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Take the Stairs: 7 Steps to Achieving True Success
Do you ride the escalator-or take the stairs? No matter how you define success, it always requires one self-discipline. But as popular speaker and strategist Rory Vaden explains, we live in an "escalator world"-one that's filled with shortcuts, quick fixes, and distractions that make it all too easy to slide into procrastination, compromise, and mediocrity. What seems like an easier path is really much harder in the end-and, most important, it won't take you where you want to go.
How do successful people stay focused and achieve results? This lively and insightful guide presents a simple program for taking the stairs-that is, for overcoming the temptations of quick fixes and procrastination, conquering creative avoidance, and transcending personal setbacks in order to tackle the work that leads to real success.
Whatever your goals are, Rory Vaden's proven approach will get you there-one stair at a time.
How do successful people stay focused and achieve results? This lively and insightful guide presents a simple program for taking the stairs-that is, for overcoming the temptations of quick fixes and procrastination, conquering creative avoidance, and transcending personal setbacks in order to tackle the work that leads to real success.
Whatever your goals are, Rory Vaden's proven approach will get you there-one stair at a time.
219 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 1, 2012
375 people are currently reading
4381 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 302 reviews
February 8, 2012
Rory Vaden's Take the Stairs isn't just a book. It isn't a system that you'll try and forget over time. It is truly a new way of thinking that becomes natural the more you practice it, so much so that you won't believe you hadn't been thinking that way all along. I have found myself to be more productive in work than ever before, more joyful in my time with family and friends, more rested in my down time, and all around more driven and satisfied with life. You may hesitate to read this because you're afraid of change - most people are - but face this new way of living, your own set of stairs, boldly. You'll be so glad you did!
December 18, 2016
This book suffers by comparison. Before I even picked this one up, I had just read a much better book about the same thing so immediately this was bugging me. This one came across as all hype to me. And I think the "7" steps has been done already. The author should have chosen something different to make his book sound different and not to blend in with the rest.
February 9, 2015
What I love most about this book is that it reinforces what we all know and that is that hard work, persistence, and sweat equity is and always will be the key to success. There is no magic pill. There is no 4 hour body. There is only self discipline. I love this quote from the book
“Success is never owned; it is only rented – and the rent is due every day.”
The reason I love this is because you can replace the word "success" with whatever goal you are striving for
"Fitness is never owned; it is only rented - and the rent is due every day".
"Financial freedom is never owned; it is only rented - and the rent is due every day".
"Great relationships are never owned; they are only rented - and the rent is due every day".
"__________ is never owned; it is only rented - and the rent is due every day".
“Success is never owned; it is only rented – and the rent is due every day.”
The reason I love this is because you can replace the word "success" with whatever goal you are striving for
"Fitness is never owned; it is only rented - and the rent is due every day".
"Financial freedom is never owned; it is only rented - and the rent is due every day".
"Great relationships are never owned; they are only rented - and the rent is due every day".
"__________ is never owned; it is only rented - and the rent is due every day".
November 13, 2012
this book is all about strategies for self discipline, and i agree with the author that in this day and age, there's more of a need for it than ever. the book is very readable and well-organized. i've taken the stairs since i've been reading it, so he's accomplished something with his metaphor!
i appreciated his idea of creating unacceptable consequences in different situations. when you need to succeed, you can do things to push yourself when you don't give yourself the easy out.
rory also acknowledges the proliferation of creative avoidance at work, as people find ways to be distracted, get bogged down in e-mail and lead or attend pointless meetings. we can get caught in filling our time unnecessarily.
my favorite perspective in the book is around his law of the harvest, noting that we have seasons of work habits. in each industry, there are busy times when we push ourselves on the job. successful people he follows go through the same thing and also create their own 'seasons' by carving out time to exercise 3x a week or for a weekly date night.
particularly clever is the concept of thinking about your week and where you're putting your time. easier than time tracking, every day, you can write down on a calendar how much time you spent [insert here] and see if by the end of the week, it's what you expected. this could be exercising, yoga, working, family time, professional development, etc. it's a simple way to see if you're actually spending your time in ways that help you meet your short and long-term goals.
two last nuggets of wisdom...
challenges in life and work are a matter of will and not skill.
