18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Transcending Self-Imposed Limits, August 20, 2002
This review is from: Success Bound: Breaking Free of Mediocrity (Paperback)
Gilbert asserts (and I agree) that, for various reasons, many people may be willing but are unable to escape from mediocrity in their careers as well as in their personal lives. They are victims of what he calls "FAILURE-itis." Gilbert speaks from his own experience from which he learned 21 strategies "to turn stumbling blocks into stepping stones, solve any problem, overcome any obstacles, and achieve any goal" he could set for himself. Having the benefit of what Gilbert shares in this book, will it then be easy for anyone else to do so? Of course not. The journey to success (however one defines it) involves overcoming numerous and formidable barriers; there are great perils along the way; and not everyone embarked on that journey eventually completes it. In this context, I am reminded of Henry Ford's observation: "Whether you think you can or think you can't, you're right." Hence the importance of having a positive attitude, a confidence in one's abilities, and a determination (preferably a tenacity) to achieve success, once embarked.
Gilbert carefully organizes his 21 strategies within four Parts: Rainbows After the Rain (i.e. viewing "failure" within an appropriate context from the right perspective), Wisdom for Young and Old (i.e. leveraging knowledge from failure to gain wisdom), Shatter the Glass Ceiling (i.e. replacing a fear of failure with an appreciation of benefits to be derived from what it reveals), and Free to Live and Love (i.e. how to "fail in love" and thereby nourish an "active faith"). I hope my parenthetical i.e. comments do not incorrectly suggest that Gilbert advocates a soft-headed, "feel good," "You can do it!" approach. On the contrary, make no mistake bout it, he fully understands how difficult it is to overcome negativism and despair with positive, affirmative values. As he candidly acknowledges in this book, it took him years to do so. His own journey to success continues. His life remains a "work in progress," as is everyone else's.
Throughout the book, Gilbert includes dozens of especially relevant quotations (from diverse sources as Thomas Edison, S.I. Hayakawa, Napoleon Hill, Dale Carnegie, Stephen Covey, Robert Allen, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Benjamin Franklin) which help to illustrate as well as support the key ideas with which he concludes each chapter. Some readers may be uncomfortable with Gilbert's frequent references to basic tenets of his Christian faith. Frankly, I commend him for sharing them. His purpose is to place proper emphasis on spiritual values whatever each reader's religious faith (if any) may be. Those captive to mediocrity tend to be self-preoccupied and frequently view themselves as victims of forces over which they have little (if any) control. Connors, Smith, and Hickman have much of value to say about this in The Oz Principle: Getting Results Through Individual and Organizational Accountability. One of the most important assertions in this book is that each person not only can but should determine what her or his purpose in life is. Gilbert is totally convinced that each of us "is meant to succeed in life. It is our destiny." He goes on to quote Thoreau: "Men are born to succeed, not to fail." Gilbert is thoroughly convinced that success is a human birthright. It remains for each person to decide what to do with that birthright.
It is possible but unlikely that every person who reads this book will immediately embark on a journey to fulfill her or his human potential but several will. Some will then become discouraged because of a fear of failure, others because of a fear of success. The strategies which Gilbert shares obviously offer no guarantee of success but they do provide valuable perspectives on human nature which, I am convinced, will help many people to free themselves from self-imposed limits, to become more forgiving of themselves and therefore of others, to turn at least some stumbling blocks into stepping stones, to solve at least some problems, to overcome at least some obstacles, and to achieve at least some goals. Gilbert would be the first to insist that his own "journey" is still underway. Problems and obstacles await him as he proceeds.
There is no "right time" for anyone to embark on such a journey except now, this moment. That is a commitment only each of us can make. To those who have already embarked on that "journey," I join with Gilbert in wishing them bon voyage!
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
If all you do is what other people do..., August 7, 2003
This review is from: Success Bound: Breaking Free of Mediocrity (Paperback)
My grandmother had several favorite sayings. One was "If all you do is what other people do, all you get is what other people get...and all you'll ever be is average..."
Read "Success Bound" by Randy Gilbert, and you'll never have to worry about being "just like everybody else" again. "Dr. Proactive" lays out a blueprint for leaving mediocrity behind...a step-by-step guide. It's a nice mix of theory and practical application, punctuated with dozens of insightful quotes.
This is an easy read, but it's also the kind of book you like to put down in your lap every few pages while you stare out the window and ponder the wisdom Randy offers. I especially liked the section on dealing with failure because it reminded me of another of my grandmother's favorite quotes (which I've since learned originated with Henry Ford): "Where you think you can, or whether you think you can't -- either way, you'll be right.
This is a book you should keep on the shelf -- but bring down often to read over and over again.
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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Success Is Available to Anyone, August 20, 2002
This review is from: Success Bound: Breaking Free of Mediocrity (Paperback)
I found this book to be exciting for the many positive strategies and examples given in it. It is not an overly exuberant 'quick fix' type book like many on the market today.
The strategies given are insightful and can be practised by anyone willing to try. It is also a great reference book in that there are many topics and issues discussed where if you want to pursue them into more depth a book by another author is listed. I enjoyed the examples given about the author's own family, they make the book more personal to the reader.
Being 'pro-active' is now a key method for me that I can use for dealing with daily occurances and long range planning. Plus I have a whole new outlook on how I view and will handle failures in my life. They are no longer something to be dreaded and avoided.
I recommend this book to anyone looking for strategies to improve their life so it is more exciting, fulfilling and successful. For 'life long learners', this book would be a great addition to their library. It's not a book to read just once, but to refer back to and keep throughout one's life.
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