Customer Reviews

Who Are You Really, and What Do You Want?

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Helmstetter identifies "three breakthrough concepts in the world of personal growth" that he shares in the book:

Breakthrough #1: If you want to do your best, get a coach. Self-help works better when you have help.

Breakthrough #2: Change your Self-Talk and you will change your life.

Breakthrough #3: Successful goal-setting has to be implemented and tracked in the right way.

Helmstetter divides the book into three parts, one for each breakthrough or recommendation. The first recommendation---to find yourself a personal coach--takes the book out of the realm of self-help. It struck me as odd that Helmstetter included this section. In any case, if you're going to hire your own personal coach, you probably won't be needing this book.

The second recommendation---to change Self-Talk---is excellent. But in this book Helmstetter devotes only 70 pages to it. A better reference here is Helmstetter's own classic, "What to Say When You Talk to Your Self."

The author's third and final piece of advice---to set and track goals---is sound. But his eight-step system is too cumbersome in some ways (eight steps are a lot to take for each and every goal you set) and too superficial in others (Helmstetter assumes that the *identification* of goals is nonproblematic, which it isn't for a lot of people). A better work on goal-setting, one which is systematic, thorough, and practical, is Barbara Sher's "Wishcraft."

All in all, not a bad book, but not Helmstetter's best.

This book is one of those exceptional new books that actually makes a difference. After reviewing several of Dr. Helmstetter's previous books, (most notably, "What To Say When You Talk To Your Self") I was hoping for the best, but wasn't sure what to expect. His new book "Who Are You Really And What Do You Want?" not only surprised me, as a totally helpful book with new insight, it blew me away. This is the stuff to which all good self-help books should aspire.

No matter how many previous books I had read by Dr. Helmstetter, it is true that he had kept coming up with more of the basic "truths" of "getting better." So in reading this book I was hoping for more of the same (new truths) but not expecting anything life-changing. (After all, how many new "paths to personal success" can there be?) But that is why I was so impressed with this one. What he wrote in this book, for most readers, chould be life-changing.

After studying human behavior and personal motivation for thirty years, in "Who Are You Really And What Do You Want?," Dr. Helmstetter made the great choice to give his readers, in one, very simply easy-to-read book, the best -- and the most practical personal growth steps he has learned in his many years of studying what makes things works for us, and what stops us. In this book he delivers what I suspect may be his final answer.

Instead of a rehash on how and why "success" works, (and Dr. Helmstetter makes it clear early on that this is NOT about just financial success), instead of reading another self-help book, I found myself sitting at the arm of someone who has not only been there, but who talks to the reader as someone who knows you, and someone who has been there. The message he delivers, clearly and simply written, would be a great "life plan" or "daily plan" for anyone who wants to get past the "distractions of every day living," as he calls it, and get on with their lives - and actually DO something with every day that we wake up.

The substance of this book has to do with what Dr. Helmstetter has found to be the "key players" in an average individual's life success. Those are such things as a very different kind of goal-setting, changing our old mental programs with Self-Talk, and, what I believe may be a major breakthrough from the earlier self-help books we have read, "taking the 'self' out of self-help."

What impressed me most about Dr. Helmstetter's solutions to each of these self-help challenges, is that, instead of just telling us to work at the problem, be positive, and get better, (the theme of a lot of other books I have reviewed), he gives the reader steps that are so practical, that I was convinved, even early in the book, that anyone could do them, on an average day, without anyone having to make life-changing choices to try them out.

We've had some very astute self-help authors enlighten and help us during the past two or three decades -- Napolean Hill, Maxwell Maltz, Norman Vincent Peale, and Dale Carnegie to name a few. Unfortunately, though they are no longer with us, their books, and what they taught us stays with us. As someone who has reviewed and recommended their books, I am happy that the torch has been passed. Dr. Helmstetter continues to explore the outer reaches of our potential, and in spite of the scientific side of his research into human potential, continues to write books that bring the best of what he has learned home to all of us. Fortunately, as a tribute to his writing, and the ease of reading this book, (I read it in two evenings), Dr. Helmstetter understands real people. His entire book could was read -- and understood -- by my teenage son.

This book is going to change a lot of lives -- for the better. It is also a great tribute to someone who could have just written another "self-help" book, but he didn't. In "Who Are You Really And What Do You Want?" Dr. Helmstetter gives us an exceptional insight into the world of personal growth, brings us up to date, and gives us the most practical solutions that he has found. Whether you're working with losing weight, getting your family right, or launching a new career, this book gives you a path to follow.

I've read the other reviews about "Who Are You Really And What Do You Want?" on Amazon.com and they all look good. They should. This is one book you cannot miss. Better than every other five star book this author has written. This one is five stars or better.