it's not about time management to get the job done, but self management
these ideas reinforce the author's overall viewpoint that we control our own destinies. we have the power to change things in our life, even if creative avoidance and a narrow focus allow us to forget that sometimes. i finished the book feeling more empowered.
who would have thought i'd find this many gems of wisdom from someone in bible sales with faith at the center of his motivation? i certainly didn't, but i was pleasantly surprised.
i appreciated his idea of creating unacceptable consequences in different situations. when you need to succeed, you can do things to push yourself when you don't give yourself the easy out.
rory also acknowledges the proliferation of creative avoidance at work, as people find ways to be distracted, get bogged down in e-mail and lead or attend pointless meetings. we can get caught in filling our time unnecessarily.
my favorite perspective in the book is around his law of the harvest, noting that we have seasons of work habits. in each industry, there are busy times when we push ourselves on the job. successful people he follows go through the same thing and also create their own 'seasons' by carving out time to exercise 3x a week or for a weekly date night.
particularly clever is the concept of thinking about your week and where you're putting your time. easier than time tracking, every day, you can write down on a calendar how much time you spent [insert here] and see if by the end of the week, it's what you expected. this could be exercising, yoga, working, family time, professional development, etc. it's a simple way to see if you're actually spending your time in ways that help you meet your short and long-term goals.
two last nuggets of wisdom...
challenges in life and work are a matter of will and not skill.
it's not about time management to get the job done, but self management
these ideas reinforce the author's overall viewpoint that we control our own destinies. we have the power to change things in our life, even if creative avoidance and a narrow focus allow us to forget that sometimes. i finished the book feeling more empowered.
who would have thought i'd find this many gems of wisdom from someone in bible sales with faith at the center of his motivation? i certainly didn't, but i was pleasantly surprised.
September 26, 2012
Rory Vaden believes we live in an "escalator world"... one that is filled with shortcuts, quick fixes and distractions that make it all too easy to procrastinate, compromise and fall into mediocrity. "Take The Stairs" is about self-discipline and doing things you don't want to do in the short term to bring success in the long term.
Mr Vaden shares seven steps to achieving true success in this book. These steps are;
Sacrifice
Commitment
Focus
Integrity
Schedule
Faith
Action
The author uses case studies and experiences from his own life to explain how these seven steps can help you develop the courage, character and determination to succeed in anything you attempt.
Mr. Vaden states in the Introduction of this book that there is a great chance that you won't finish reading the book. According to one major publisher, 95% of all books are never completely read. This same publisher states that 70% of all books that are purchased are never even opened!
I read the book from cover-to-cover and I am glad I did. This book does a good job explaining why the words "sacrifice" and "commitment" are not popular topics in our society today.
The book offers inspiring case studies about people who have found success by "doing things they don't want to do." The theme of self-discipline is repeated over and over in the text.
I love the analogy of the escalator and the stairs. I will think about this book each time I see an escalator crowded with people getting to their destination in the easiest and fastest way possible.
My very favorite part of the book is the chapter on commitment. Mr. Vaden shares the following thoughts on the subject of decision making and commitment;
"There will never be a perfect time, there will never be a perfect person, there will never be a perfect situation to start doing the things we need to get us where we want to go. We need to stop spending so much of our time trying to make the right decisions and instead start spending our time making decisions and then making them right".
This book will inspire and motivate you to take action. Recommended to all who have a dream and want to know how to make it come true.
Mr Vaden shares seven steps to achieving true success in this book. These steps are;
Sacrifice
Commitment
Focus
Integrity
Schedule
Faith
Action
The author uses case studies and experiences from his own life to explain how these seven steps can help you develop the courage, character and determination to succeed in anything you attempt.
Mr. Vaden states in the Introduction of this book that there is a great chance that you won't finish reading the book. According to one major publisher, 95% of all books are never completely read. This same publisher states that 70% of all books that are purchased are never even opened!
I read the book from cover-to-cover and I am glad I did. This book does a good job explaining why the words "sacrifice" and "commitment" are not popular topics in our society today.
The book offers inspiring case studies about people who have found success by "doing things they don't want to do." The theme of self-discipline is repeated over and over in the text.
