This is a book you can read over and over again and glean new ideas with each subsequent reading. My favorite insight was Robert Ringer's observation that those who are being proactive and feel in control of their lives tend to experience more happiness than those who are reacting to events and agendas created by others.
In Action: Nothing Happens Until Something Moves, by Robert Ringer, published by M. Evans (2004), Ringer reminds us that while ideas are the starting point, nothing happens without taking action. Contrary to what many say, motivation is not needed. If a person acts, the motivation will often follow. If a person takes consistent action that is in alignment with universal principles, that person is likely to experience success and happiness.
Here are four of the many insights that Ringer shares:
(1) Nothing happens until something moves;
(2) God helps those who help themselves;
(3) The law of averages; and
(4) Action produces genius, magic, and power.
I had heard this book was a classic before reading it, now I understand why. Ringer’s thoughts on action and inaction are often profound. This is much more than a business book. It can serve as a foundation for a philosophy of life.
Rating: $$$$ out of 5. This book will pay for itself many times if the action principles it lays out are followed.
Copyright @ 2016 Christine Esser
Disclosure: You can purchase the book on Amazon by clicking on the link below. We may receive a small commission from your purchase that will not increase your purchase price. I purchased this book with my own money and did not receive anything in exchange for this review by the book's author or publisher. Comments are welcome. Thank you.
Saturday, June 25, 2016
Friday, June 17, 2016
Learn the Habits that Make People Wealthy: Change Your Habits, Change Your Life by Tom Corley, Quick Book Summary and Review
If you can only read one book on habits others have used to become healthy, wealthy and wise, this is it. In this gem of a book, Tom Corley, a CPA, and CFA shares 26 “rich” habits among wealthy people that helped them become rich.
In Change Your Habits, Change Your Life, Strategies that Transformed 177 Average People Into Self-Made Millionaires, (2016) by North Loop Books, Tom Corley, shares the results of his research after studying the habits of 233 rich people and 128 poor people for five years. The “rich” people had an income of at least $160,000 and $3.2 million in net assets. Poor people earned less than $35,000, with less than $5,000 in net assets.
In this book, Corley combines his research with the new information now available on how habits form and can be changed. First, Corley explains the research on habits. Our brains are always looking for an efficient way to get things done. By creating habits, our brains are more efficient. Many habits are ordinary habits but some are keystone habits that can transform a person’s life.
Next, Corley shares 26 of the “rich habits” he observed among his wealthy clients. Here are three of the 26 rich habits Corley found:
(1) Self-education through reading
(2) Daily exercise;
(3) Engaging in relationships with other like-minded individuals interested in success. .
Corley also details some of the poor habits that prevent people from becoming wealthy, such as gambling, excessive alcohol intake, and watching too much television, having a negative mindset, poor financial planning, not pursuing goals, etc.
I wish this book had been available decades ago but am glad that young people today can read it and learn how they can transform poor habits into rich habits by following a Millionaire Next Door strategy to becoming wealthy. Even at this late stage, I think I can modify some habits and increase my chances of becoming “rich.” You can too if you read the book and follow it.
$$$$$ out of 5. This is a simple strategy that will work if you have enough time left to allow compound interest to work its magic.
Copyright 2016 Christine Esser
This quick summary does not capture all that can be gleaned from this excellent book. This book can be purchased on Amazon by clicking the link below. I paid for my copy of this book the same as you will should you decide to purchase it. I have received nothing from the author or publisher for this review.
Disclosure: We may receive a small commission from your purchase, but this will not raise the amount you pay. Thank you for reading this review. Comments are welcome.
In Change Your Habits, Change Your Life, Strategies that Transformed 177 Average People Into Self-Made Millionaires, (2016) by North Loop Books, Tom Corley, shares the results of his research after studying the habits of 233 rich people and 128 poor people for five years. The “rich” people had an income of at least $160,000 and $3.2 million in net assets. Poor people earned less than $35,000, with less than $5,000 in net assets.
In this book, Corley combines his research with the new information now available on how habits form and can be changed. First, Corley explains the research on habits. Our brains are always looking for an efficient way to get things done. By creating habits, our brains are more efficient. Many habits are ordinary habits but some are keystone habits that can transform a person’s life.
Next, Corley shares 26 of the “rich habits” he observed among his wealthy clients. Here are three of the 26 rich habits Corley found:
(1) Self-education through reading
(2) Daily exercise;
(3) Engaging in relationships with other like-minded individuals interested in success. .
Corley also details some of the poor habits that prevent people from becoming wealthy, such as gambling, excessive alcohol intake, and watching too much television, having a negative mindset, poor financial planning, not pursuing goals, etc.
I wish this book had been available decades ago but am glad that young people today can read it and learn how they can transform poor habits into rich habits by following a Millionaire Next Door strategy to becoming wealthy. Even at this late stage, I think I can modify some habits and increase my chances of becoming “rich.” You can too if you read the book and follow it.
$$$$$ out of 5. This is a simple strategy that will work if you have enough time left to allow compound interest to work its magic.
Copyright 2016 Christine Esser
This quick summary does not capture all that can be gleaned from this excellent book. This book can be purchased on Amazon by clicking the link below. I paid for my copy of this book the same as you will should you decide to purchase it. I have received nothing from the author or publisher for this review.
Disclosure: We may receive a small commission from your purchase, but this will not raise the amount you pay. Thank you for reading this review. Comments are welcome.
Friday, June 3, 2016
The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg - Quick Review and Book Summary
We all know that some habits can make us rich, while others make us poor. And while some habits make us fat, others make us fit. But if you are poor and fat and want to be rich and fit is it as easy as changing your habits? And if so, how can you do that?
