Customer Reviews

In My Wildest Dreams: Simple Steps To A Fabulous Life

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have read a number of "self help" books and this one was incredibly solid and practical while making me understand that my wildest dreams are possible. Incredible!!

This book, and the conference I attended after reading the book, CHANGED MY LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!! I've literally purchased at least a dozen copies and given them away to women... I want everyone to know this kind of freedom.

My husband and children respect me so much MORE because now I'm being true to myself and everyone else.... it's incredible.

To me, the best part of this book was Blanke's discussion of how the language we use often limits us, and how reframing the way we state something can open up new possibilities we hadn't thought of before. (I realized that, uncongenial as my mother's "change is bad" perspective always was to me, I still picked up her tendency to shoot down a new idea without taking seriously -- which has caused me to be seen as a nay-sayer and a pessimist at work.) She's also good on the subject of "unfinished business" -- her recommendation to throw out 50 things was a real eye-opener for me. And I felt that her remarks on how to convert disbelievers into allies were pertinent and useful. Her use of material from actual "Lifedesigns" groups gave her examples a convincing grounding in reality. But I didn't find much in the exercises or their interpretation that I hadn't seen somewhere else already. The book is still worth reading for the reasons I've mentioned, but if you're REALLY interested in rethinking your life I recommend Barbara Sher's books instead.

Gail Blanke has boiled her Lifedesigns course down into a smart, even dramatic book that tracks a class of female students trying to change their own lives. Blanke, a former Avon executive, fully acknowledges the glass ceiling and disheartening statistics about women's pay scales--but reminds the reader that statistics tell us about the past, not the future. Unlike a lot of motivational books, Blanke talks openly about racism, sexism, and workaholism, but the tone is positive, even uplifting. She urges the reader to see even the skeptics who mock her "wildest dream" as potential allies. The book employs exercises--both written and physical--for getting you into action, ranging from writing down your dreams--to throwing out 50 things. Bottom line is, it works. Since I've started working with the book, I've begun to take better care of myself--and get my work out into the world.

Awesome book. I have read it twice to make sure I didn't miss anything. I was so impressed by this book based on the workshops Gail Blanke's Lifedesigns company does. After reading the book I wanted to go to one of these workshops. There weren't any scheduled in my area, so I called Lifedesigns. They have now scheduled one in NC and I can't wait to experience this book in real life. If you have dreams-read this book and do the exercises.

I was disappointed in this book. I only made it halfway through before I gave up in frustration. The author rambles on and on for 10-15 pages before making a solid usable point. For the first time since college I felt when I sat down to read the book I was doing homework and fell asleep everytime! I did the book for a book club. I don't recomend this. . .BORING!! We scratched the whole book. One member couldn't get past the forward and the other said she was "slogging" her way through it.