Customer Reviews

100 Ways to Motivate Yourself: Change Your Life Forever

5 star:		(50)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

I've had depression for over ten years - a disease that saps you of the motivation even to get out of bed - with heavy doses of anxiety over the things I had to do, wanted to do, "should" do... in fact, I was pretty much consistently overwhelmed and driven by fear. This book didn't fix that problem - meds and cognitive therapy books did - but this book was GREAT to read while procrastinating. After a couple of chapters, I'd lurch off my butt and get going. (Not an easy task with fatigued depression.)

But this book had an unexpected side effect. Not only did it motivate me short-term, it gave me lots of long-term help. Steve Chandler's outgoing and fearless philosophies have etched themselves into my brain over countless re-readings. It's not just a "motivation" book - it's a book about living life to the fullest. Some of the tips have nothing to do with motivation, per se - like singing to get a great confident speaking voice, getting over social embarrassment, and finding what you love to do. In fact, I think those chapters outnumber his motivational pep talks. That would be a negative selling point, if it hadn't had such a great overall effect.

There are also several chapters about planning. I swear, before I'd read this book I hardly ever wrote a list. Now, I've got them stuffed all over the place. Writing lists is a *little* motivational... but overall, I think it's done more for my career. I'm coming up with more and more creative ideas to make money.

I wanted a kick in the pants, but what I got was an attitude adjustment. Oh well... thanks, Steve.

This book aswell as the audio versions, unleashed a a fire in me that I didn't even know I had. I cosidered myslef to be a very uninspiring person, I always thought pessimistically, and I had absolutely no yearn for anything. I was lazy, watched too much television, I couldn't even take out the trash it was that bad, my only inspiration to do anything was when it got out of control.
A friend reccomended I take a look, I knew I wasn't going anywhere, so I gave it a go. everything i came across was self improving. A couple of the points I like are the Lie to yourself idea, which is great. I do consider that I originally lied to myself in wanting to achieve my goaal, but after putting in the dedication, I now fully believe what I want to do and that I can do it. the second is the writing down of ideas, I do this every day, and I have come up with so many Ideas I don't know what to do with them all. The motivational techniques, forced me to break some of my greatest all time fears, Since i broke those fears, I felt invincible. No longer afraid to talk to others in a socal gathering. I have turned off the tv, and when I turn it on I can't see anything worth watching, Reading more books, taking up piano lessons, the list goes on. I recomend anyone with even the slightest pessimism to try this book, it will change your life forever

100 Ways to Motivate Yourself is definitely one of the better self-help / leadership books I have read. The one part of this book that is quite unique is that Chandler often starts with a quote, then he presents an typical example and finally tells a brief short story. I find this to be quite refreshing in these types of books as Chandler covered a wide array of topics from taking action, looking at things from a different angle, using your imagination, setting goals, turning off your TV, relationships, etc.

I believe the key ingredient in getting long-term value out of this book is to highlight the quotes/stories you love and integrate them into your daily life. Practice what you read if it ties in with your values. Hope this helps everyone.

I try to reread this book at least once a year; sometimes more. I even wrote down a few of his best quotes for review.

Hey, everyone needs to be picked up and charged sometimes, you know? Sometimes you just don't feel it or you get into a slump.

This book talks about getting into action and staying in action. Really important b/c some people just want to do things but they sit around and do nothing.

Highlights and favorites of this book:

(1) watch less TV; (2) plan your day and rank it in order of importance; (3) live your life; (4) start your life over; (5) light your soul on fire; (6) keep all your promises; (7) strengthen your purpose

Hey, some of these don't make sense, right? Well, you need to check out the book to understand it b/c it would take up too much space to type.

So, get this book and read the 100 steps to motivating yourself. When you're grateful I recommended it, you can send me a check in the mail. :D

One could easily pass over this book by simply looking at the title. Chandler's suggestions will not just motivate you, if you follow them they can change your life. His suggestions are based on his own experience. He is passing on what has actually worked for him and his clients so his comments are rock solid. One of these suggestions is worth the price of the book

This review is of the audiobook version "100 Ways to Motivate Yourself". The observations Chandler presents are very practical, easily understood and applied.

What's best about Chandler's work is how straightforward it is. I compare this to Wayne Dyer's "100 ways" audio book and Chandler's is way more "filling". Chandler doesn't take long pauses, no faux new age background music, and each of his points -- though brief -- actually feels complete. He includes lots of meaningful quotations and aphorisms.

