Customer Reviews

You Can Have What You Want: Proven Strategies for Inner and Outer Success

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I first read this book in the UK edition and it changed my life. I'm a hyper-rational, Harvard MBA who's built a life around planning, thought, and careful analysis. While it worked great for managing projects, my approach just hadn't produced a life I was enjoying.

Michael balances psychology, spirit, and pragmatics. I usually avoid this kind of book as being unbearably fluffy, but Michael has a knack of taking a deeply pragmatic approach that makes his points quite tangible.

The book covers a huge amount of territory, from attitudes and mindset to tactics, learning, and relationships. Some of his advice is fairly standard, but some is new, and all is presented in a conversational way that makes it possible for me to "get it" in a way I haven't, before.

Pre-book, I was an executive coach, consultant, and ex-entrepreneur, doing all the "right things" to make my business fly. Great credentials, lots of experience, yada yada yada. But was I looking forward to my life each day? Nope. Not really.

Much of what Michael says made me realize I've never questioned my own rules for living; he's great at challenging underlying beliefs. When he discusses self-esteem, for example, he points out that there's no reason to believe your opinion of yourself is even accurate. So why sweat it? (You may be right, you may be wrong, but it doesn't matter. Believe in yourself for no good reason, and you'll still have a happier life.)

Goals? They should be immutable and a tool for utter focus, right? Sure, says Michael. And feel free to change them the moment they're no longer bringing you joy. Heresy to an uber-goal-directed-person like me. Planning, the raison d'etre for MBAs? Sure, think about the future, but don't overdo it. Have faith in following your heart, be willing to take action & work for what you want, and the Great Life will follow.

I didn't believe it. But the hyper-rational approach wasn't getting me there, so the only rational thing was to give faith a try. I began shifting from doing what's "right," "responsible," and "sensible" to doing what's fun and joyful. In the next two months, I closed more business than in the prior year.

Michael's approach helped me dig into my definition of success, and begin to reorient my life around what makes me happy, rather than just what brings me money.

Post-book, I'm making major shifts that are taking me in completely unexpected directions that are all fun, enjoyable, and exciting. Michael's book is great. Give it a read.

I was lucky enough to buy this book a few months ago in England. WOW!
Michael Neill writes in a very friendly, humorous style that I enjoyed so much that I bought copies for my closest friends.

On my first time of reading 'You Can Have What You Want' I missed out the simple experiments Michael offers (in his own words you can try them or not, it's your choice) because I was enjoying the read. On the second time of reading (and 3rd, 4th..etc.)I did try the simple experiments and found them to be, well, easy, and very powerful. As Michael says, "It doesn't have to be no pain no gain. Rather, No pain NO PAIN!

My life has changed for the better since reading this book and the best part about it for me is that it has been bloody easy:)

Whether you buy this book now or in a few days time is your decision. The sooner you do get your hands on it, the sooner you can have what you want.

Be Well and Enjoy!

Michael Neill has written what is destined to become a classic in the area of "self-help" literature. We all struggle with how to have what we want while doing whatever it is we're meant to do with our lives. You Can Have What You Want sets up a paradigm that is like magnetic north in helping you navigate your dreams and also has a whole series of sign posts which Michael calls the "Obstacle Course to Success" to help you get where you want to be. An easy read, you feel like you're having a conversation with Michael rather than reading a book. In addition, it's peppered with practical exercises that you can try out in your life immediately.

It's fun, funny and chock-full of great ideas and wisdom. A solid 5-stars!

This book will make your life better. More importantly the book supports my idea that it is your duty to be happy, happy people make for a better world.

This book by self-help guru, Michael Neill, who earns his title and will give any reader a solid, clear method to pursue happiness. The book is provides a fun, new outlook on finding the way to your own definition of success and happiness. This is money well spent. I read it in one sitting. I am normally not an avid reader of self-help books. Michael Neill's book is, however, one that makes the saying "an unexamined life is not worth living" actually have some resonance. Frankly this book made me want to look at all parts of life and fugure out how I could feel better. It is short (brevity is more than the soul of wit) it is also a great way to have ideas clearly shown and for us, the readers, to digest Neill's clear vision of how the mind works. You Can Have What You Want delivers in tone (fun, often funny, very thoughtful) as well as an effective distillation of everything Neill has come to find true. The teachings of others are carefully examined for truth from his own unique perspective, his own experiences enlighten and most important there is actual WISDOM in this book instead of just facts and "book smarts."

This is a vital, life changing book that will help the unhappy and the happy lead fuller lives.

If you want a book you can pick up to find wonderful approaches and ideas to maximize all parts of your life this is it. The quotes engage you and the stories compel you to look at your work and your life.


One of the many beautiful quotes hit me: " The central method of achieving a happier life is to train our mind in a daily practice that weakens negative attitudes and strengthens positive ones."


