Rating: 8 /10.
The book is simple, interesting, and easy to read.
The main idea that runs through the entire book is: write down your ideas, set deadlines, and trust fate. Fate will give you opportunities in the form of people who will help you achieve your goals. Essentially, it’s about visualization, affirmations, and believing in the universe.
It’s quite interesting.
Half of the book talks about how to apply these ideas, while the other half is more inspirational, with stories from Allan and Barbara’s lives about how they set goals, despite debts and losses, and how they eventually achieved them.
What I liked:
The book is positive. It allows you to look at the world from a different perspective, reminding you that even when something bad happens in life, it’s just preparation for something better. Maybe we all need books like this that support and inspire us, or at least I do.
I was particularly struck by the moment when the author talks about being in depression. At some point, he realized that if he didn’t set a deadline for his depression, it could last forever. Yes, this is a debatable belief because it’s hard for someone with depression to make decisions. But in this case, I think the idea makes sense.
I also liked the story about how they took a crazy idea, pointed to a spot on the globe, and ended up in a small village in London with almost no money. They went to a friend who helped them find another person, and so on. They told everyone their idea of releasing a bestseller in a new market and found more and more people who wanted to help and see what would happen. In the end, they succeeded.
However, between the lines, you can see they put in a lot of effort: cold calling, building relationships. Allan writes that all tasks in life can be turned into a sales funnel.
He explains: if you know that 8 out of 10 calls end in rejection, then with every call, you’re getting closer to the 2 people who will say yes. This approach to sales is great motivation. Even if you know about funnels and sales, sometimes you forget that behind every “no,” there is an opportunity.
After mistakes and rejections, success will still come.
You just have to know how many “no’s” you need to hear before you get to your “yes.”
The idea that if you don’t tell anyone about your ideas, the world will never know them also resonates. Even if only one person out of 100 responds, that’s already a success you can work with.
I also liked how they overcame difficulties after moving. They had almost no money. Maybe they were discouraged, but you don’t see that in the book. Barbara would take the phone book, make calls, and endure rejections. After two months of hard work, she managed to get Allan booked for a speaking engagement.
Quotes I liked:
- “What’s the point of climbing the ladder of success if, at the end, you realize you’ve placed it against the wrong wall?”
- “Play with the numbers. Statistically, at least one of five people you know will be ready to help you.”
- “The seller’s failure is not because the buyers didn’t buy, but because the seller didn’t offer the product.”
- “Ask, ask, ask—otherwise, the answer will always be no.”
- “A ship in the harbor is safe, but ships aren’t built for that.”