Life! By Design Book Review

If you have a clear idea of what you want and you are committed to the relentless pursuit of your goal that is the key to success according to Tom Ferry in the book Life By Design: 6 Steps to an Extraordinary You.

That sounds simple right? Know what you want and go after it. Apparently, however, It’s not so easy, as Ferry points out 123 million Americans are unhappy and discontented. Let’s examine why this might be the case. Well, first off, according to Ferry, you have to know what you want yet many people are roaming through life undecided. At the writing of this article, I have had tremendous opportunities to work in more than half a dozen fields including law, higher education, childcare publishing, health insurance and human services. I’ve worked for magazines, newspapers and a publicity department. I’ve worked for large corporations, a few small businesses and nonprofits as well.

Some of my career choices were as Ferry puts it made by “default.” I accepted the work because I needed a job, but other times I entered the field because I believed I had a future in that line of work. Through much of what I describe above, I had not yet been introduced to life coaching so I muddled and when adversity would strike (as it always does) I would forget why I entered the field in the first place and drop out in search of greener pastures.

Ferry writes that at one point in his life, he experienced a crisis of indecision. Despite enjoying a seven figure income, a great family and two homes he said he still felt “restless” and questioned his identify. This happens to the best of us. Ferry says that he went to his life coach who asked him these five questions:

• Why are you here and what’s your purpose?

• How do you want to come across to others; what are your values?

• What are your God-given talents?

• Five years from now, how will the world experience you?

• Who would you be if you were already there

These are excellent life coaching questions. The one I find most helpful is the last one. “Who would you be if you were already there?” I can use this question as a guide to build a futuristic vision. But not so much the age old “what is your purpose” question. I have been writing since I was eight years old. Is this my purpose? My children and family take priority over everything else. So is this my purpose? Can I have multiple purposes? If the answer is yes, then I am right back at square one, not knowing what the heck I want to do with my life. So this question does not work for me, which is fine. Not every life coaching question or technique is going to resonate with everyone. Still asking questions is a powerful exercise. Ferry says questions help you to get unstuck and encourage you to look deep inside yourself to face any baggage that is holding you back.

Ferry’s book is chock full of questions not only to ask yourself, the book also poses questions that you ask others to help you identify any blind spots. “To begin Living By Design, you have to be willing to turn your thoughts around, and take control of your thoughts” writes Ferry. “Or they will continue to control you.”

Life! By Design: 6 Steps to an Extraordinary You is available at the Brooklyn Public Library.