My Thoughts on “Paused to Prolific”

Good evening, bloggers! Today was my day off from work. While I didn’t mind a lazy day, I knew it wouldn’t help my mood, so I packed my current read—I always have to have a book with me—a notebook, and a book that’s been sitting in my to be read pile for over a year: K Webster’s Paused to Prolific. I went to one of my favorite coffee spots, ordered an horchata latte, and then I set up in one of the outdoor tables and started reading Paused to Prolific. What I like about the book is that it guides you on how to develop a writing routine, no matter how busy your everyday life is. The book also contains “coffee break” writing activities, so I’m glad I brought my notebook along because even though the book has some lined pages to jot ideas down, I really don’t like writing in books. Anyhow, this book is a quick read, and I recommend it. One of the best pieces of advice from Webster is to not announce a work in progress to the world because all it does is put immense pressure on the writer, causing them to burn out and never finish the project. Only make announcements when the book is done, that way your readers will have something to be excited about. I knew that that’s where I’d gone wrong in the past. I thought I was motivating myself by talking about my writing, only to end up stressing, getting stuck, and then backing off the projects for a long time. I didn’t realize how much pressure I was putting on myself. See? Lesson learned. Now I can figure out how to set a proper routine and improve my writing.

Another thing I realized is that writing messages from phone calls at work and other work-related notes are the only types of writing I’ve been doing lately. The long hours and stress stopped me from making my own passion projects a priority. Life happens, but we can find ways to set a proper routine, so I thought I’d share this book with other writers who need that little push.

I had a good day just writing down ideas from these activities, getting back into the process.

Feel free to post your comments. Happy reading!

About the author: K Webster is a USA Today Bestselling author. Her titles have claimed many bestseller tags in numerous categories, are translated in multiple languages, and have been adapted into audiobooks. She lives in “Tornado Alley” with her husband, two children, and her baby dog named Blue. When she’s not writing, she’s reading, drinking copious amounts of coffee, and researching aliens. For more info, click here.

“Permission to Screw Up”–Review

Good evening, bloggers! Awhile back, I read another non-fiction book that’s been sitting on my bookshelf, so I wanted to share it with you. I’ll do my best to keep up with more nonfiction books.

In Permission to Screw Up, Kristen Hadeed is the founder of Student Maid, a cleaning company that hires students. The author started her company in 2007 while she, too, was a student at the University of Florida. In a certain amount of time, she had been able to hire enough students to clean apartments. A few months into the business, while Kristen was sitting in her air-conditioned office, ready to eat her lunch, 45 staff members marched into her office. The grimy, sweaty staff members looked at her without uttering a word, until one of them decided to speak on their behalf: they were quitting. The staff walked out, leaving Kristen in complete shock. Panic set in when she realized the approaching deadlines to get all that cleaning done, but what was she supposed to do now that her staff just walked out on her? And why? And could she get her staff back? Everything had been going well in the beginning, after all. It didn’t take her long, though, to see how wrong she had been.

Ever since that humiliating moment with her staff quitting on her, Kristen had been determined not just to be a better boss, but a better leader. Of course, she was going to have to make tons of mistakes in order to improve. And she made plenty of mistakes. Not only did she truly care about Student Maid, but she also cared even more about her team, the ones who were the foundation of the business. Her mission was to inspire, to lead, to allow her team to make mistakes in order to succeed. At some point, she had been willing to own up to plenty of mistakes, and she knew she had to be willing to offer constructive feedback, enforce accountability, and help her team form meaningful relationships with one another—no matter how scary it was to even approach her team with those concerns.

This was another non-fiction book I enjoyed. One of the things I definitely respect is a boss—even a leader—who can own up to mistakes, one who doesn’t demand perfection. I’ve probably mentioned that I’ve had my share of bosses who practically frowned upon mistakes. Everything must be perfect, and everyone must be happy; no complaining about anything. Something to that extent. While I was reading this book, I was applying a lot of the information to my current job and how I felt more confident as I learned more. But I had to make mistakes, every now and then, too. I’d get tongue-tied. I’d type in something wrong on the computer. There had been many occasions where I had to figure some things out on my own, while there had been other times where I had to swallow my pride and admit I needed help with something. Yes, I admit I’m often too stubborn to ask for help. I’m still going to make mistakes, but I can work on owning up to them—embracing them, even—which is exactly what Kristen Hadeed teaches in her book.

As I’ve mentioned, I’ll do my best to post more reviews for non-fiction. Feel free to post your comments. Happy reading!

About the author: Kristen Hadeed is the founder and CEO of Student Maid, a cleaning company that hires students. She spends much of her time helping organizations across the country improve their own workplace cultures. She lives in Gainesville, Florida. For more info, click here.

