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Overcoming Obstacles With SPUNK!

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I bought a used copy and my pages were stuck together : (
I tried to overcome this with spunk but the problem just got worse.

Overcoming Obstacles With Spunk! The keys to Leadership & Goal Setting is so much more than it's title states. While it is an ideal resource for those looking to take on the role of a leader in life, it is a great motivational tool for the average person looking to live a better life.

Having attended several of L. Diane Wolfe's seminars, I have a slight advantage over the average reader of this book in that I can hear the vibrancy behind the text and picture her speaking to an enraptured room. That being said, the tone of the book reflects her upbeat attitude even for those who have not had the pleasure of hearing her speak. Almost a year ago, I attended Diane's How to Publish Your Book Now Seminar. It was there that I learned she is not only a gifted and motivating speaker, but she gives of herself so freely and shares her abundance of knowledge in a way that you can't help but want to come back for more. Her book is the same way and one of the things I loved most about it is, that having met her in person, I know that she lives by the words in this book. I read many motivational and self-help books, some to help me be a better person and some just out of curiosity. Many come off as "yeah, yeah, I read this all before" or seem all about the author's self-promoting. Some come off as preachy, some as unrealistic, some as just plain boring. As an avid reader, I try to read everything I can get my hands on, but I have to say my favorite books are fiction and filled with action and suspense. So often times I have to make myself get through the non-fiction books because I feel learning and expanding my horizons is important. I will admit, I wanted to read Diane's book out of curiosity, because I had enjoyed her publishing seminars and I wanted to see what her motivational book would be like. Having read books like The Secret, The Laws of Attraction, The Management Skills Book, etc., I was impressed with her approach. While the other books were good, they didn't really accomplish what they set out to for me. They all seem to impart great words of wisdom, but didn't really make a difference in my life, because after a week or two, I would just revert back to my normal ways. In Overcoming Obstacles with Spunk, Diane addresses the fact that while certain changes are ideal, we are human, life will throw us curve balls every chance it can and there will be times when we slip back into old habits, whether we want to or not. Another great aspect of this book, not only does Diane tell you upfront what the focus and the five keys to your success are, but she brings you insight from other authors and sources as well. From the beginning you realize this book is not about her, it's all about you, the reader, the student. She thoroughly covers each of the five keys: developing a positive attitude, learning people skills, raising self-esteem, overcoming fear, and setting goals. She spaces them out and gives practical guidance on how to achieve and maintain these goals interspersed with colorful analogies. I love that at the end of each chapter she has "In a nutshell....", where with a few sparsely worded bullet points she summaries the points of that chapter. Although, I enjoyed the stories and analogies in the chapters enough to want to re-read them, it is nice to be able to flip to the end when I need a refresher on certain points. I was even motivated enough to go out and get a wire bound set of index cards to jot them down on, so that I can have them handy when I need them.

In a nutshell... this book does everything Diane has set out to accomplish with it. Although Diane says she is originally form Oregon, when you pick up this book it's like being ushered into a southern parlor and offered a cold glass of tea on a hot summer day. I think there must be some southern genes in her ancestry. Overcoming Obstacles with Spunk! is a must read and great tool for anyone wanting to enhance their life. As I commented on another post and to phrase it for the younger generations, it's Spunkylicious!!!

In her insightful book, L. Diane Wolfe teaches her audience the arts of integration and self-actualization with great enthusiasm and clarity. Emphasizing such values as fearlessness, integrity, friendship, faith, and balance, she vividly demonstrates the possibility of fully embracing one's life and dreams, no matter the hardship. The author identifies specific obstacles throughout her book and thoroughly addresses each one with concrete ways to transcend it. Her direct perspective, methods and instruction are a comprehensive beacon, especially when one is actively struggling. She interweaves each chapter with great stories, interactive support from her coauthors, and summaries. I highly recommend the volume to business leaders for seminars, and to every individual walking the journey, gathering keys: those connections & summits are within reach!

