Many of my friends are surprised when they find out that not only am I attempting to read 100 of the best business books of all time, but I’m also reading other material that isn’t on the list. I decided that the weekends would be free time where I could read whatever I wanted.
This weekend I finished Switch by Dan & Chip Heath. It was fantastic and I highly recommend it.
On Saturday night I started a second book which is blowing me out of the water. I find myself mesmerized by every word, sentence & paragraph. My typical fast read has turned into a slow and methodical journey that still has me hanging on to the edge of my seat.
The book I’m reading is The Blue Sweater: Bridging the Gap Between Rich and Poor in an Interconnected World by Jacqueline Novogratz
I’ve only read about 60% of the book, but I have no doubts this will be one of my favorite reads of the year. I’m hooked.
Jacqueline’s story is the quintessential case-study of a linchpin in action. It’s no surprise that Seth has been pushing us to read it.
What’s really struck a chord with me about Jacqueline’s journey is that not once did she ever have a map or a manual telling her what the next step was. Everything she experienced and learned was the result of taking steps into the dark unknown. Sometimes the road was extremely bumpy, sometime it was an utter failure, but she kept on moving.
Just like Joy, who we met yesterday, nobody instructed Jacqueline on how to do it. She just did it.
I’ll review the book in-depth at a later date…But….
Being someone who’s sold information products in the past and has been involved in the Internet Marketing niche or more specifically, the “how to make money” niche, it’s sad to see people constantly falling for the deception of the quick fix. I feel apologetic for any of my own contributions towards the search for a “manual.” I feel guilty for even slightly perpetuating that such a manual might exist, or that I’ve promoted products created by others that promised the manual.
People will spend thousands of dollars, even when the bank account is already overdrawn, on the promise of overnight riches and fast money.
The manual doesn’t exist, quit looking for it. The promise of a step-by-step manual in exchange for your money is a farce. Anyone who tells you it does actually exist, is lying to take your money. There’s no such thing as instant work-at-home riches, or wealth in your underwear with a few clicks of the mouse. It doesn’t exist.
As soon as you can accept this, you can do two things:
1) Put your wallet away, and stop stressing about missing out on the next super hyped-up thing (promising a map).
2) Start plotting your own course by taking steps into the unknown.
Read this book. It will change you.