“Fail More”–Review

Good evening, bloggers, and happy Saturday! Awhile back, I started perusing some non-fiction titles that have been sitting on my bookshelves. (When you accumulate so many books, it becomes hard to decide what to read; for me, anyhow.) Fail More, by Bill Wooditch, has been staring at me, so I read it.

Fail More is about learning from your failures and asking yourself how you can improve from them. Instead of kicking yourself from making a mistake or two, you can make a list of what needs more work. It’s about learning how to also deal with rejection in healthy ways, as well as examining your personal fears in order to have control over them. The author also talks about the importance of setting goals, large and small. While it’s important to set goals, the author reminds us that we need to “establish one major goal and separate that goal from all the other hobbies that seem like a goal.” That’s something I’ve been thinking about after reading that line. In that particular chapter, the author mentions how common it is that lots of people chase after too many goals, which eventually leads to burnout. With so many goals, the person becomes overwhelmed that they don’t end up accomplishing at least one goal, so that’s why it’s important to set one major goal.

What I also like about the book is that it reminds us that in order to succeed, we have to be prepared to fail. We’re going to make mistakes. We’re going to get rejected. We’re going to have distractions, as well as deal with uncertainties, fears, etc. Failure isn’t the end. It’s okay to feel disappointed during a failure, but as long as you don’t let it define you.

Fail More has been a big help since I’ve taken on more responsibilities at my job. Now that I’m moving up and learning more, this book has knocked a little sense into me. Recently, I nearly kicked myself for falling behind on one of my important, monthly projects because I didn’t properly communicate to my employers what I needed for it. But I reminded myself, later on, that it was going to be fine. My employers didn’t wag their fingers at me, they didn’t get angry at me. Everything was handled properly. My colleague, in fact, reminded me that we all mess up, but we’ll always improve. I made a mental goal to work on proper communication, when necessary, instead of being afraid. I can’t let some things ruin my entire day.

Whether you’re trying to improve in the workplace, start a business, etc., I recommend Fail More. Although I love my novels, I’m also making it a goal to read more non-fiction. Feel free to post your comments. Happy reading!

About the author: Bill Wooditch is the founder and CEO of The Wooditch Group, a risk-management and corporate insurance firm with annual sales of $100 million. He works with Fortune 500 companies like AIG, Old Republic, Zurich, and Bank of America to improve their sales and leadership. For more info, click here.

“No Visible Bruises”–Review

We call it domestic violence. We call it private violence. Sometimes we call it intimate partner terrorism. But whatever we call it, we generally do not believe it has anything at all to do with us, despite the World Health Organization deeming it a “global epidemic.”

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and I just finished reading No Visible Bruises. The author, Rachel Louise Snyder, tells the stories of domestic violence victims, including their abusers, as well as what could have been done for the sake of their families’ safety. She also talks about the most common myths when it comes to this topic: that if situations are as bad as they seemed, the victims could just leave; that violent people cannot become nonviolent; that shelters are an adequate response; and, that violence inside the home is a private matter, that involving the police isn’t necessary.

According to victims’ stories, however, some things are easier said than done. One story reveals a young woman who was in a relationship that moved too quickly. They had children, and then the couple eventually married. When they were first involved, it wasn’t long before the guy took control of her. He limited her social life, including time with her family. He didn’t want her to work or go back to school. He just made her feel inferior. I don’t want to spoil too much, but the stories upset me.

Other victims’ stories were just as bad. Ones who’d threaten to kill if the wives/girlfriends ever left; abusers who’d kidnap the children or their partners, or barricade the family in the home when the police arrived; ones who would promise they’d change after laying a hand on their partners. Of course, they didn’t change. Shelters weren’t always the solution, for most victims feared they would be followed. No matter the situation, the abusers seemed to be one step ahead of the victims. Sadly, many victims have gone back to their abusers, as well.

Although I picked up this book for leisure reading, it caught my interest because I considered it to be helpful research for my novel in-progress. The book gave more detail I wouldn’t have considered. The author talks about how this sensitive issue needs to be discussed more, that shelters, restraining orders, jail time, anger management sessions, etc., aren’t always enough. She also mentions how important it is to look for signs in the victims, so as to take quicker action before it’s too late. Many victims won’t report the abuse, however, for fear that their lives will still be threatened, that they have nowhere to go, that their children need both parents, and so forth. Male victims, too, will conceal any evidence of their being abused, fearing they’ll face ridicule. Even when police get involved, it’s usually his word against hers. Unfortunately, society will often look the other way when men are abused. For many victims—men or women—it’s too late.