As a child, I was painfully shy and quiet, consequently I was picked on quite often throughout my grade school years into high school. During those years, what I would hear from other students, the insults, the hurtful remarks, would tear down my self esteem and rattle my self confidence into young adulthood, for while I did go through a transformation in 10th grade that changed my outlook, I was still struggling against deep seated self doubt.

When I started reading L. Diane Wolfe's book "Overcoming Obstacles with Spunk", I became conscious of a pervading sense of deja vu that began when I read the very first paragraph of the first chapter which reads..
"Life is all about overcoming. Living to the fullest requires determination. We must possess purpose and drive. We need set goals and a positive attitude. Fear must be conquered. Leadership traits and people skills are vital. To live a life filled with enrichment and satisfaction, we need some spunk!"
If you deigned to read no further, though you most assuredly should, in the very least, know that she is indeed spot on for every word just in those first couple dozen words. I know, because I've employed the techniques that she speaks of in my own life with much success. I've come from being shy and withdrawn to a person with a firm handshake who tries to be engaging and positive with the people she deals with at her job and in her personal life too.
The book touches on such topics as "Maintaining Friendships" (a topic that touched me as I've got to get in touch with a friend I haven't talked to in a couple months and it weighs on my mind), "Refusing to Fight with a Fighter", a great help in these days with the near epidemic road rage we witness on the streets and in the news, "Moving Past Barriers" either internal or external, and "Raising Self-Esteem". At the end of each quick, easy to understand chapter is a bullet list called "In a Nutshell", sort of like a Cliff notes helper or a mantra, if you will, to the key tenets of the chapter, a very helpful reminder for those of us who process things in smaller bites.
The book breaks down the process of "Overcoming Obstacles" further by separating these topics as sub-chapters under the "Five Keys" such as "Developing a Positive Attitude" and "Setting Goals" making it easier to find the section you want to focus on personally.
This book also, while having the support and contributions of other authors and speakers in the self-help, positive motivation genre, comes across not only as a positive life guide but a personal journey seen through the eyes of its author L. Diane Wolfe, interspersed with her experiences in overcoming the challenges life has thrown at her with the techniques she talks about throughout the book.
The book is an easy read overall and the writing is concise and clear, to the point. In reading it myself, I just can't believe, the way I've been conducting myself and the positive changes I've made in my life, are right here written down in these pages. In fact, the book may have motivated me to start a project I've been thinking of lately.
I thank the author for reaffirming that the path I've been treading in life hasn't been far wrong and I recommend this book for myriad reasons as a boost for those who struggle in social situations, those who are perhaps starting a new position in their company, maybe that person out there who wants the courage to move forward with a new project, even for that guy who's too shy to talk to the woman who sits by him on the bus each day on the way to work. L. Diane Wolfe will show you that you can indeed "Overcome Obstacles with Spunk".

Overcoming Obstacles With Spunk! by L.Diane Wolfe is an enjoyable read filled with tons of helpful hints for success. The book covers the 5 Keys To Success which are: Developing a positive attitude, Learning people skills, Raising self-esteem, Overcoming fears and Setting goals. If you have trouble with any one of those areas in your life, I highly recommend checking out this book!

The book explains how to achieve the 5 Keys, why the Keys are important in your life, and how to the Keys all work together for you so that you can lead the life that you want to live. The book is broken down into several short chapters containing all the information you could ever need on success and how to be successful. She uses real life examples to show you exactly how these Keys fit into your life.

After each chapter is a short bullet point list containing all the key facts covered in that chapter. These quick recaps not only make sure you didn't miss anything important, but are also a great reference if you ever need to go back and reread part of the book.

Whether you're struggling in school, starting your own business, unhappy with your current situation or just unsure of the future you can put the 5 Keys of Success into use for your life and have fun doing it!

This book most definitely provides the tools needed to Overcome Obstacles, but is also a handy pick-me-up to have on hand! Even when everything is right with your world, just a glance at the book is inspiring and motivating. It makes you feel good, and ready to conquer anything! The book is not genre specific; business, career or personal, it fits all situations we encounter in life.

This is a book you'll refer to again and again. The enthusiasm on every page is contagious!