One minor example: #14 Kill your television ... if you watch too much TV, ask yourself "which side of the glass do I want to live on?" Chandler quotes Groucho Marx: "I find television very educational ... every time someone turns it on, I go in the other room to read a book". (I stopped watching TV ... completely, cold turkey ... 5 months ago. Since then I have listened to dozens of audio books and college lectures from Teaching Company and Modern Scholar. I will never go back to watching TV hours every day. Do you?)

My only complaint is Chandler's deadpan, somewhat monotonous vocal style. (I see some others also commented on this.) But it's really my problem (my perception), not Chandler's problem. I pushed through and listened anyway, and it wasn't nearly as droning as it originally seemed. His delivery does have range -- just a heck of a lot more subtle than, say, Tony Robbins -- and his quality content earns him the credibility and respect to boost his presentation.

I also think Chandler's overall effect is more "real" than more touchy-feely self-help gurus (Dyer, Chopra, Tolle, et al) or the melodramatic, pumped-up style of others. Chandler's delivery is more "adult", not emotional or didactic, just like the wise counsel of a respected elder colleague. He's actually quite easy to listen to, and every minute has worthwhile thoughts.

5/5

P.S. To the professional cynic "Barwin" who said 1/5 and "bunch of garbgage" ... grow up, understand human psychology and get a life. You have judged a work containing 100 points and made a knee-jerk, absolutist, completely inaccurate and juvenile response based on one single point that lasted not 15 seconds. You didn't judge a book by it's cover, you judged a book by a few words. You are very closed-minded and unless you reverse that you condemn yourself to a very limited path of reactive and cynical existence. Defeat negativity, embrace positivity.

Chandler's points include success philosophy, psychology, motivation, self-discipline, focus, determination, creativity, leadership, rational thinking, self-realization, etc. There's lots of worthwhile material here. And in audio book form, it's an easy listen in just an hour. Re-listen whenever beneficial.

If you've passed up this tny little book because of the sappy title, why not give it a try? It's a wonderful little collection of ways to improve your life by learning to defeat pessimistic and defeatist attitudes and by learning to become the master of your fate. If taken seriously, the book can turn your life around completely. Each of the suggestions comes from someone who has experienced the benefits that come from utilising them. Learning to appreciate solitude, making the best of bad situations, and telling yourself "true lies" for the purpose of self-creation are examples of suggestions found in the book.

Great advice culled from a variety of sources including Emerson, Schwarzenegger and Leonard Nimoy, Napoleon Hill, Groucho Marx and others.

Also covers a wide variety of topics from taking action, using your imagination, setting goals, turning off your TV and so on.

The best thing about this audio cassette is it's variety. If one point doesn't seem useful or strike your fancy then pick one of the other 99. Another plus is that the tape is 90 minutes long and appears to contain the entire text of the book since the wrapper does not bear the words abridged anywhere.

The book is read by the author Steve Chandler with each of the hundred ideas stated by Sheryl Bernstein. Mr. Chandler speaks in a monotone that frankly isn't very motivating. I would recommend that anyone considering this helpful tape buy and read the book instead. However if you're the type that knows they won't read the book but will listen to the audio than buy the tape - just don't play it while you're driving or while operating machinery because you may fall asleep and have an accident. It would have been preferable if Ms. Bernstein had read the book and Mr. Chandler merely stated the ideas. I also would have given it a higher grade had it been read by someone with a more motivating voice (say Tony Robbins)

Agreeing with most (if not all) of Chandler's suggestions accomplishes nothing unless and until you act upon whichever of his suggestions are most appropriate to your own specific circumstances. A great deal of nonsense has already been expressed on the subject of leaders motivating others. The greatest leaders throughout history do indeed demonstrate the power to inspire others but, I have become convinced, only an individual can motivate herself or himself. Chandler offers 100 quite specific suggestions, each accompanied by no-nonsense comments. I agree with him that attitudes often determine our behavior, including the choices we make. "In our on-going creation of who we are, nothing has a greater impact on the process than the choice we make between optimism and pessimism." He continues: "There are no optimistic or pessimistic personalities, there are only single, individual choices for optimistic or pessimistic thought." If you have problems with your own motivation and/or associate with others who have that problem, I strongly encourage you to read this book. Then, if you share my high opinion of it, I urge you to check out Chandler's other books including the recently published 17 Lies That Set You Back & the Truth That Will Set you Free.

Steve Chandler's 100 Ways to Motivate Yourself has changed my life in so many ways, and it will continue to inspire me as long as I live. I have read this book over and over again and I still look forward to reading it again. Thank You Steve for writing a book that finally everyone can relate to!