Reading this book reminded me of a daytime talk show I watched, years ago, where the guests were men in abusive relationships. I can’t remember all of the details, but I recall one guest telling his story, his eyes downcast when he said his girlfriend/wife stabbed him, probably more than once. Other men said they’d taken punches and threats. I’ve seen other talk shows throughout the years where women are victims while their abusers walk tall and proud, telling the audience and the host that the victims were their property. It’s disgusting. Who knew if any of those guests received the help they needed, but it all stayed in my mind. Another part of the book made a good point when it comes to domestic violence: “Everyone asks why the victim doesn’t just leave. But no one asks why an abuser stays.” Good point, once again. Why does an abuser stay? It also can be complicated because there often are too many sides to the stories when it comes to domestic violence. And that’s where the author comes in to discuss these issues with police, case workers, and activists.

I’m glad to have picked up this book. Many people are suffering in silence, while others are trying to find a way out, but are scared to involve their loved ones. The abusers in the book are described as narcissistic, manipulative, jealous, and so forth. One of the worst parts is that they will make the victims believe they’re at fault, so they end up feeling trapped. In situations like this, many people feel that nothing can be done, but something can be done. I recommend this book for those who’ve been there, who know others who have been there, as well as for advocates of domestic violence awareness. Feel free to post your comments.

About the author: Rachel Louise Snyder is the author of Fugitive Denim: A Moving Story of People and Pants in the Borderless World of Global Trade, the novel What We’ve Lost is Nothing, and No Visible Bruises: What We Don’t Know About Domestic Violence Can Kill Us. Over the last decade, Snyder has been an outspoken journalist on issues of domestic violence and her work has appeared in The New Yorker, the New York Times magazine, Slate, Salon, The Washington Post, the Huffington Post, the Chicago Tribune, the New Republic, and others. No Visible Bruises was awarded the prestigious 2018 Lukas Work-in-Progress Award from the Columbia School of Journalism and Harvard’s Nieman Foundation. Over the past two decades, Snyder has traveled to more than fifty countries, covering issues of human rights. She lived, for six years, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, before relocating to Washington, DC, in 2009. Originally from Chicago, Snyder holds a B.A. from North Central College and an M.F.A. from Emerson College. She is currently an Associate Professor of Creative Writing and Journalism at American University in Washington, DC. For more info, click here. You can also follow the author on Twitter.

“Power Your Happy”–Review

An inspirational, upbeat memoir sprinkled with advice and encouraging stories from the founder of the hugely popular website POPSUGAR.

Lisa Sugar spends her days creating content about pop culture, must-have handbags, makeup, healthy recipes, and recommended sweets on Instagram.  Her company, POPSUGAR, is rapidly growing and has hundreds of employees who enjoy what they do.  At home, she and her husband, Brian, have three daughters.  Lisa enjoys attending their soccer games, as well as reading bedtime stories to them every night.

In this book, Lisa tells her readers about how she did it all, how she had to figure out what her dream job was, including taking risks, and having confidence in herself.  Because of that, she wants to motivate others to live life, to figure out what their dream jobs are, and to take risks, as well.

While sharing her personal and business stories, she provides advice on creating your dream.  She shares the pros and cons of when it comes to working to achieve your goals, such as starting a company to ditching a relationship that isn’t working, etc.  Working toward our dreams is hard work, after all, and it takes a lot of patience and experience.

This is quite an interesting memoir and I enjoyed reading it.  In fact, it got me to think more about getting back into my novel-in-progress, which is now a second draft.  Perhaps before the end of this year—or the beginning of this coming year—it’ll be ready for the world.

I recommend this book for those who love motivational reads, especially for those who are fans of POPSUGAR.  Power Your Happy: Work Hard, Play Nice, and Build Your Dream Life will be available on September 20, 2016.  Feel free to post your comments.  Happy reading!

*I received this copy from Dutton Books, in exchange for an honest review.

“A Field Guide to Lies”–Review

It’s raining bad data, half-truths, and even outright lies…We are bombarded with more information each day than the mind can process—especially in election season.  Levitin shows how to recognize misleading announcements, statistics, graphs, and written reports, revealing the ways lying weasels use them to manipulate and cheat.

In this book, Daniel J. Levitin shows readers how to distinguish misinformation, pseudo-facts, distortions, and lies from the most reliable information.  This field guide is grouped into evaluating numbers, words, including evaluating the world by showing how science is the answer to critical thinking.  Although newspapers, bloggers, the government, and Wikipedia are expected to present factually and logically correct information, the truth is that they’re not always right.  Levitin suggests we all need to use critical thinking if we want to be successful in all areas of life.  It’s important to check the plausibility and reasoning of particular statistics, instead of just accepting them and making decisions based on them—which is a common thing.

I may not be the greatest with statistics, but this book is worth reading.  It’s a plus if you’re a fan of numbers.  In fact, I never really got around to the idea that statistics aren’t actually facts; they’re considered interpretations.  So if we’d like to know why these certain numbers show up on a chart, graph, etc., critical thinking is necessary.

A Field Guide to Lies: Critical Thinking in the Information Age will be available on September 6, 2016.  Feel free to post your comments.  Happy reading!

