Reading is refuge from the world for SpeakIn founder

Deepshikha Kumar Anand, Founder of SpeakIn has been reading during the lockdown. These have mostly been books that she always had but never got a chance to read.
"I've read Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi, a few titles by Robert Greene and am currently reading 'The 10X Rule: The Only Difference Between Success and Failure' by Grant Cardone," she told ET Panache.

There's so much to learn from these titles, she says. "Being in a business of people, networking is one of the most critical aspects for us. Never Eat Alone beautifully covers the topic of the art of networking and building relationships. I'm also enjoying reading 'The 10X Rule' as it is very relevant during the current times. The concept of right actions to grow is of huge value during the uncertain times we are in. And of course, Robert Greene's books are timeless works on strategy - something which all businesses around the world have been forced to rethink and reformulate," Kumar Anand said.

Fine balance
One would expect that finding time to read would be easier while working from home. On the contrary, her time is split between managing business and family.

"However, I do like to read in the evening hours and sometimes during the day at breakfast. Reading for me is both a refuge from the world, as well as, a way to understand the world better. I am mostly a non-fiction reader, and every now and then, I read stories of leaders and how they managed their lives and their work. It is really empowering. On one hand, I get the opportunity to take a break from all the work stress, and on the other, I get solutions or guidance from the books on how I can tackle the stressful situations. It's a win-win situation for me," she says.

Clear choice
Kumar Anand would prefer physical copies anyday over ebooks. "The simple reason being that most books are written that way. I'm yet to meet an author who writes a book keeping the focus on publishing it as an ebook. Most authors write books knowing that their work will be published in paper. For the best and most enriching experience, anything you consume should be done in the way its creator intended it to. It's like enjoying a good white wine - you can drink it at room temperature but it is best served chilled, the way it is meant to be. Same is for the books," she says.