Customer Reviews

How I Retired at 26! A Step-by-Step Guide to Accessing Your Freedom and Wealth at Any Age

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Prepare to have your excuses for not being as successful as you want to be, totally taken away. In my opinion, this book is destined to become a classic! Asha Tyson did it. She went from a (to say the very least!) dysfunctional and often brutal upbringing, to homelessness, to enlightenment, to a life of joy . . . while still in her twenties!

This is not a "financial planning book" in the George Clason ("Richest Man In Babylon") sense of the word (although that is certainly very well worth reading as well, as the author mentions). Instead, it's more of a holistic, inside-out method of "curing" oneself first, and then allowing material wealth to manifest.

The recurring theme from the author is personal responsibility. She acknowledges that bad things do happen, others can cause you problems, and that life certainly is not fair (and she can personally attest to that), but she admonishes the reader not to let that stop them.

When the author speaks of "retirement" she's not necessarily talking about having to amass incredible sums of money, and she's definitely not talking about not working. She stresses the importance of having something to live and work for. She is simply talking about freedom; "freedom to design the lie you've always wanted as a gesture of gratitude for having a life at all." I love this quote on page 81: "I retired 'from' self-defeating thought forms that have long stopped working for many of us, and I retired 'to' the life of my dreams! . . . I retired by comprehensively pursuing happiness with my whole life . . . and it's just a bonus that it brings wealth."

I'm hesitant to offer specific pieces of advice from the author because, individually, you might be tempted to say, "Oh, I've heard that before." But, put together as part of her "inside-out" personal development system, it will make such a difference in your life that it's worth just buying into it and doing it.

She describes the following as the foundation of her message:

"By dumping emotional dead weight, unlearning self-defeating beliefs, and discovering your passion for life, you will position yourself for financial gain beyond what you hay have ever imagined. You 'can' live the life you have always wanted right now and always."

Just a few of her many gems:

"You never stop earning when you do what you love."
"Reinventing yourself is the core of your first investment."
"If your belief system has not molded the life you desire, how you think will need to change."
"You will need to decode your emotional DNA."
"It's your emotional DNA that determines our values, goals and beliefs. The question is, does your emotional coding help you make healthy choices that render favorable outcomes, or does it yield pain?"
"The average person cringes at the thought of hearing criticism, but it can be quite valuable if you stay focused on the big picture."
"To hold on to animosity is like you taking poison and hoping {the other person} will die."

On pages 110-112 she gives some advice on parenting that is probably the best I've ever read. It begins with the quote, "Someone once said, 'Children learn what they live.' It is my belief that 'children learn what YOU live'." And she provides some excellent examples that are profound!! I believe this example alone is worth the price of the book if you have children.

Again, personal responsibility is a key in this quote, dealing with a person who has borrowed money and has not yet paid it back: "The borrower should chase the lender until the debt is clear, not the other way around."

She even invents a word. To "de-excusilize" is to stop making excuses for why things don't work. It's to give up justifying and blaming. It means that you now are committed to finding reasons why you can make it happen and why you can deliver, as opposed to having excuses for why you can't.

Only at the end does the author go into any type of discussion of money-management and such. And for good reason; by the time you get to that part of the book, you've already changed your attitude about money and are already becoming rich on the inside. From there, manifesting material wealth will be easy.

My suggestion is to buy this book for anyone you care about; especially your children. It will touch the life of anyone who owns it, reads it, and listens to Ms. Tyson's advice.

If you are not moved by this book then you either have a heart of stone or you've given up on life completely. The story of how young Asha Tyson pulled herself up from a hellish childhood (every terrible thing that could happen to a little girl did happen to her)to a successful, joyful life is amazing. Asha, who knows about hard times discusses what I think is one of America's biggeset problems: the celebration of victimology. Instead of wasting her adult life going "poor me" Asha Tyson got up and gotgoing. Her book gently but firmly explains how its readers can do the same.

Kimberley Lindsay Wilson, author of Work It!

I was overweight my entire life and I hadn't done anything extraordinary with my years. While I didn't have a terrible image of myself I didn't know how to maximize my potential either. Stagnation was my life. When I saw this book I thought "Okay another self-help book." But I was wrong! This was anything but. "How I Retired at 26!" delivers! After reading it, I have found the confidence to, not only learn my dreams, but also to start living them. I have lost 50 pounds and I have started my own business which turned a profit within its first three months!!! I can say that I am truly happy with my life, and I have never been able to say that before.