*I received this book from Dutton Books, in exchange for an honest review.

About the author: Daniel J. Levitin is the James McGill Professor of Psychology and Behavioral Neuroscience at McGill University and is dean of the College of Social Sciences at the Minerva Schools at KGI.  He is the author of This is Your Brain on Music, The World in Six Songs, and The Organized Mind.  He divides his time between Montreal, Quebec, and the San Francisco Bay Area.

“Textbook Amy Krouse Rosenthal”–Review

Why the title Textbook Amy Krouse Rosenthal?  Because each piece of prose is organized into classic subjects such as Social Studies, Music, and Language Arts.  Because textbook would accurately describe a book with a first-of-its-kind interactive text messaging component.  Because textbook is an expression meaning “quintessential”—Oh, that wordplay and unconventional format is so typical of her, so textbook AKR.  Because if an author’s previous book has the word encyclopedia in the title, following up with a textbook would be rather nice.

This is an interesting, humorous read, which I finished in three days.  It’s an insightful memoir of the author’s life, filled with random insights, memories, and moments.  Included are some drawings, charts, and diagrams.  In a way, I see this book as a diary.  In fact, it may have inspired some new writing ideas for me.  I’m happy for having the opportunity to read this book.

Textbook Amy Krouse Rosenthal will be available on August 9, 2016.  Feel free to post your comments.  Happy reading!

*I received this copy from Dutton Books, in exchange for an honest review.

About the author: Amy Krouse Rosenthal writes for both adults and children.  She has written more than thirty children’s picture books, including Little Pea, Spoon, Exclamation Mark, Duck! Rabbit!, Uni the Unicorn, and I Wish You More.  Amy is a contributor to public radio, YouTube, and TED.  She resides digitally at whoisamy.com and for real in Chicago.

“Not Cool”—A Review

Behind every awful, dangerous decision lurks one evil beast: THE COOL.

Not Cool: The Hipster Elite and Their War On You, by Greg Gutfeld, discusses issues of everyday life and the choices most people make, in order to fit in with society.  …From what we wear and what we eat to what we smoke and who we poke, pop culture is crafted and manipulated by the cool and, to Greg Gutfeld, that’s Not Cool.

In this book, you’ll read about how the cool want to enslave all.  The cool try to convince you that:

1. If you don’t agree with them, no one will like you.

2. If you don’t follow them, you will miss out on life.

3. If you don’t listen to them, you will die a lonely loser.

Gutfeld, however, shows the reader that it’s cool to just be ourselves, to not change who we are just to be accepted by those who’d never give us the time of day.  He shows the reader the ideal of cool—building businesses, protecting freedom at home and abroad, taking responsibility for your actions, and letting others live their own lives as they please.  One of the lines I’ve kept in mind is: “It is a mistake to worry about how others view you.  ‘Other people’ are like images created in your mind.  It’s only your desire to appease or please or impress them that makes them meaningful.”

I’m happy to have had the opportunity to read this book.  There really is no harm in being ourselves and going after what we want—and being passionate about it, of course.  After my reading this book, I’ve realized that I’m not part of the cool and I’m definitely okay with it.  Read on to find out what I mean.

About the author: Greg Gutfeld is the cohost of The Five and Red Eye on the Fox News Channel.  He also is the author of The Bible of Unspeakable Truths and The Joy of Hate.

FTC Disclosure: I received the book from Blogging for Books, in exchange for an honest review.

“Percolate”–A Review

Is there a voice inside of you that’s urging you to make changes and seek a richer, more fulfilling life?  Do you feel like you’ve been searching for something more meaningful, even if you don’t know exactly what it is?  Have no fear–“Percolate” will show you how to let your best self filter through and thrive!

I can honestly say that I did enjoy reading Percolate, by Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino.  I like how the author uses coffee as a metaphor for when it comes to making changes in your life; for example, chapters that are entitled Allow for Change to Brew, Choose a Bolder Brew, Create Your Own Best Blend, etc.

For anyone who is looking to make a change or two in life—major or minor—I’d recommend this book, especially if you’re a fan of coffee.  Throughout the book, the author talks about events in her life that caused her to make positive—albeit difficult—changes that made her the person that she is now.  Also, she talks about everyday topics and issues that we all go through and what we can do about it, including solutions to achieve happiness.

There was a particular passage in one of the chapters that caught my attention, where the author says: “When people tell me they’d be happier if they had more money or a nicer house or a multitude of explanations, I can’t help but think it’s all a disguise.  No one thing or person can make you happy; happiness is a choice from within.  These are merely excuses to not be happy in the present moment.”

I’m happy to have had the opportunity to read this book.  Check this book out and feel free to post your comments.  Happy reading!

FTC Disclosure: I received this free copy from Hay House in exchange for an honest review.  The opinions are my own and based on my own experience.