jason Bourne. "Bourne lives an exciting life, deals with ongoing stress, faces obstacles and overcomes them in service of the greater good."
Baumann needed some Bourne-like sleuthing skills a decade ago, when he struck up an interesting conversation with a stranger while traveling for business. The man said he was an author who wrote about three to four books per year. After they parted, John visited the airport bookstore and discovered he'd been talking with prolific writer James Patterson.
If he were stranded on a desert island with only one book, John said he'd choose "A Good Walk Spoiled: Days and Nights on the PGA Tour" by John Feinstein. John is an avid golfer, but feels the book goes deeper than golf. "It's about the ability to persevere even though you seem to have done everything correctly and the end results were unsuccessful."
Although he reads on his iPad while traveling, John ultimately prefers traditional printed books. He encourages parents and children to make reading a part of their lives, as it leads to creative thinking and helps strengthen writing and communication skills throughout life. "Reading is a habit that makes you a lifelong learner."
John's love of the printed word started at a young age, when his father read to him from favorite books handed down through generations before dinner each night. Growing up, he was - and still remains - a big fan of Dr. Seuss, who he calls a "fantastic writer and storyteller." John received his bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and he remains an avid newspaper and magazine reader today.
In looking for new books, John gravitates towards nonfiction titles that focus on overcoming obstacles in life, whether big or small. "Books like this, to me, are really nourishment for the mind," he notes. "Happiness is not always the result of the success of the endeavor, but the obstacles and challenges along the journey."
His latest read is "Crazy is a Compliment" by Linda Rottenberg. In it, the author asserts that being bold in your thinking and looking outside of the box is what sets you apart and help you make your dreams a reality. "You can approach any endeavor with an open mind, whether it's business, philanthropic, or personal," says John. "Others may say you have outrageous thoughts, but you can find a different source of truth than the tried and true if you go with your own gut."
Another book that resonated with John is Charles Duhigg's "The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business." The book suggests that changing a single habit can release personal power you may not have been aware that you had. John was able to help a family member with ideas from the book. "A book can plant a good idea in your head," he affirms. "That's what makes it inspiring - when you can actually put what you learn into practice."
With all the reading required in his work at Colony Brands, John finds it hard to relax at day's end with fiction. Instead, he finds vacation the best time to enjoy an engrossing Robert Ludlum novel. In fact, when asked what character he'd like to be from a book, he chose Ludlum's iconic protagonist Jason Bourne. "Bourne lives an exciting life, deals with ongoing stress, faces obstacles and overcomes them in service of the greater good."
Baumann needed some Bourne-like sleuthing skills a decade ago, when he struck up an interesting conversation with a stranger while traveling for business. The man said he was an author who wrote about three to four books per year. After they parted, John visited the airport bookstore and discovered he'd been talking with prolific writer James Patterson.
If he were stranded on a desert island with only one book, John said he'd choose "A Good Walk Spoiled: Days and Nights on the PGA Tour" by John Feinstein. John is an avid golfer, but feels the book goes deeper than golf. "It's about the ability to persevere even though you seem to have done everything correctly and the end results were unsuccessful."
Although he reads on his iPad while traveling, John ultimately prefers traditional printed books. He encourages parents and children to make reading a part of their lives, as it leads to creative thinking and helps strengthen writing and communication skills throughout life. "Reading is a habit that makes you a lifelong learner."