4 out of 4 stars
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A current search of Amazon Kindle offerings will produce a plethora of books designed to explain how to achieve goals large and small, with specialized focus for everyone from stay at home moms to corporate CEOs, from the solopreneur to the white-collar Wall Street scion. While it can be comforting to select a title that seems to appeal directly to someone the reader may identify with, the most important factor with such self-help titles is how effective the content will actually be in assisting you in making the changes you want.
Scott Hughes’ Achieve Your Dreams: Why You Don’t and How You Can is one of the most straightforward, baldly honest, and succinctly stated books in this genre.
The book is structured in four primary sections. First, Hughes presents the question “What is your goal?” Many of the examples provided in the book refer specifically to individuals who desire to write, but as is pointed out, the thoughts and reflections apply to any seemingly unattainable goal. Hughes goes on to state his premise that there are two main reasons that people do not achieve such goals.
The next section is dedicated to the first premise, that we fear our dreams. Hughes spends a great deal of energy and explanation here, pointing out the common experiences we all share, that, unfortunately, derail most of us from the dreams and inspiration we so easily find in early childhood. He rightly points out that every choice for something is a choice against something else, and that we often make the choice we are counseled is safe - whether it is or not, and whether it’s what we want or not. The advice we receive is intended for our own good, but often truly the result of others’ fears and failures, and thus, this fear is passed from one to another.
The third section addresses the fact that, statistically, most people who have lofty goals fail to achieve them. I particularly appreciate the fact that Hughes looks beneath the surface of those numbers. He addresses not only the reasons for failure, but to encourage the readers to question whether or not people made an honest attempt to pursue the dream in the first place. It’s one thing to have a dream and say you’re going to pursue it. It’s another entirely to make a practical plan that actively works towards the realization of that goal.
The final major section of the book are what Hughes calls his “Bossy Awesome Commandments.” Here, he shares six rules or parameters - they’re more than simply guidelines - to present each step towards the achievement of big goals. His use of humor in calling them “bossy” in no way takes away from the vitality of these directives. Some call back to earlier illustrations in the book, while others might seem like common sense. However, I believe that often “common” sense may be common in understanding, but not in application. In this case, Hughes is calling us out to apply these precepts actively, not theoretically.
Overall, I found the book to be an extremely refreshing read when compared with other books I’ve read in this category. Hughes’ writing comes across as reflective, conversational, and friendly. Even when he’s “calling you out,” I found my response as a reader was not to react, but to reflect on how this could make a positive difference in achieving the progress I desire in both personal and professional areas of my life. Achieve Your Dreams: Why You Don’t and How You Can is a surprisingly easy to read book in terms of the value within. I found it to be clear and concise, and noted no typographical or other errors. I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars.
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Achieve Your Dreams
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