Amazingly Mike shows us the way to do just what the Dalai Lama suggests. With his profound wisdom and easy-to-put-into-action guidance and advice this is a great read. For years I've loved the way that Mike shows us the way as he deconstructs great ideas in his daily and now weekly tips on the internet. His writing pulls me in and reveals new sides to ideas I thought I'd visited before. You can open his book to any section to learn anew. Each chapter is a stand alone guide to something very important in your life and finding your purpose.


This book is a guide to self care and fulfillment. His matrix to guide you in what you want to do in your life gives you a way to catalog what you're doing in your life. Who ever thinks about random acts of kindness or drinking cappuccinos? Mike Neill has helped me to focus on what matters and keep track. As an executive coach I love to use his stories and guidance in an organizational context although I may transform the details.

If I could give this book a 10, I would. It's simply that fabulous! The author has written the content in a very engaging and provactive manner; and, he also includes many tips and techniques to help readers move from theory to practice. I plan on re-reading this wonderful book several times; just to make sure I haven't missed anything.

To give you an idea of how Neill engages his readers, by the time I got to the second chapter, titled "The Power of WOW!" I was so moved that I began contacting all of my family and friends. I fired up my e-mail, sent my loved ones a link to Amazon, and I told them that they simply had to read this fabulous book.

The second chapter opens with the ecumenical parable below. I think it applies to any goal a person may set and/or desire; but, I'll let you make your own interpretation!

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A Room in Heaven

One day a human went to Heaven in the way that humans do. Upon arrival, the human was greeted by a host of angels and given a tour of all of Heaven's wonders. Over the course of the tour, the human noticed that there was one room the angels quickly glided past each time they approached it.

"What's in that room?" the human asked?

The angels looked at each other as if they've been dreading the question. Finally, one of them stepped forward and said kindly, "We're not allowed to keep you out, but please believe us--you don't want to go in there!"

The human's mind raced at the thought of what might be contained in that room. What could be so horrible if that all the angels of Heaven would want to hide it away? The human knew that one should probably take angels at their word, but found it very hard to resist temptation. "After all," the human thought, "I'm only human."

Slowly walking toward the room, the human was filled with dread and wonder about what horrors might be about to be revealed. But in fact, the room was filled with the most wonderful things imaginable: a beautiful home; nice things; great wisdom; a happy family; loving friends; and riches beyond measure.

Eyes wide; the human turned back to the angels. "But why didn't you want me to come in here? This room is filled with the most amazing things I've ever seen?"

The angels looked back at each other sadly, then back at the human.

"These were all the things you were meant to have while you were on Earth, but you never believed you could have them."

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Michael Neil has done what few are able to do; he tells us how to benefit from the discoveries of NLP, without using the same old stories we've heard again and again.

Michael manages to put a new spin on some time tested strategies for success, and anyone reading this book will no doubt come away with fresh new insights.

Calling all searchers and skeptics alike . . . this is the real deal. All of those self-help books you've purchased pale in comparison to this practical, witty, entertaining, and useful guide to creating the life you really want. It celebrates the notion that the craziness of the world actually offers us an opportunity to take responsibility for our own choices. If you choose to sit and suffer quietly, that is your choice. Michael is one of the very few people who write about this stuff who has actually lived and learned from the joy and pain of his work. He's not about five easy steps. He speaks from his life and it's a gift to yours.

I have read a lot of books like this, but this one might be my favorite. It's packed with practical tips and tools for all aspects of life, and will be a book I go back to again and again for reminding myself how to be consistently successful inside and out. Thanks to Hay House Publishing or I would probably not have picked up this book. Michael Neill is a joy to read, with approachable and easily relatable language. My favorite name of a chapter in this book is: "You are not the enemy: Why you don't suck as a human being (and why you probably think that you do).

I couldn't help reading the entire book in two days, with meal and bathroom breaks only (4 hours sleep), the same way I did with Van Gogh's "Dear Theo" 3 decades ago. I have just finished reading it for the second time, one chapter a day upon waking up...enjoyed even more (went deeper)...may read it again to get some more.

I am a life coach, and have read many coaching related books...yet, this became my coaching Bible. More than anything, this book is seriously fun to read...Michael Neill is an exceptional story teller! His in-depth expert knowledge, NLP techniques, personal experiences, plus the most useful, appropriate quotes from East, West, North, and South...deliciously written wisdom words for us to devour, nurturing our mind, heart, and spirit. Great exercises to follow for us to walk forward!

I like the structure of the book. You can jump into any chapter you want...although reading it step by step will help you to build up your self-help muscles more efficiently and effectively. Replace your "No Pain, No Gain" with Michael's "No Pain, No Pain" slogan. It works better for me. (And, I am sure it will for you as well.)

Don't wait, do yourself a favor. Buy the book right now, and start living a better life! Why would you wait?