In The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do In Life and Business, Charles Duhigg
explains the role our brains play in forming our habits and how we can change our habits to achieve better outcomes. Duhigg uses recent research in experimental psychology, neurology, and applied psychology to show us how to change habits that no longer serve us.
1. The Habit Loop - How Habits Work
The habit loop consists of a cue, a routine, and a reward. First, a cue tells the brain what to do. Second, a routine follows the cue. Third is the reward. Over time, the cue, routine, and reward loop become more ingrained.
2. The Craving Brain - How to Create New Habits
You can create new habits by getting yourself or someone else to crave a certain reward.
3. The Golden Rule of Habit Change - Why Transformation Occurs
Chapter three explains the golden rule of habit change: you can’t extinguish a bad habit, but you can change it. To change a habit, identify the cue that proceeds the habit. Use this same cue, but insert a different routine that obtains the same reward. For example, AA often works because it exchanges relaxing and having a drink with friends with relaxing and talking over problems with friends. Alcoholics often relapse after a stressful event because their habit of reaching for a bottle when stress occurs is strong. But once an alcoholic incorporates new routines that provide the same relief as a drink once did, they often stop drinking.
4. Keystone Habits, or The Ballad of Paul O'Neill - Which Habits Matter Most
Keystone habits can begin changes that propel further change. Small wins can gain momentum and create more wins. Once new habits become ingrained, an organization’s culture changes.
5. Starbucks and the Habit of Success - When Willpower Becomes Automatic
Willpower is not unlimited. Once willpower is used on some tasks it diminishes for later tasks. This explains why it is important to get important tasks done first thing in the morning.
6. The Power of a Crisis - How Leaders Create Habits Through Accident and Design
A crisis in an organization can often lead to an environment where there is an opportunity to change the culture.
7. How Target Knows What You Want Before You Do - When Companies Predict (and manipulate) Habits
Many companies use “reward” cards to collect data so that the companies can market additional products to us to increase sales.
8. Saddleback Church and the Montgomery Bus Boycott - How Movements Happen
An interesting tip for job hunters is that weak-tie acquaintances are often more important than strong-tie acquaintances in finding a new job. Also, by using peer pressure, small movements gain momentum.
9. The Neurology of Free Will - Are We Responsible for Our Habits?
We can choose our habits once we know how.
Rating: $$$$$ out of 5. You can change your destiny by changing your habits .
This quick summary does not capture all that can be gleaned from this excellent book. Charles Duhigg is an excellent story teller and this book is worth reading. This book can be purchased on Amazon by clicking the link below. I paid for my copy of this book the same as you will should you decide to purchase it. I have received nothing from the author or publisher for this review.
Disclosure: We may receive a small commission from your purchase, but this will not raise the amount you pay. Thank you for reading this review. Comments are welcome.
In The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do In Life and Business, Charles Duhigg
explains the role our brains play in forming our habits and how we can change our habits to achieve better outcomes. Duhigg uses recent research in experimental psychology, neurology, and applied psychology to show us how to change habits that no longer serve us.
PART ONE: THE HABITS OF INDIVIDUALS
1. The Habit Loop - How Habits Work
The habit loop consists of a cue, a routine, and a reward. First, a cue tells the brain what to do. Second, a routine follows the cue. Third is the reward. Over time, the cue, routine, and reward loop become more ingrained.
2. The Craving Brain - How to Create New Habits
You can create new habits by getting yourself or someone else to crave a certain reward.
3. The Golden Rule of Habit Change - Why Transformation Occurs
Chapter three explains the golden rule of habit change: you can’t extinguish a bad habit, but you can change it. To change a habit, identify the cue that proceeds the habit. Use this same cue, but insert a different routine that obtains the same reward. For example, AA often works because it exchanges relaxing and having a drink with friends with relaxing and talking over problems with friends. Alcoholics often relapse after a stressful event because their habit of reaching for a bottle when stress occurs is strong. But once an alcoholic incorporates new routines that provide the same relief as a drink once did, they often stop drinking.
PART TWO - THE HABITS OF SUCCESSFUL ORGANIZATIONS
4. Keystone Habits, or The Ballad of Paul O'Neill - Which Habits Matter Most
Keystone habits can begin changes that propel further change. Small wins can gain momentum and create more wins. Once new habits become ingrained, an organization’s culture changes.
5. Starbucks and the Habit of Success - When Willpower Becomes Automatic
Willpower is not unlimited. Once willpower is used on some tasks it diminishes for later tasks. This explains why it is important to get important tasks done first thing in the morning.
6. The Power of a Crisis - How Leaders Create Habits Through Accident and Design
A crisis in an organization can often lead to an environment where there is an opportunity to change the culture.
7. How Target Knows What You Want Before You Do - When Companies Predict (and manipulate) Habits
Many companies use “reward” cards to collect data so that the companies can market additional products to us to increase sales.
PART THREE - THE HABITS OF SOCIETIES
8. Saddleback Church and the Montgomery Bus Boycott - How Movements Happen
An interesting tip for job hunters is that weak-tie acquaintances are often more important than strong-tie acquaintances in finding a new job. Also, by using peer pressure, small movements gain momentum.
9. The Neurology of Free Will - Are We Responsible for Our Habits?
We can choose our habits once we know how.
Rating: $$$$$ out of 5. You can change your destiny by changing your habits .
This quick summary does not capture all that can be gleaned from this excellent book. Charles Duhigg is an excellent story teller and this book is worth reading. This book can be purchased on Amazon by clicking the link below. I paid for my copy of this book the same as you will should you decide to purchase it. I have received nothing from the author or publisher for this review.
Disclosure: We may receive a small commission from your purchase, but this will not raise the amount you pay. Thank you for reading this review. Comments are welcome.
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