I love the analogy of the escalator and the stairs. I will think about this book each time I see an escalator crowded with people getting to their destination in the easiest and fastest way possible.
My very favorite part of the book is the chapter on commitment. Mr. Vaden shares the following thoughts on the subject of decision making and commitment;
"There will never be a perfect time, there will never be a perfect person, there will never be a perfect situation to start doing the things we need to get us where we want to go. We need to stop spending so much of our time trying to make the right decisions and instead start spending our time making decisions and then making them right".
This book will inspire and motivate you to take action. Recommended to all who have a dream and want to know how to make it come true.
April 16, 2012
Loy Machedo’s Book Review – Take the Stairs by Rory Vaden.
Let me tell you a secret.
The good.
The bad.
And
The ugly.
The Good.
I have followed Rory Vaden’s Toastmaster growth ever since he gave his diabolically disastrous debut performance at 2006 International Speech Contest; Only to follow it up with a World Class Mind Blowing Performance in the year 2007.
In all honesty, Rory should have won the 1st place in the Toastmasters World Championship of Public Speaking. Instead he was given a pitiful second place.
It was not fair.
It was not right.
Being a competitor myself, my heart went out to Rory Vaden. He should have won that championship. Vikas Jhingran who got the 2nd place, wasn’t that bad. But he wasn’t the best.
Rory deserved to win it.
It was sad to see a worthwhile candidate being stripped of what was truly his.
From that moment onwards, I became his fan.
I followed him on facebook and he accepted me as his friend.
I checked his website and googled about him regularly.
He was someone worth emulating and being followed.
I know without a doubt, this young man will achieve the stars. He will achieve his dreams and he will become someone really great.
The Bad Secret.
When I found out Rory Vaden was coming out with a book, I was the first to email him a request. I wanted him to send me a copy of the book (for free) so that I could put up reviews about his book on my website and on my other blogs.
I wrote to him.
Guess what?
He responded.
But the response he gave me was rather lame.
He told me he couldn’t send me a hardcopy.
Rather he would send me a pdf copy.
Seems his publisher told him something or another.
Reluctantly, I agreed for a pdf copy.
Then I never heard from him.
I send him a reminder email again.
He didn’t respond.
I was a wee bit peeved.
Ignoring me?
The great?
But then, I thought to myself, why should he even bother to respond to my request.
After all – who am I?
What he has achieved, I am not even 10% of that.
So what the hell.
So I decided to swallow my pride and purchase the book.
The Ugly.
The way and manner Rory promoted and marketed his book was truly unbelievable.
He created a website.
He used every possible Social Media Tool out there.
He had a marketing and promotional tour.
He had press releases, recommendations from top notch speakers and trainers and he even made it to the New York Times Best Sellers List.
To say I was eager, was truly an understatement.
So….now what exactly is the problem here?
That my friend is exactly the problem.
I brought the book.
I read the book.
And now I have to review it.
And before I review it, I will profusely apologize to Rory because I will have to do what I always do – Be honest and give my truthful opinion. And he may not like it.
So here goes the student killing his master.
In as much as I admire and appreciate the hard work and dedication he has put into building his brand and his work, this book is by no means what most of the authors and speakers have painted it out to be.
Here is a summary of the book:
The Good:
Book with stories and examples.
Simple easy to understand analogy.
Principles anyone can relate to namely:
Introduction: Waking Up in a ProcrastiNation
Sacrifice: The Paradox Principle
Commitment: The Buy-In Principle
Focus: The Magnification Principle
Integrity: The Creation Principle
Schedule: The Harvest Principle
Faith: The Perspective Principle
Action: The Pendulum Principle
Final Note: Time to Climb
The Bad:
Over-hyped book.
Facts & Statistics only related to the United States of America as if that is the center of the whole universe.
Many a times too simple, stupid and silly as if the reader who would purchase this book lack common sense.
The Ugly:
The book is an absolute waste of time and money as it teaches you nothing you don’t know about. It is all about Self Control & Self Discipline. Period.
The book does not match all the hype and brouhaha that it created for itself.
It is a book you would not miss even if you lost it. The content is crap.
If there was any story worthwhile reading about – was what happened at the International Speech Contest where he placed 2nd and the emotional war he went through because of it.
