Choose Yourself!

I had never heard of James Altucher before I was given this book. It came as a birthday present, alongside what ended up feeling like a pile of self-help books. I know that the gift giver did not intend my birthday haul to resemble the self-help aisle of a bookstore (plus flip flops), but it certainly felt that way. Oh right, there was a bottle of tequila too! So, forgive me if it took me a while to bother even looking at this book, but here is what I have to say about it, now that I've read it:I liked it. There are plenty of life lessons in this book, and sure, the requisite amount of cheese. Although, I suppose many would simply see that bit as "accessible"? Regardless, it is certainly written with a level of informality that will offend some and attract others. I don't agree with everything that Altchur says, but the thing that I really liked about this book is that it feels like a well articulated hard copy of the life-lessons that I have already learned but can't manage to hold on to; like an outline of things I keep trying to remember all at once and keep forgetting. We all have our lifelong battles. My own tend to focus on maintaining momentum. Someone once said that "life is like riding a bicycle. It's all about balance and forward momentum." Reading this book feels a little like my dad holding my bicycle handlebars when I was just starting to internalize what it felt like to hit the groove of riding a two wheeler.Did I mention I'm 32?The other thing that I liked about this book is that it totally validated some of my own beliefs. I don't work in a bank, ergo why do I have to wake up at 7am if that just doesn't work for me? People LOVE to judge, and haters are going to hate. Having someone tell you that it is okay to make your own rules, while at the same time reminding you that if you're going to make your own rules then you have to ACTUALLY follow through and make them, is a good combination.You can't expect to get all of life's answers out of a book. You can't expect anyone else to live your life for you. I think that people who don't like this book are looking for the answers to their problems in a book. This book isn't the answer to your problem, but it just might help you stop long enough to see a doorway that you would have otherwise missed.Another thing---Altucher pronounces the American Dream dead. Time of Death: 2008. Personally, I understand the point that he is trying to make. To a large degree, I agree with him, but anyone who still lives, works, or aspires to be a part of "corporate America" is not going to like the fact that he actually said it in print. Not to mention to the fact that there are certain industries that aren't dead yet (although even industries like law and medicine are changing very fast). Now---Mr. Altucher, please correct me if I am wrong----I think what he is trying to say is that there is no longer any guaranteed path to earning a living. You can still go to Law school and become a lawyer. You can still got to Medical school and become a doctor. You can still get an MBA---end of sentence (not going to even try to add anything to that one). In the past, if you did any one of those three things, you were pretty much guaranteed a financial future. The time when a J.D., M.D., or M.B.A. equaled lifelong income, is over.The point is that that doesn't have to be a BAD thing. Sure, it's scary, but it is also a future ripe with opportunity. If you can't get behind the statement I just made, then don't bother reading the book. if you can agree with even part of it, then read it.Having said that, I think the way that this issue is approached in the book doesn't quite translate. If you want to have a conversation about whether or not the American Dream is in fact dead, then have one, but this book isn't really about whether or not it's true. This book is built on the premise that the paradigm has already shifted. The state of the U.S. job market is such that you could write an entire encyclopedia on the dynamics of employment. That's not the point. This book takes it as a given that if you're reading it, you probably already have a sense that things are no longer the way they once were. If you are already looking for a way around the establishment, then no problem; Altucher gives you tools to try and forge a new pathway. If you are part of the establishment and perfectly content to stay there, then you're not going to like the fact that Altucher just said "what you think you have no longer exists."There is a line in the book where Altchur says you have two choices: be a temp or be an entrepreneur. I think the "temp" part of this sentence is broader than temp agencies, or "dead-end" jobs that pay the rent. I think Mr. Altucher probably meant that you have to get used to the fact that your "job" even your "career" is temporary---again, please correct me, If I am wrong.If you can't accept that the ground has already shifted beneath our feet, then you're going to have a problem with this book. If you pick up this book because you recognize that the ground has already shifted? Then "Choose Yourself" is a great little toolbox, full of ways to build or rebuild part or all of your life.FInally, I would like to add one more thing. I would have like to given this book 4.5 stars, but that's not an option. 4.5 because (1) I'm not in love with the cover and (2) there is certainly a little cheesiness/informality within, and (3) I don't like the title. Now, if you've read the book, hopefully you'll get the... joke? irony? self-deprecation? symmetry? I don't know. I just know that I liked the content a whole lot---not quite enough to give it my all-time high rating, but high enough that I'll give it 5 stars instead of 4. Besides, 4.5 should be rounded up to 5 anyway.

