Customer Reviews

No Excuses!: The Power of Self-Discipline

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As someone who had never read anything by Brian Tracy before I found myself a little disappointed; there are short chapters on a variety of topics but none of the chapters go very in-depth into the subject at hand. I feel like this is a good refresher or reference book for those already familiar with his works, but probably not the best place to start if you want to learn more about his philosophy to success. I've bought another book by Tracy and I'm hoping that book will be more useful.

In this ambitious work, Brian Tracy presents a formula for overcoming life's major challenges. It boils down to applying self-discipline to achieve overall success and happiness. Tracy's topics range from acting with integrity to making sales to strengthening your marriage. With such a broad span, his advice is necessarily general and elementary. However, if you avoid looking for specific solutions, and focus on the overall theme of the book, you will find it quite helpful. Tracy espouses that you need to accept responsibility for your own contentment and career. His "No Excuses" approach eliminates handy scapegoats and teaches that you must take charge of your own destiny. getAbstract recognizes that much of the book's counsel appears in various forms in this prolific author's previous work. However, that's no excuse for not giving it a thorough read.

One of my favorite movie scenes is when Al Pacino is dressing down the faculty at the Baird School in "Scent of a Woman" when he tells of the many times he has come to the crossroads in his life. He says he always knew what was the right thing to do but never did it because it was just too hard. Too many people go through life just like the Colonel. That's why books like NO EXCUSES: THE POWER OF SELF DISCIPLINE, by Brian Tracy are necessary.

As the introduction states, "Your ability to think, plan and work hard in the short term and to discipline yourself to do what is right and necessary before you do what is fun and easy is the key to creating a wonderful future for yourself." Just like the Colonel, we know the right things to do, but often choose an easier route. This is why self discipline is the key ingredient needed to break the habit of mediocrity.

All of Brian Tracy's books are well worth reading, and I have to put this one in the top two or three. Here Tracy explores self discipline and how its' refinement and application benefit so many aspects of life. This is self discipline as it applies to everything from money to relationships; goal setting to problem solving.

The book is broken into three main parts, Self Discipline and Personal Success; Self Discipline and Business, Sales and Finances; and finally Self Discipline and The Good Life. Each part has 7 related chapters. Each chapter concludes with Action Exercises.

You won't have much success getting where you want to be in life without a big dose of self discipline. This book will help show you the way; how to build it, and how to apply it.

All of Brian Tracy's resource material is excellent, in my humble opinion. I especially appreciate his take on spirituality in determining success, which takes the "dryness" out of the equation- most other authors have been too dry in terms of winning and succeeding. As an artist, I find this a breath of fresh air. I am very thankful for Brian Tracy's inspiration.

This book is great to help you overcome procrastination and side-tracking. The exercises provided in the book are incisive. I gave it to my nephew who lacks self discipline and he is much more focused. Brian Tracy has written many great books, and in my view, this is in his top 5.

"No Excuses" is a challenge to move beyond making excuses and blaming to the higher ground of taking personal responsibility for your life and charting your destiny. Much like the premise, the book is simple, straightforward and practical. If you have read or listened to Tracy's former material, there isn't much new here. The book is essentially a repackaging of his persistent themes. This "guide to living" is comprehensive but lacks much depth on any of the subjects covered.

Personally, I love to read Tracy's material. It is motivating and helpful. I also realize it is based on a syncretistic and simplistic worldview. The common theme is that failures and the unsuccessful are experiencing their current plight due to their own lack of discipline, unwillingness to delay gratification and general laziness. As a student of the Bible, it's like reading selected bits of wisdom from Proverbs but not the whole book or the whole Bible. You get one side of the truth. If you're looking for developing empathy for the downtrodden or encouragement in your struggles, this is not the book for you. If you are looking for a kick in the pants to have a success mindset, delay gratification and live a disciplined life - this is the book you've been looking for. Applying the principles of this book personally certainly could alter someone's life in a positive way. If you've not read much of Brian Tracy and need motivation and practical tools to a more productive life - I highly recommend "No Excuses."

Years ago, Brian Tracy's seminal The Psychology of Selling established him an elite sales training speaker. Tracy's newest book focuses less on selling and more on the strategy and tactics of being a successful person. His thesis is simple: self-discipline is the key to success.

The book is divided into three sections:
* Personal Success
* Business, Sales, and Finances, and
* The Good Life (including topics such as happiness, personal health, physical fitness, marriage, children, friendship, and peace of mind).