Conclusion.
It is an absolute achievement for Rory to have come out with a book as this is a dream many people have, but few achieve. It is my dream as well – but I am a long way off as I want to give something of value and I want a book that becomes a timeless classic.
But as stated by my idol – Jeffrey Gitomer, You can come out with a book, have you, your friends, uncles, aunties, family members and all your buddies purchase the first 100,000 copies and push yourself to the New York Times Best Sellers List for the 1st week. However, after the first week, the book needs to have a solid foundation, or else it would eat dust very soon.
Rory came out with a book for the masses.
However it fails to create the impact it should have.
So sadly, to someone whom I admire, well, it is a good 1st attempt.
However, the end result was not as expected.
I didn’t like the book at all.
Overall Rating
A book I wouldn’t bother recommending to anyone.
In as much as I admire Rory and I always will – this is a worthless piece of hard work that achieves nothing.
In one of the most painful book reviews, I have to give this book a sad, 2 out of 10.
Better luck next Rory.
I sincerely hope you make it the second time round.
Loy Machedo
loymachedo.com
Let me tell you a secret.
The good.
The bad.
And
The ugly.
The Good.
I have followed Rory Vaden’s Toastmaster growth ever since he gave his diabolically disastrous debut performance at 2006 International Speech Contest; Only to follow it up with a World Class Mind Blowing Performance in the year 2007.
In all honesty, Rory should have won the 1st place in the Toastmasters World Championship of Public Speaking. Instead he was given a pitiful second place.
It was not fair.
It was not right.
Being a competitor myself, my heart went out to Rory Vaden. He should have won that championship. Vikas Jhingran who got the 2nd place, wasn’t that bad. But he wasn’t the best.
Rory deserved to win it.
It was sad to see a worthwhile candidate being stripped of what was truly his.
From that moment onwards, I became his fan.
I followed him on facebook and he accepted me as his friend.
I checked his website and googled about him regularly.
He was someone worth emulating and being followed.
I know without a doubt, this young man will achieve the stars. He will achieve his dreams and he will become someone really great.
The Bad Secret.
When I found out Rory Vaden was coming out with a book, I was the first to email him a request. I wanted him to send me a copy of the book (for free) so that I could put up reviews about his book on my website and on my other blogs.
I wrote to him.
Guess what?
He responded.
But the response he gave me was rather lame.
He told me he couldn’t send me a hardcopy.
Rather he would send me a pdf copy.
Seems his publisher told him something or another.
Reluctantly, I agreed for a pdf copy.
Then I never heard from him.
I send him a reminder email again.
He didn’t respond.
I was a wee bit peeved.
Ignoring me?
The great?
But then, I thought to myself, why should he even bother to respond to my request.
After all – who am I?
What he has achieved, I am not even 10% of that.
So what the hell.
So I decided to swallow my pride and purchase the book.
The Ugly.
The way and manner Rory promoted and marketed his book was truly unbelievable.
He created a website.
He used every possible Social Media Tool out there.
He had a marketing and promotional tour.
He had press releases, recommendations from top notch speakers and trainers and he even made it to the New York Times Best Sellers List.
To say I was eager, was truly an understatement.
So….now what exactly is the problem here?
That my friend is exactly the problem.
I brought the book.
I read the book.
And now I have to review it.
And before I review it, I will profusely apologize to Rory because I will have to do what I always do – Be honest and give my truthful opinion. And he may not like it.
So here goes the student killing his master.
In as much as I admire and appreciate the hard work and dedication he has put into building his brand and his work, this book is by no means what most of the authors and speakers have painted it out to be.
Here is a summary of the book:
The Good:
Book with stories and examples.
Simple easy to understand analogy.
Principles anyone can relate to namely:
Introduction: Waking Up in a ProcrastiNation
Sacrifice: The Paradox Principle
Commitment: The Buy-In Principle
Focus: The Magnification Principle
Integrity: The Creation Principle
Schedule: The Harvest Principle
Faith: The Perspective Principle
Action: The Pendulum Principle
Final Note: Time to Climb
The Bad:
Over-hyped book.
Facts & Statistics only related to the United States of America as if that is the center of the whole universe.
