“It doesn't matter who you are, where you come from. The ability to triumph begins with you - always.”
-Oprah Winfrey
I had the pleasure of reading the book 100 Things Successful People Do by Nigel Cumberland it is a guide for successful working and living in the 21st century. In this post I will be discussing why I purchased the book, who I think should read this book, my favourite quotes and how the book changed me.
Why I purchased the book
I purchased this book because of the writing style, the practical exercises and the different ideas that are discussed in the book. Each chapter is written in a manner that allows the reader to choose a topic is relevant to them at a particular time. It seemed appealing to me as one of my first reads for 2023 as I focus on the goals that I have set for myself this year.
From a broad perspective, the book covers categories such as;
1. Health and peace
2. Character and personality
3. Wealth and finances
4. Relationships and parenting
5. Career and work
6. Studying and learning
7. Legacy and retirement
However, these categories are broken into ideas and concepts such as;
· Following your dreams
· Reinventing yourself
· Trusting your gut
· Having the courage to fail &
· Ticking off your bucket list
Who is this book for?
I think everyone should read this book. It is relevant for people of all ages and I would recommend it as a gift idea to your loved ones. It covers large and audacious ideas of success and what seems small and mundane. This book feels like having a mentor or friend to assist you as you navigate life and carry out some of life's toughest assignments.
You will find this book truly useful if
1. You're willing to put in the work and complete the exercises
2. You are looking to define what success looks like in your life
3. You are open to confronting some uncomfortable situations that have been getting in your way to reaching success
My favourite quotes from this book
1. "Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree. It will spend its whole life thinking it's stupid". -Albert Eistein
2. "Love yourself- accept yourself - forgive yourself - and be good to yourself,
because without you the rest of us are without a source of many wonderful things. – Leo F. Buscagia
3. "Successful people never rely upon chance or fate. You might look at someone successful and think they got lucky - a case of being in the right place at the right time perhaps? The truth is, every piece of good fortune is the result of hours, or even years, of hard work and preparation."
How the book changed me
1. In the book success is defined the accomplishment of any number of aims, dreams, goals or aspirations. Success is very personal and unique to each individual and one person’s greatest desire could be someone else’s nightmare.
The book helped me in identifying what success looks like for me and reminded me that its okay for my dreams and goals to be unpopular or misunderstood, they are aligned to my purpose and it is imperative to live in line with what is for me.
2. The author Nigel, highlights that; we're all made of habits and subject to triggers that shape our behavior; sometimes they work for us and sometimes against us.
Acknowledging this has made it easier for me to give myself grace and push through the hard the times with the reminder that becoming the person I want to be might not be easy but it will be worth it.
Conclusion
The path to success isn't without failure, acknowledge the disappointment, take a break of you need to, but never give up. The world needs your gift and talents.
"Nobody can build the bridge for you to walk across the river of life, no one but yourself alone. There are, to be sure, countless paths and bridges and demigods which would carry you across this river; but only at the cost of yourself; you would pawn yourself and lose. There is in the world only one way, on which nobody can go, except you: where does it lead? Do not ask along with it."
-Fredrich Nietzsche
Yours in personal growth and success
Lelo Ngoepe
Is this the sort of book you would typically pick up?
- Yes, definitely!
- No, not my kind of read.
- Write an answer