The Growth Note | Leaders Are Readers

Read it. Feel it. Do something with it.

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Hey you,

Some stories don’t just inspire — they convict. They remind us of the gap between where we are and what we could become.

This one is about Ben Carson.

Ben Carson said of himself, “I was the worst student in my whole fifth-grade class.” One day Ben took a math test with 30 problems. The student behind him corrected it and handed it back. The teacher, Mrs. Williamson, started calling each student’s name for the score. Finally, she got to Ben. Out of embarrassment, he mumbled the answer. Mrs. Williamson, thinking he had said “9,” replied that for Ben to score 9 out of 30 was a wonderful improvement. The student behind Ben then yelled out, “Not nine! … He got none … right.” Ben said he wanted to drop through the floor.

At the same time, Ben’s mother, Sonya, faced obstacles of her own. She was one of 24 children, had only a third-grade education, and could not read. She was married at age 13, was divorced, had two sons, and was raising them in the ghettos of Detroit. Nonetheless, she was fiercely self-reliant and had a firm belief that God would help her and her sons if they did their part.

One day a turning point came in her life and that of her sons. It dawned on her that successful people for whom she cleaned homes had libraries—they read. After work she went home and turned off the television that Ben and his brother were watching. She said in essence: You boys are watching too much television. From now on you can watch three programs a week. In your free time you will go to the library—read two books a week and give me a report.

The boys were shocked. Ben said he had never read a book in his entire life except when required to do so at school. They protested, they complained, they argued, but it was to no avail. Then Ben reflected, “She laid down the law. I didn’t like the rule, but her determination to see us improve changed the course of my life.”

And what a change it made. By the seventh grade he was at the top of his class. He went on to attend Yale University on a scholarship, then Johns Hopkins medical school, where at age 33 he became its chief of pediatric neurosurgery and a world-renowned surgeon. How was that possible? Largely because of a mother who, without many of the advantages of life, magnified her calling as a parent. (And leader.)

3 Lessons from Ben Carson’s Story

1. Reading Creates Perspective

Books are more than information — they are windows into worlds, strategies, and people you’ve never met. Leaders who read expand their vocabulary, their vision, and their influence.

2. Discipline Creates Transformation

Ben didn’t want to follow his mother’s rules, but discipline compounded into transformation. In communication and leadership, the practices you resist are often the ones that shape you most.

3. Leadership Creates Multiplication

Sonya Carson couldn’t read, but she still led. She created a system her sons couldn’t ignore. Leadership isn’t about resources — it’s about resolve.

2 Quotes to Reflect On

“Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers.” – Harry S. Truman

“A book is a dream you hold in your hands.” – Neil Gaiman

1 Stretch for the Week

Pick one book that will make you sharper in communication or leadership.

Read the first chapter this week — then share one insight from it with someone else.

If this week’s Growth Note hit home, forward it to someone who needs the reminder that the fastest way to grow is still the simplest: pick up a book.

More soon — until then, speak boldly.

—Kamryn

Beyond the Note

I work with founders, professionals, and teams who want to speak with confidence, lead with clarity, and grow through intentional communication.

→ Book 1-on-1 coaching

→ Bring me in to speak at your next event

→ Explore more tools and frameworks

Big things are coming soon — like my first book and online trainings. Stay tuned.

P.S. Know someone who needs this kind of weekly stretch?

Forward this email or send them to The Growth Note signup page.