Category: Read This

Books I’m really into right now. Very worth a read!

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Read This: Stop Doing That Sh*T by Gary John Bishop

Stop Doing That Sh*t by Gary John Bishop

So we have been down this road before with Gary John Bishop and I have to say, I love this book as much as the previous “Unf*ck Yourself“.

When Gary talks to you (and in these audiobook versions I’m suggesting you pop on over to Audible and use your last credit for RIGHT NOW, he does talk to you) he cuts through all the sickly, sweet excuses we give ourselves each day and gets right to the heart of what causes us the most pain in our lives – our own actions and inactions.

In this book, he gets right into where we are hurting ourselves most and helps us think through the “Why”. It’s all about understanding how we began these thoughts that drive the self-sabotage that forms our lives day over day. Then taking us through steps to not control the thoughts, but to break out of the actions we take that continue to lead us on the lives we do not want and dream of breaking free from.

“End Self-Sabotage and Demand Your Life Back”

Don’t expect cuddles and baby talk here. Gary instead gives you what you really need – a way to get you moving on the path to your own success in an honest and no-holds-barred approach. He is known for straight talk and a knack for hitting you over the head with a brick of truth that lets you see the bullshit (his words – and mine) that blocks you from the life you KNOW you should be able to create. And he does this with a brutally honest and oftentimes funny style that ultimately offers a series of steps that may not be easy, but are well worth doing.

“What you are acting on is your opinion of life”

Gary John Bishop

The book goes into how we get an opinion of life from the conditions we are born into, our past, our family, and the like, and how we create a narrative around those things that we may or may not have had any control over and what we tell ourselves about them. These things form our thoughts and create our opinion of life, which then form our actions. The things we have no control over don’t need to define us and he talks of self-acceptance and then how we can break free of all of that so we can be the people we choose to be.

Take a little listen to “Stop Doing That Sh*t” for yourself and then pick up the book. It’s go-to for me whenever I feel that self-sabotage slinking back – and it works.

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Read This: Everything is Figuroutable by Marie Forleo

Everything IS Figuroutable by Marie Forleo

I’ve been a fan of Marie Forleo for a bunch of years and always loved her whole perky vibe and the advanced principles of her B-school. But, to be honest, I kind of stopped reading her emails a few years ago after one where she mentioned what a horrible failure she had once (trying to be relatable to those of us who have had a few of those ourselves, I’m assuming) when she had her team send out an email before it was finished! THE HORROR! 

Needless to say, if that was the extent of her “failures” then how could she possibly understand me with – well, let’s just say more interesting failures than that under my belt. Now, give me a huge meaty epic failure that you learned and grew from, like when Elvis Presley bombed his first performance at the Grand Ole Opry so badly the talent manager told him “You ain’t goin’ nowhere, son. You ought to go back to drivin’ a truck”. That’s life telling you something!

“It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all – in which case, you fail by default.”

JK Rowling

So it was with a little hemming and hawing that I decided to take a chance on Everything is Figuroutable. I’m glad I did. 

Maria Forleo is a branding maven, inspiration to people around the globe and social media magician. With her successful MarieTV,  website and 8-week interactive B-School for people looking to grow their business, she has a lot to say and it’s all for your benefit.

Knowing she has also been involved with the likes of Richard Branson, Oprah, and Arianna Huffington just adds more credit to her list of amazing accomplishments. But can she really get what it’s like to be in my skin, I kept wondering to myself. Her life seems so “silver spoon”.

Well, I took a chance and began the book and…. couldn’t stop listening. Needless to say, she went deeper into her stories and it really made a difference. I felt she did get my “it” and she did have some pretty valuable insight to give. 

Marie narrated the Audible version herself, and it really works. A bit milder and a bit self-back-pat-y than some other books in the genre that I love, it’s still chock full of great suggestions, optimism and actionable suggestions to make you unstoppable in life and career. As she calls it on the website, it’s a mindset, a mantra, and a conviction.

And it really is all three.

After you close the pages or take off the headphones, if you are like me, you will walk away really feeling like Everything really is Figureoutable. 

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Read This: You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero

You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life by Jen Sincero

Not too long ago I began really thinking about where I am in my life and career and where I felt I should be at this point and sadly the answer was not where I was. Oh, I was doing the things you do to succeed. Working hard, coming up with ideas and even -although not nearly enough- acting on them.

Yet, it still wasn’t where I wanted to be.

My projects weren’t happening fast enough, they weren’t big enough, everything was a bit nebulous, to be honest. I knew I needed something else to help push me through the eye of the needle I was stuck in. 

