eBook Review: Reclaim Your Dreams by Jonathan Mead

Reclaim Your Dreams by Jonathan MeadI don’t read many personal development blogs and don’t like to listen to motivational speeches because I feel most of them are just repeating the same things over and over without offering any concrete steps about how to achieve a passionate lifestyle. Most of all, I don’t believe that motivational blogs or speeches work because all they offer the reader or listener is a brief, external motivational jolt that fills him with the strength and vigor to achieve her passionate lifestyle temporarily.  There in lies the problem - the source of motivation is external (it came from the emotions that the speech or blog stirred up) and is therefore not sustainable.

I only read two personal development blogs on a consistent basis: Tim Ferris and Jonathan Mead.  I feel that both of them do an exceptional job at offering concrete steps at achieving a passionate lifestyle, but more importantly, bring things to the table that other blogs don’t bring by offering unconventional ways of thinking.

Jonathan recently released an eBook entitled Reclaim Your Dreams: An Uncommon Guide to Living on Your Own Terms that I am more than happy to read and review.  He is one of the best bloggers I have ever met and is extremely intelligent.  Knowing that he will have a lot of people writing positive reviews about his eBook, I will read the eBook with the mindset of finding flaws in his logic and using this blog post as a platform to challenge his ideas.  In this way, I will give him the chance to defend himself and prove that his teachings are fundamentally sound and will make a positive difference in your life.

My Review (after just reading the eBook)

I began reading his eBook with the mindset of finding flaws in his argument.  To this extent, I believe that I have failed; instead, I think Jonathan has actually been able to help me reach a point where I understand what my passion is.  You see, up until the moment I finished reading this eBook, I was upset that I couldn’t figure out what my passion was.  I spent about 2 weeks in Lima, Peru trying to figure out what I was good at and how I could leverage that into making money.  However, I now feel that I have been going about this all wrong.  Jonathan wrote two things that truly helped me figure out what I’m passionate about and what my reason for living is:

  1. To find out what you’re dreams are, you must first throw away all inhibitions and thoughts discouraging you from believing that these dreams can come true; search for your passion by honestly asking yourself, “If there were absolutely no restrictions, what I love to do right now?”
  2. How do you want to be remembered when you die?

Jonathan’s words gave me permission to dream without inhibitions, and in doing so, I believe that I have found what I am truly passionate about.

What this eBook does for the self-motivated person who is already pursuing his dreams

I fall under this category.  What this eBook did for me is give me permission to be happy with my current state.  I left my corporate job a year and a half ago to pursue my dream of becoming an entrepreneur.  I have sacrificed so much and lived for so long without money that at times I become miserable because the stress of entrepreneurship gets to me.  I get to a point where I feel I have to punish myself and be miserable because I haven’t yet made it big; I get to a point where I’m obsessed with productivity and feel like a failure when I spend time with my friends playing basketball or video games instead of answering emails and developing our brand.

I know realize that I must live in the moment and realize that I AM happy.  This is the lifestyle that I chose and I am living life under my own terms.  I have willingly sacrificed television, expensive dinners, and $4 lattes because I have chosen to fulfill my dreams.

Furthermore, Jonathan made me realize that even the motivated have moments of doubt and disdain.  The solution is to create a Dream Sanctuary where you are rejuvenated and ready to tackle your passions once more.  At times, I have felt stressed because I was feeling stressed.  I would ask myself, “If I’m doing what I’m passionate about, why do I feel miserable and stressed?”  During these moments, I can enter my Dream Sanctuary where I can meditate and refocus myself on the things that matter to me the most.

What this eBook does for the corporate person who’s stuck hating his job

This eBook will do wonders for you!  Jonathan clearly and concretely documents a step-by-step process to figure out what your dreams and passions are.

If you have no idea what you’re passionate about, Jonathan will help you figure it out; if you are afraid to pursue your passions, then Jonathan will help strip away your fears and empower you to pursue your dreams.  I promise you, his words will accomplish these tasks.

How do I make money doing what I am passionate about?

Though beyond the scope of his eBook, Jonathan briefly touches upon this subject.

Once you have used your eBook to figure our what your dreams are, leave a comment on this blog post telling me what that dream is.  I will respond to you via comment about how you can monetize that dream. I’m sure Jonathan will do the same once he reads your comment.

I truly hope that you take the time to download his eBook.  It will change your life for the better.

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6 Comments »

Comment by Fantasia Lillith
2010-01-29 13:30:04

Great review. I agree on your opinion of “self help”.

It’s funny how difficult it is for us to dream big, or play. I have always wanted to write erotica. I know - nuts right? As a woman too it’s been a serious challenge. Try being taken seriously with that dream.

But I did it - I started my blog and just kept on going … and now? Now an anime artist wants to turn my stories into adult comics! and I have a book in the making etc.

dream … dream BIG it is possible!

 
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