I just finished "How To Retire..." this week, and it has really challenged me to take a good look at myself and recommit to making positive change and fighting against self-limitation.

Tyson takes you on a journey from child abuse and molestation and teen homelessness, to a dogged pursuit of higher education and successful entrepreneurship, and ultimately to personal and financial freedom. Her definition of retirement is not the end of work, but the beginning of the freedom to find and do whatever you are called to do in life, without financial, emotional, spiritual or any other limitations. As someone who reads tons of motivational books, I often feel I've read it all before. However, Tyson's book actually shook me out of my comfort zone and challenged me to stop resting on my laurels and to continue my journey to my ultimate purpose in my life, to the complete manifestation of God's express purpose for my existence.

The book is intelligently written (despite the typos common to many self-published books), yet straight-forward and down to earth. The cheerleader hype often found in motivational products is kept to a minimum, used as seasoning, not as the main dish. Here's the ultimate compliment I can give to the author: I'm urging my children to read the book.

This book should have been titled "How I Got My First Job At 26 And Then Started Planning For My Retirement" It's a book about how Asha Tyson expanded her awareness. It's full of inspirational zingers gleaned form other writers but she never get's to the 'how to'.
Here is her definition of retirement "Retirement is taking on the responsibility as a brilliant life form to make a contribution with your gifts." What???
She also says that anyone can do what she has done but then says,"By age nine, I was narrating plays and giving keynote addresses at banquet halls for award and appreciation ceremonies." Also, "...I'd always had charisma,drive, and stamina..." Sounds like a GIFTED person to me!
Hey folks, save your money, Think and Grow Rich is still a great read.

I have never met Asha, but my pastor recommended the book to me. So off I went trying to find it..libraries, bookstores, online and finally I found it on ebay in the UK of ALL places. It arrived in the mail in a very small understated package. I looked at the cover, just glancing over the outside writing and finally I had the time to really dig into the text I finished it in less than 24 hours.
I think the most impressive thing about Asha is that she is so young with the mindset that she has. And its funny 200+ pages of text can change your total outlook on your own life and those around you. It can make you reevaluate what you already know and don't quite understand and just like a light switch everything just clicks. Asha's book brought up a lot of good points about our spiritual walk with the Father that I have been kind of putting in my subconscious...my life, my body, my spirit, my breath absolutely nothing that I have 'temporary posession' of is NEVER my own...and it is with that that we must go living each day of our life as though it were to expire. I do not want to disappoint my Father in the gracious opportunity he has given me to live life with the gifts that only I have been bestowed.

Thanks for bringing that back to my memory Asha!

When I think of retiring, what comes to mind is having enough money to live on without working. This is not what Asha did. She just got tired of working at a job and quit--with no money. She lucked into motivational speaking and wrote one book (this one) that is full of the positive-thinking platitudes like all the rest. Sorry to be the boy who pointed out that the King is really naked.

I met Asha at a seminar at my job. She was scheduled for 11 dates and I was one of the lucky ones to attend the first of the eleven. She is a wonderful person. And it's amazing to me that she has come so far from her upbringing. I read her book once and I've already started reading it a second time. I'm inspired to continue with my own goals again, since I got off the path when children came. She is an inspiration to anyone from teenagers to retirees. I'm looking forward to more Asha books and inspirational CD's. I also can't wait till 2006. Some of you may know why. If you don't then stay tuned.

As always - Stay in the blue.........

This is by far one of the best inspirational, self-help books that I have read! Asha has taken a down home approach into helping people realize their goals. It can be done! She overcame defeat and rebounded on top, despite all of the odds that were against her. The beauty of it all is that she shares her story with all of us. It has been a true blessing to have this story fall into my lap. Anyone who is not comfortable with their present situation and wanting to effect a change should read this book. It is packed with self-help, no nonsense, easy-to- read advice. I could not put it down. What I liked most is that it got right to the point and the advice she gives, with a little self determination anyone can be successful. Good job, ASHA!!! I am looking forward to more books from her on this subject.

After meeting Ms.Tyson in July, 2004, I bought her book and read it within three days. It's because of her and the contents of her book that motivated me to do what I didn't think I could. I now have published my first Spanish grammar book and working on another one. She has been blessed to motivate people like no one else I know. I would recommend that everyone read her book. As a Mexican-American woman I am eager to see Asha's book in Spanish so that many of the women I know can be empowered the way I have. If I had not met her, I would not have been motivated to publish my book this early. I am very eager to read the next book. Thank you Asha!! Alicia - Detroit, MI