This book was very clear and easy to read, and genuinely helpful. Even while reading the book, I found myself already putting into practice the techniques Dr. Helmstetter talked about. As a mom of two small children, I don't have a lot of time to devote to reading, and this one was well worth my time! I would highly recommend it to anyone who wants to move forward in ANY area of life. Dr. Helmstetter has the background and credibility to back up what he says to do. I've had great results so far using the techniques from the book, and I look forward to more success as I go. Bottom line: this is a great book!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I was looking for a program to use to set up my goals. I had already read "Goals" by Brian Tracy and it was nice, but didn't give me the best starting point. After reading, "What to Say When You Talk to Yourself", which was also a great book, I decided to read this one. It gave me exactly what I was looking for. The first part of the book was on self-talk, which I was familiar with after reading Helmstetters other book. The second part was on goals, which I was very easily able to apply, and I am currently using this program for all of my goal setting. The third part discusses having a personal coach. Highly recommended!!

It doesn't surprise me that Dr. Shad Helmstetter has "done it again" in this new book. I bought his first book in 1986 and have used it in training programs all over the country ever since because he was the first to offer a reason for what we all knew--garbage in, garbage out. He also offered simple steps that gave hope to all of us who had ever tried and failed at anything. Each book he wrote I used in my life and my profession (a corporate trainer in communications). And so I bought this one and am not sorry. Again, it' an easy read. It updates all of his previous research and adds two more ingredients to the puzzle of our lives. I started using his simple steps right away and have shared them with family and friends and training groups. This book helps people get excited and feel enpowered--in control of what they are doing at a time when most of our world appears to be out of control. A must read for everyone. No one will come away without feeling like they can take the next step. Thanks, Dr. Helmstetter

I enjoyed this book and got a few valuable insights. The book is based on proven methods and is worth reading if you are new to self-improvement books. I highly recommend The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People (which shows you how to move from dependence to interdependence) or Optimal Thinking: How to Be Your Best Self (which shows you how to be your best, make the most of every situation and achieve optimal results) or Emotional Intelligence (which gives you an understanding of the neurological functioning of the brain.

"Who Are You Really And What Do You Want?" is Dr. Shad Helmstetter's best book yet. It is very possibly the best, and most practical book on personal growth I have read or reviewed. Dr. Helmstetter's latest book (his twelfth) is based on the three most important self-help concepts that he discovered during the twenty-five years he has been researching and writing in the self-improvement field. I found the update on programming and Self-Talk to be especially helpful, and the process he outlines for setting goals in a new way is the most practical solution for creating a personal action plan that I've seen yet. And his solution for taking the "self" out of self-help will be life-changing for many readers who have struggled with self-help or other success concepts in the past. This book is an intelligent, but very easy-to-read manual for getting it right. It's one book that will likely be read, and then read again.

This is essential reading for anyone who wants to get better, in their personal life or in their career. Along with Dr. Helmstetter's previous books such as "What To Say When You Talk To Your Self," "Who Are You Really And What Do You Want?" is certain to become a classic in the literature of personal growth.

When Shad Helmstetter's first book, What To Say When You Talk to Yourself, came out it was one of the first of its kind--a self-help book that provided practical insights and information leading to greater self-esteem. I have recommended it to my coaching and counseling clients for years. Why? Because the points he makes lead them to make changes that made sense.

Shad Helmstetter has done it again! With this new book, Who Are You Really and What Do You Want?, he has simplified the elusive process of goal-achieving. Although he gives practical ideas for goal-setting, he goes further. That's what I really like about this book. No one really needs to know much more about goal-setting, it's goal-getting strategies we need. It's the focus on WHY you want the goals that makes all the difference.

I particularly appreciate this book because I value Dr. Helmstetter's research and experience but also I know what he says is true. I teach these same concepts because they work! Here they are for you in an easy-to-read, easy-to-grasp quick read. An excellent resource.

The way he explains his 'big-three':
> Personal Coaching
> Positive Self-Talk
> Goal Achieving
can move readers from wishing for a change to having the life they most want. Follow his advice and you will remove what's holding you back from living your dreams and replace it with the attitudes, beliefs and habits that will bring you all the joy, success and confidence you can stand!

I look forward to interviewing Dr. Helmstetter on Optimize! Radio and asking the questions you want answered. All interviews are available 24/7 through my website. Hear his answers.

Rhoberta Shaler, PhD
Founder of The Optimize! Institute & Optimize! Radio
Author of Optimize Your Day! Practical Wisdom for Optimal Living and What You Pay Attention to Expands!

I am a college student with many distractions. I'm so used to working on line I think the www.GoalsonLine.com suggestion could be very helpful. I've found myself thinking like some of his analogies and see where having someone you didn't know acting as a coach would work. It's sure true we've been programmed and maybe this can reboot some stuff that's been holding me back. Seems like I could direction without lectures. Easy to follow and read.

What to Say When you Talk To Yourself

This book brings up the perfect question that people should ask themselves. This is the question that direct live and Dr. Helmstetter explains it so clearly. It is a fantastic book to take a look at how the brain works and getting things done.