Many a times too simple, stupid and silly as if the reader who would purchase this book lack common sense.
The Ugly:
The book is an absolute waste of time and money as it teaches you nothing you don’t know about. It is all about Self Control & Self Discipline. Period.
The book does not match all the hype and brouhaha that it created for itself.
It is a book you would not miss even if you lost it. The content is crap.
If there was any story worthwhile reading about – was what happened at the International Speech Contest where he placed 2nd and the emotional war he went through because of it.
Conclusion.
It is an absolute achievement for Rory to have come out with a book as this is a dream many people have, but few achieve. It is my dream as well – but I am a long way off as I want to give something of value and I want a book that becomes a timeless classic.
But as stated by my idol – Jeffrey Gitomer, You can come out with a book, have you, your friends, uncles, aunties, family members and all your buddies purchase the first 100,000 copies and push yourself to the New York Times Best Sellers List for the 1st week. However, after the first week, the book needs to have a solid foundation, or else it would eat dust very soon.
Rory came out with a book for the masses.
However it fails to create the impact it should have.
So sadly, to someone whom I admire, well, it is a good 1st attempt.
However, the end result was not as expected.
I didn’t like the book at all.
Overall Rating
A book I wouldn’t bother recommending to anyone.
In as much as I admire Rory and I always will – this is a worthless piece of hard work that achieves nothing.
In one of the most painful book reviews, I have to give this book a sad, 2 out of 10.
Better luck next Rory.
I sincerely hope you make it the second time round.
Loy Machedo
loymachedo.com
August 21, 2017
Do you ever read books, knowing full well that you'll dislike everything about it? I call it hate-reading, and that's definitely what I did with this poorly written little volume of self-help advice. I received this from a leadership workshop I attended recently and was skeptical from the start.
Rory Vaden's book is founded on a number of assumptions that are very frustrating to any reader that favors concrete evidence and data over gross generalizations. Rory doesn't have a single citation or footnote in the book despite the random stats he spouts out. That made them unbelievable from the start.
After that unsound foundation, we move on to hear about Rory's young adulthood selling educational programs and products from a company called Southwestern. It begins to sound a little bit like a sales pitch for Southwestern. I wasn't into it.
Ultimately, Rory's earth-shattering advice is: you have to work hard to be successful. WOAH.
Maybe I wasn't the target audience for this book. I already take the stairs (literally). I already work hard. I already read books that are more nuanced and thought provoking than this little volume of fluff.
Would not recommend this book.
Rory Vaden's book is founded on a number of assumptions that are very frustrating to any reader that favors concrete evidence and data over gross generalizations. Rory doesn't have a single citation or footnote in the book despite the random stats he spouts out. That made them unbelievable from the start.
After that unsound foundation, we move on to hear about Rory's young adulthood selling educational programs and products from a company called Southwestern. It begins to sound a little bit like a sales pitch for Southwestern. I wasn't into it.
Ultimately, Rory's earth-shattering advice is: you have to work hard to be successful. WOAH.
Maybe I wasn't the target audience for this book. I already take the stairs (literally). I already work hard. I already read books that are more nuanced and thought provoking than this little volume of fluff.
Would not recommend this book.
November 26, 2013
Common sense book on "taking the stairs" - that is, doing what most will not do to achieve success. It can be summed up as the Law of Inertia. A body in motion stays in motion - take action!
October 4, 2015
The kind of book you should buy and put into practice a principle every week to maximise value.
Successful people have all had to do things they didn't feel like doing in order to get where they are.
We will always continue doing the things we want to do. So then the only real question is: Do we have what it takes to do the things we know are good for us even when we don't feel like doing them?
Procrastination and indulgence are nothing more than creditors who charge us interest.
A sacrifice isn't a sacrifice, it's a down-payment on a rich future blessing.
We need to stop spending time on making decisions and instead spend time making decisions and then making them right.
A life of average comes from having an average attitude. It is an unnoticeable by-product of always asking the question: "Should I?"
When we intentionally ask "how" instead of "should", our subconscious goes into overdrive, and a world of possibilities opens up.
If we aren't consciously choosing a good attitude, then we're unconsciously choosing a bad one.
