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izarravarela's review against another edition
3.0
Here's the thing about self-help books: you have to be willing to (1) admit that you don't have all the answers, and (2) accept the author as somebody whose expertise can point you toward those answers. I'm extremely good at part (1), so that's not the issue. Sean Stephenson is a charismatic author and speaker—look him up on YouTube and you'll see what I mean—but I was never sold on the idea that his perspective is relevant to my life. The "if I can do it, anyone can do it" perspective is flawed in that it doesn't take into account things like personal circumstance (socioeconomic status, abusive relationships, clinical depression/phobias/anxiety, etc.) or natural ability. I can understand how "Get Off Your But" would resonate with so many people—who doesn't love a man who has overcome a profound disability?—but for me, at least, it fell a fair ways short of life-changing.
dougiewougie's review against another edition
I loved this book. I am doing a lot of the items suggested.
kendallcbrown's review against another edition
5.0
Loved this book. I was sad to learn that the author passed away in 2019.
Some golden nuggets:
"Stop blaming your boss, family, neighbor, lover, government, society, or God. You are the one at the scene of the crime every time something goes wrong in your life. Stop looking for a fall guy, a scapegoat, or an innocent bystander to pin your problems on. Until you take ownership for your life, you will always be chasing happiness.”
"Simply put, I love everyone so that no one can own me. If I hate another person, she owns me. It’s true. Watch what happens in your life when you don’t like someone: • He owns your very thoughts, every time you think about how awful he is. • He owns the conversations you have when you complain about him to your friends. • He even owns your behavior, when you change your plans to avoid him. When we hate someone, we become her little marionette. She can make us bob up and down, side to side, in any direction she chooses—that is, until we finally stop hating her and move on. Not being controlled by another person is not the only reason for loving everyone, but it is certainly a very important motivator."
- I hold grudges for a long time even though I know the saying - Keeping resentments is like “swallowing poison and expecting the other person to die.”
I especially loved "Lesson 2: Watch What You Say to Yourself."
- Lots to unpack here. I am very mean to myself and have a really hard time saying nice things to myself.
"Fairness is an illusion. Fairness never existed and never will. No one in life gets less or more than anyone else. We just get different stuff. That’s right. No one is dealt a bad or a good hand in life; we’re just dealt cards. It’s up to us to stay in the game and play. Sure, some cards look “better,” but they’re really not. If you look closely, you’ll see that anything you feel has been taken from you—or never given to you at all—was replaced with other amazing opportunities and gifts. It’s up to you to find them."
- So much yes. I am constantly playing the "fairness police" and it is such a waste of time.
From Lesson 5: Choose Your Friends Wisely: "Just as a goldfish swimming in a tank of diseased water inevitably becomes sick, a human hanging out in a toxic peer group eventually becomes toxic. When you place yourself in an environment, you eventually become the environment. It’s inevitable."
"It’s up to you to apply the lessons and do the activities. If you just read this book passively, prepare for passive results."
- Me with every self help book I've ever read...
Some golden nuggets:
"Stop blaming your boss, family, neighbor, lover, government, society, or God. You are the one at the scene of the crime every time something goes wrong in your life. Stop looking for a fall guy, a scapegoat, or an innocent bystander to pin your problems on. Until you take ownership for your life, you will always be chasing happiness.”
"Simply put, I love everyone so that no one can own me. If I hate another person, she owns me. It’s true. Watch what happens in your life when you don’t like someone: • He owns your very thoughts, every time you think about how awful he is. • He owns the conversations you have when you complain about him to your friends. • He even owns your behavior, when you change your plans to avoid him. When we hate someone, we become her little marionette. She can make us bob up and down, side to side, in any direction she chooses—that is, until we finally stop hating her and move on. Not being controlled by another person is not the only reason for loving everyone, but it is certainly a very important motivator."
- I hold grudges for a long time even though I know the saying - Keeping resentments is like “swallowing poison and expecting the other person to die.”
I especially loved "Lesson 2: Watch What You Say to Yourself."
- Lots to unpack here. I am very mean to myself and have a really hard time saying nice things to myself.
"Fairness is an illusion. Fairness never existed and never will. No one in life gets less or more than anyone else. We just get different stuff. That’s right. No one is dealt a bad or a good hand in life; we’re just dealt cards. It’s up to us to stay in the game and play. Sure, some cards look “better,” but they’re really not. If you look closely, you’ll see that anything you feel has been taken from you—or never given to you at all—was replaced with other amazing opportunities and gifts. It’s up to you to find them."
- So much yes. I am constantly playing the "fairness police" and it is such a waste of time.
From Lesson 5: Choose Your Friends Wisely: "Just as a goldfish swimming in a tank of diseased water inevitably becomes sick, a human hanging out in a toxic peer group eventually becomes toxic. When you place yourself in an environment, you eventually become the environment. It’s inevitable."
"It’s up to you to apply the lessons and do the activities. If you just read this book passively, prepare for passive results."
- Me with every self help book I've ever read...
kittarlin's review against another edition
3.0
Easy to ready. Not a lot of new ideas but he does tell lots of stories.
chris4cats's review against another edition
5.0
Dose a great job at explaining confidence and the importance of forgiveness.
rose_snow's review against another edition
5.0
Inspiring and funny stories, suprisingly many insight moments and great exercises.
ilinalta's review
5.0
A friend recommended me this book when I was
going though a rough time with my friends. I was unsure to continue many friendships that drained me personally. Those that claimed to be there for me but never was. And those that used me as an emotional sponge to relieve their stress on me instead of handling it in a more healthy manner. finally the friends who rather be passive aggressive instead of talking it out.
This book helped me develop skills for myself. outside of friendship. I learnt how to recognize myself saying but, and drill deep into what insecurities I had. And once all the important lessons were learnt, the final chapters related to friends.
friends are your pit crew. they can either help you improve and get off your butt, or they can drag you down. I learnt who my A pit crew consisted of and who didn't.
so what pit crew do you have?
going though a rough time with my friends. I was unsure to continue many friendships that drained me personally. Those that claimed to be there for me but never was. And those that used me as an emotional sponge to relieve their stress on me instead of handling it in a more healthy manner. finally the friends who rather be passive aggressive instead of talking it out.
This book helped me develop skills for myself. outside of friendship. I learnt how to recognize myself saying but, and drill deep into what insecurities I had. And once all the important lessons were learnt, the final chapters related to friends.
friends are your pit crew. they can either help you improve and get off your butt, or they can drag you down. I learnt who my A pit crew consisted of and who didn't.
so what pit crew do you have?
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