In "Choose Yourself", James Altucher has written an amazing book about how one can go about doing something on one's own. There are many things to learn from the book that I have tried my best to summarize below - the book is definitely an eye-opener and should be on everybody's reading list. I truly enjoyed reading the book.The book can be thought of as divided into 2 main sections - the first one being "WHY" one should choose oneself (now), and, the second being "HOW" one can do it. There are a few chapters describing case studies that are indeed very inspirational. Here's what the book says, in a nutshell:The days when you were taken care of (by large corporations) or chosen (for a "job") are over as technology replaces people. Not only that, no sectors in the industry are hiring full time workers; instead they are relying on outsourcing or temporary workers - the middleman is being taken out of the picture, causing more disruption in employment but also more efficiencies and more opportunities for unique ideas to generate real wealth. You need to unlearn the fact that someone has to choose you, that you cannot choose yourself, or in other words, do something on your own.It's time to choose ones own path and build your own platform. More often than not, you will not know the destination, but you need to be bold enough to choose it for yourself, right at this moment. Choose to commoditize your labor or choose yourself - to be a creator, an innovator, an artist, an investor, a marketer and an entrepreneur. And if you don't, never blame anyone but yourself. You don't have to ask for permission, you need to grant yourself the permission.To choose yourself successfully, there are three very important criteria:1. CHOOSE TO LIVE BY TRULY LOVING YOURSELF FIRST2. ONLY DO THINGS THAT YOU ENJOY. Learn to say NO, eliminate, simplify3. DO THE DAILY PRACTICE. Ignite the fire within.The starting point is developing the inner perspective or the foundation, built around the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual bases; it is from a healthy foundation of these four bases that you build the platform to choose yourself. Trust that when the foundation is built, the rest will follow. How you build this is as follows:1. Physical Body: healthy eating, daily exercise, sleep well, take breaks at regular intervals, preferably walk during breaks, take adequate rest.2. Emotional Body: surround yourself with positive people. Avoid people who bring you down and/or induce negativity.3. Mental Body: tame your mind by becoming an "idea machine" (come up with 10 ideas a day on anything that can improve life).4. Spiritual Body: live this moment, right now. Don't time travel into the past or future.This part is similar to the Habit 7 (Sharpen the Saw) that Stephen Covey describes in his great work "7 Habits of Highly Effective People"; James gives his own brilliant interpretation that is contemporary.It's not your external life that need to change (you anyway have very little control over that), but external changes flow from the inside. It is always inside-out, not outside-in. The simple daily practice means doing ONE thing every day from the list put down in chapter by the same name. All of this is under your control, so just do it and don't fret over the results. The right thing will happen. This is how you ignite the fire within you. Don't worry too much about trying to find your "purpose" in life. Once you decide to choose yourself, be open, try different things. Cut out the desperation and despair that "purpose" entails. It's okay to be happy without one. And, always, love yourself.To choose yourself, you need to start by getting rid of your past baggage, de-clutter your brain, and maybe suffer a "little death" to be born again. The point is to resurrect yourself, so you can start afresh, to get the freedom that dispappearing implies. Ask yourself if your job is satisfying your physical, emotional, mental and spiritual needs. If not, quit your job, and if you can't, do the daily practice to enable you to find the right place where you belong. You will find ways to develop alternative sources of income so your reliance on one source of income diminishes. The opportunities are there, you need to flexible enough to take advantage. If you are in crisis, turn despair on its head. Start with baby steps; BUT, it's most important to start, NOW.If you have an idea, don't focus on the money, focus on the value you can create for those who would be using your service. Do this:1. Build your product2. Sell it to a customer ("Becoming a Master Salesman" chapter describes the 10 keys to selling)3. Start shipping4. Then quit your jobThe other key aspects of choosing oneself are covered as:1. 7 effective habits for conquering mediocrity2. How to focus your mind?3. Honesty is the only thing that works.4. How to handle rejection and failure?Here are seven chapters (mostly inspirational case studies) that are a must re-read:1. Sara Blakeley's story of Spanx in the chapter "It doesn't cost a lot to make $1B"2. Bryan Johnson's story of Braintree in the chapter "Let's get specific: what should I do?"3. "Nine Lessons from Alex Day"4. Dashama's story in the chapter "The Curious Case of the Sexy Image"5. 5 lessons learnt from Gandhi in the chapter "Gandhi chose himself to free and entire nation"6. "Nine things I learnt from Woody Allen"7. "How to become an idea machine?" - it's a goldmineThe only reason I don't rate this book at 5 (I wish one could rate 4.5 on Amazon) is because it takes a bit of work towards the latter half of the book to connect the different chapters to the overall theme; it's not very explicit and takes some effort on part of the reader.

Excelente libro. De esos libros de los que tienes que tener a la mano papel y lápiz para tomar notas.

James is one of my favourite podcasters. This book is about changing your mindset, a call to action. Choose yourself!

Inspiring and also very well written. This book brings some points about life and work that really should be spread.

James Altucher has written a pragmatic book, very apt for this day and age. Though published in 2013, the book touches upon a few pertinent issues which we seem to be grappling with most of the times.My takeaways from this book :1) Don't expect any employer to choose you till the time you do not 'Choose Yourself'. The paradigm of job search and recruitment has changed completely from the nineties till 2010.2) Companies/business houses look for VALUE which will make a difference to their lives. As prospects to an organization we wish to work in, showing value is the only way to a foot in the door.3) Values come from IDEAS and ideas lead to EXECUTION. Our idea muscle has to be exercised constantly since it weaken very quickly.4) The 10 Daily Practices which Altucher recommends are worth a try for every professional. Try one a day at least.Highly recommended.

I liked very well this book because it was a mixture of experience of the writer, and you can imagine yourself in him, with mistakes and successes that a normal person could have in its life. The writer advices a lot of strategies to pass the hard steps that life oppose to you telling examples of VIP's life that has choosen themselves.