People pay for personal coaches in part because it amplifies the unacceptable consequence of not making the changes they seek in their lives.
The most important skill for the next generation of knowledge workers is not learning what to do, but determining what to not do.
Success is never owned, it is rented , and the rent is due every day. The only question now is am I willing to pay a price that is greater than everyone else?
Get a vision board. Update it regularly. It serves as a visceral anchor of your vision.
An effective accountability partner attacks the problem being dealt with, while supporting the person who is trying to make the change. There's a delicate balance in holding people accountable without holding them hostage.
Close back doors. Don't give yourself wiggle room to weasel out of commitments. Be unequivocal.
Balance shouldn't mean equal time spent on equal activities. It means appropriate time spent on critical priorities.
Time management's key question: What is the most effective thing I can be doing right now with the time I have available?
One of the biggest ways we lose time and energy is thinking where to go next. Having a schedule eliminates that issue and provides a structured regimen that allows us to focus our energy on the task at hand (see Obama's lifestyle)
People who have mastered self-discipline take a more long-term perspective. Usually in your life when you're frustrated, depressed or disappointed one's perspective will shrink to the here and now.
When you have done everything you can, all that is in your power and things still don't work out, then you can be absolutely sure that they were definitely supposed to go the way they did. Peace of mind is a suitable reward for your maximal efforts expended.
Reject entitlement. It is the end of achievement.
Successful people have all had to do things they didn't feel like doing in order to get where they are.
We will always continue doing the things we want to do. So then the only real question is: Do we have what it takes to do the things we know are good for us even when we don't feel like doing them?
Procrastination and indulgence are nothing more than creditors who charge us interest.
A sacrifice isn't a sacrifice, it's a down-payment on a rich future blessing.
We need to stop spending time on making decisions and instead spend time making decisions and then making them right.
A life of average comes from having an average attitude. It is an unnoticeable by-product of always asking the question: "Should I?"
When we intentionally ask "how" instead of "should", our subconscious goes into overdrive, and a world of possibilities opens up.
If we aren't consciously choosing a good attitude, then we're unconsciously choosing a bad one.
People pay for personal coaches in part because it amplifies the unacceptable consequence of not making the changes they seek in their lives.
The most important skill for the next generation of knowledge workers is not learning what to do, but determining what to not do.
Success is never owned, it is rented , and the rent is due every day. The only question now is am I willing to pay a price that is greater than everyone else?
Get a vision board. Update it regularly. It serves as a visceral anchor of your vision.
An effective accountability partner attacks the problem being dealt with, while supporting the person who is trying to make the change. There's a delicate balance in holding people accountable without holding them hostage.
Close back doors. Don't give yourself wiggle room to weasel out of commitments. Be unequivocal.
Balance shouldn't mean equal time spent on equal activities. It means appropriate time spent on critical priorities.
Time management's key question: What is the most effective thing I can be doing right now with the time I have available?
One of the biggest ways we lose time and energy is thinking where to go next. Having a schedule eliminates that issue and provides a structured regimen that allows us to focus our energy on the task at hand (see Obama's lifestyle)
People who have mastered self-discipline take a more long-term perspective. Usually in your life when you're frustrated, depressed or disappointed one's perspective will shrink to the here and now.
When you have done everything you can, all that is in your power and things still don't work out, then you can be absolutely sure that they were definitely supposed to go the way they did. Peace of mind is a suitable reward for your maximal efforts expended.
Reject entitlement. It is the end of achievement.
August 9, 2015
Great book on success. The author is a Christian.
“The real secret to success has more to do with action than attraction.”
“We have to be willing to go to the level of the ridiculous. Which is why I decided awhile back to start taking the stairs everywhere instead of taking the escalator. It’s a symbolic gesture, but people all around me have noticed it.”
“Simply stated, there are only two types of activities: things we feel like doing and things we don’t. And if we can learn to make ourselves do the things we don’t want to do, then we have literally created the power to create any result in our lives.”
“The Rent Axiom: success is never owned, it is only rented - and the rent is due every day.”