Then came my brush with this book. I was meandering around Audible trying to find my next big listen and I came across this title and knew I just had to get it. I mean, how could I not? Of course I’m a badass, this book was totally talking to me, wasn’t it?

Well, let’s just say, the universe was talking to me as well. I downloaded the book to my Pixel and began to listen as I drove around each day. Then while I was doing dishes and cleaning the house. Then every time I felt a bit low on myself. And then I after it was all over and the book was at an end, I listened to it all again while writing down the homework Jen doled out at the end of each chapter. 

It was the start of a change in perception and one in which I have no intention of going back from regardless of the stumbles through life.

First off, let me say Jen Sincero narrates the book herself and she is incredibly relatable and down to earth. She readily admits and dives deep into the dips, potholes and out-and-out pitch-black seemingly endlessly deep chasms that her own fears put in her way. She explains not just why you deserve to do the “thing”, but how to get the universe on your side and actually do the “thing”.

I loved her narration style, which leans to a bit of a mix of “sailer on shore leave” and “no-filter mom telling you like it is”. Side note: If you are afraid of adult words, I would say put on your big girl (or boy) panties and suck it up. It’s worth it for the truth in the message.

Since listening to this book, I have called out “The Little Prince” many times – he’s what she has named the voice in your head protecting you from harm by not letting you out to play with the big kids – when I feel that fear in my gut. I know that feeling now for what it is, and even though it still bubbles up here and there, I know that it’s just my Little Prince trying to keep me safe. Then I just say “Hey Buddy, it’s ok. I’ll be fine. Go back to bed. I’ve got this”. 

This is a must-read… And then a must re-read. And then a re-re-read again and again, because the words are all to the good of your dreams. They tell a story that your dreams are not just attainable but something you kind of need to put out into the universe or the universe wouldn’t have given them to you in the first place. 

So, get out there and do the awesome thing! The universe is waiting.

I’ll leave you with one of the helpful bits of homework from the book:

Write down give beliefs, complaints, activities, and environments that are buzzkills in your life and then write down how you will immediately upgrade them.

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Read This: Feck Perfuction

Feck Perfuction: Dangerous Ideas on the Business of Life By: James Victore

Feck Perfuction: Dangerous Ideas on the Business of Life by James Victore

I have been a follower of Danielle LaPorte for a number of years now and have always been uplifted and motivated by her words, thoughts and ideas on life and how to make the most of it. In this book, James Victore (with a foreword by Danielle) creates Feck Perfuction, a book that follows through on all of those ideals. Let’s just say I was not disappointed.

It’s a super easy (and short) read that will leave you invigorated and ready to take action when it comes to controlling your own destiny. I personally listened to it at a brisk 2 hours and 26 minutes and came away wanting more. Not that what I heard was not valuable, but more the opposite – I wanted to keep hearing him talk about making your own magic of life happen without the barricades of “normalcy” holding you back.

He even has a 3-hour course you can check out at https://www.feckperfuction.com/ that I am thinking of jumping on to keep the momentum going. Comfort is overrated.. so get messy to find your own creativity – your own life.

“Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone else’s opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation.”

James Victore, Feck Perfuction: Dangerous Ideas on the Business of Life

(Ahhhhhh…. the irony ;))

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Read This: UnFu*k Yourself by Gary John Bishop

Unfu*k Yourself by Gary John Bishop

UnFu*k Yourself: Get Out of Your Head and Into Your Life by Gary John Bishop is a great reading selection for this long holiday weekend and the perfect break from the overeating, overindulging, and over-the-whole-family stress that comes with it.

The first thing to note about this book is that it’s not going to sugar coat your role to play in your own change, but instead get you to look straight on into those self-imposed fears holding you back and disengage from them. It’s not going to baby you either. You won’t find any “boo-hoo” sentiments that allow for self pity, but you will find some straight honest truth that will allow you the opportunity to give yourself the permission you need to deal with “it” and live a great life.

“You have the life you’re willing to put up with.”

Gary John Bishop, Unfu*k Yourself: Get Out of Your Head and Into Your Life

It’s not too long a book and it will give you some quality hours of self-introspection. They will be hours well spent. I listened to the Audible version of the book myself, which offers the added bonus of listening to it read by Gary Bishop himself (and his fabulously thick Scotish accent). He does not disappoint. The emotion and feeling of his words will keep you motivated and focused even after you have finished the book.

Even so, I’ve no doubt you will want to go over the book again and again. I know I plan to.

Main points of the Unfu*k Yourself:

  • I Am Willing
  • I Am Wired to Win
  • I Got This
  • I Embrace Uncertainty
  • I Am Not My Thoughts; I Am What I Do
  • I Am Relentless
  • I Expect Nothing & Accept Everything