Every office or LinkedIn feed seems to have one, that person who’s always quoting the latest business bestseller. You know the type. They’ve got a hot take on every leadership trend, sprinkled liberally with buzzwords like “synergy,” “paradigm shift,” and “disruption.” And they’re more than ready to share it with anyone within earshot.

They just finished Atomic Habits, again. They’ve got Start With Why tabbed and highlighted like it’s a sacred text. And they’re probably halfway through The 5AM Club while posting motivational sunrise photos nobody asked for.

Let’s be honest: there’s nothing wrong with wanting to learn. Professional growth is a good thing. But somewhere along the way, “reading the latest business book” became more about performing insight than actually applying it.

Signs You Might Be That Person:

• You bring up your latest read in meetings… even when it has nothing to do with the topic.
• You start sentences with, “I was just reading a book on…” at least three times a week.
• You quote Simon Sinek like scripture.
• You feel a little superior when someone hasn’t read Good to Great.
• You’ve used “pivot” unironically in casual conversation.

Why It Happens:

Because it’s easier to quote a catchy phrase than it is to wrestle with the messy, nuanced reality of leadership, growth, and business. Reading gives you a badge. But applying, failing, adjusting, learning, that’s real growth.

The Real Question:

Are you reading for performance… or for practice?

Because if you’re just stacking books and buzzwords to look smart, you’re not growing, you’re just cosplaying a business guru.

But if you’re willing to wrestle with what those books ask of you, if you’re applying, experimenting, even failing, then you’re ahead of most.

Final Thought:

Read the books. Learn the lessons. Just don’t be that person who mistakes reciting quotes for real insight. Because the world doesn’t need another walking LinkedIn post, it needs people who actually do the work.