The end of each chapter includes action exercises to help the reader immediately implement his practices.

Most success literature today offer secrets such as "Ways To Pay Off Your Debts They Don't Want You to Know" or "Easy Weight Loss Formula Revealed". Unapologetically bold, Tracey dismisses this trend by placing responsibility directly on the individual. You will pay off your debts when you choose to make the sacrifice. You will lose weight when you pay the price to eat right and exercise. The challenge is not how you spend your time, but rather how to invest it with purpose. Tracy's message is dead on and sorely needed. This book should be recommended by everyone.

"No Excuses! The Power Of Self-Discipline" is Brian Tracy's newest book. If you are familiar with self-help and business books, you most likely are aware of Brian Tracy. He is the author of numerous books and audio programs, as well as a few on DVD too. The line across the cover of this book says, "21 Ways to Achieve Lasting Happiness and Success." That sums up the book very well. The book has 21 chapters that focus on different areas of personal success, business, sales, finances, and the good life and how self-discipline is the key to all of them.

Tracy starts off in the introduction by sharing why self-discipline, or self-mastery, or-self-control, really is the key to success. Tracy says that when you master the power of self-discipline, you will become unstoppable. He then describes the twenty-one areas of life in which according to him, the practice of self-discipline is vital to fulfilling your full potential and achieving everything that is possible for you.

The first seven chapters come under the topic of Self-Discipline and Personal Success. The seven areas covered are success, character, responsibility, goals, personal excellence, courage, and persistence. In a very practical and easy to read format, Tracy describes the importance of self-discipline in these areas and how you can succeed through hard work. If you have read or listened to Tracy previously, you know some of his message, especially in the goal chapter, a topic Tracy has taught in many formats. This chapter is not nearly as exhaustive as his goal programs, but provides some quick basics for those not yet setting goals, or a reminder for those who do.

The next seven chapters fall under Self-Discipline in Business, Sales, and Finances. Chapters look at work, leadership, business, sales, money, time management, and problem solving. Again, Tracy has longer books and programs on some of these topics, such as time management, however the chapters here provide great advice and encouragement, as well as how it is your self-discipline to make things work in all of these areas.

The final seven chapters fall under Self-Discipline and The Good Life. The topics here are happiness, personal health, physical fitness, marriage, children, friendship, and peace of mind. All extremely important in living a happy life. But all equally difficult at times, and incorporating self-discipline with the strategies and suggestions Tracy makes for these areas will undoubtedly help you live a more happy or "Good Life."

Each chapter concludes with a list of "Action Exercises." If you actually take a little time to do some of these, or all of these, you will gain the most from this book. Overall, I found it a very motivating and practical text, and I enjoyed reading it. Yes, some of the information here I've read or heard before, but that did not make it any less important. Sometimes we need to be reminded, or hear a message several times in different ways for it to sink in and for us to really take action and apply it.

If you want some motivational and practical advice on becoming more self-disciplined and living a more happy and successful life, this book contains just that. I recommend it for anyone looking for that little push to get and get going. Follow Tracy's principles to achieve lasting happiness and success.

Reviewed by Alain Burrese, J.D., author of a regular column on negotiation for The Montana Lawyer.

Brian's latest book is definitely one of his very best... in "No Excuses", he outlines the exact strategies we need to be effective and focused. For the fellow small-biz entrepreneurs out there, you'll appreciate the need for focus and accountability. What Brian achieves in "No Excuses" is remarkable, because he reveals a wide variety of strategies that are specific and actionable for several main areas.

Reading "No Excuses" is like getting an extensive coaching session from Brian, because he delivers a message of personal responsibility, accountability, focus and decision-making in a superbly readable and useful manner.

Highly recommended; thanks so much Brian for all you've done -- this is one of your best books ever. They're all good, it's nice to see they get even better with time, in this new release.

To success,

- Ken

With enough self-discipline, most of us can get what we want out of life. The key is to take control, to seize the moments that confront us; to make things happen, not wonder what happened.

Brian Tracy understands this entire process, and has laid out a wonderfully pragmatic guide to help anyone achieve their highest goals, assuming they're willing to work hard enough and smart enough to attain them. He certainly knows what he's talking about, fresh off his brilliant, How the Best Leaders Lead: Proven Secrets to Getting the Most Out of Yourself and Others.

This particular effort takes the "success formula" one step further, by placing the responsibility directly on the individual; where it should be, with no excuses. It's a very simple formula, but one that's going to produce the desired results, time and time again. All we have to do is follow the instructions.