“So, counterintuitively, an easy life in the long term comes from the sacrifice of completing more difficult tasks here and now. But the paradigm-shifting insight and breakthrough that successful people have made that many others have not is that often these more difficult activities are only necessary for a short amount of time. Which brings us to the Pain Paradox of decision making that states the short-term easy leads to the long-term difficult, while the short-term difficult leads to the long-term easy.”
“Every dollar you spend today is worth at least $5 in 20 years and $10 in 30 years (assuming only 8% growth rate). So that $5 a day coffee is really taking $25 out of your future pocket.”
A man named Bob is in a restroom, standing in front of a urinal - and he is suddenly in a bit of a predicament. Somehow he’s managed to drop a $5 bill into the urinal. Just as Bob is looking down thinking about what he’s going to do, another gentleman named Dave happens to walk into the restroom. Dave sees the $5 in the urinal, assesses the situation with an empathetic sigh, and then says, ‘Oh, that’s a tough decision. What are you doing to do?’ Bob thinks about it for a moment. Looks at the urinal, and then looks back to Dave. A split second later Bob pulls out his wallet, and out of nowhere grabs a $50 bill and throws it into the urinal! In shock, Dave exclaims, ‘Man, what are you doing? I can’t believe you just did that. That’s fifty dollars!’ Bob looks back at Dave, cracks a smile, and replies, ‘Well c’mon, you don’t think I’d stick my hand in there for just five dollars, do you?’ . . . I call it the Principle of Commitment, and it simply states that the more we have invested in something, the less likely we are to let it fail.”
“We need to stop spending so much of our time trying to make the right decisions and instead start spending our time making decisions and then making them right.”
“To someone who is truly committed in an endeavor, there is no chance of turning back only because of the unacceptable consequences of doing so. At some point, either the stakes have become so high, or the person truly decided long ago that turning back just simply isn’t an option.”
“How can you increase your commitment to something you know needs to be done even though you’re not yet sure if or how you’ll be able to do it? How can you create an unacceptable consequence that will compel you to take action?”
“However, once Bob took out his $50 bill and threw it into the urinal,he created an unacceptable consequence and the decision became very clear. Suddenly, his question changed from ‘Should I try to get my money back?’ to ‘How am I going to get my money back?’ It is that shift in mindset that makes all the difference.”
“This points to another important characteristic of unacceptable consequences: They must be ongoing. . . . Likewise, with every moment that passes by, the string of the consequence has less and less impact on us. If Bob were to walk away from the $5 in that urinal, with each passing moment the likelihood of him returning to get it would be less and less.”
“Remember a commitment is just simply about asking yourself the question ‘How will I?’ instead of ‘Should I?’ The moment a spouse starts asking the question ‘Should I stay or go?’ is the moment the marriage is really in trouble.”
“The amount of busy work will always expand to fulfill the amount of free time available.”
We become what we think about. What we focus on we tend to bring about.”
“If you feel depressed, start singing.”
“Success is never owned, it is rented, and the rent is due every day - the only question now is am I willing to pay a price that is greater than everyone else?”
“The difference between a good speaker and a great speaker is 1,000 presentations. He told me to join Toastmasters and to speak as much as I could, anywhere someone would let me. My decision to join Toastmasters ended up changing the course of my life forever.”
“Describe and write out your vision using words that appeal to the senses: Visual, Auditory, Smell, and Touch.” (VAST)
“Vision boards have also become popular in recent years. They are very simple. You collect pictures or images from the Internet, in magazines, or anywhere else, and you create a collage of the things you hope to manifest in your life. This technique is powerful because it enables you to quickly remind yourself of the things you want, and to experience them as emotional triggers.”
“Crafting a vision boards is the first and most important exercise we do when someone enters into our coaching program. We update the pictures every couple of months to keep them fresh and inspiring. Try it for yourself. You won’t be sorry.”
“That which is recognized is repeated.” -Christine Roland
“Dale Carnegie wrote decades ago, ‘Never say anything bad about anyone. Ever.’ . . . The microphone is always on.”
“Making sacrifices also makes the taste of success so much more visceral. A drop of water to the man who stumbled across the finish line of a marathon tastes so much sweeter than a liter of soda to the man who quit before he was finished. Following through is always rewarded - sooner or later.” - Sean Wolfington
“Being on schedule means having a regimented routine within a harvest season. One of the biggest ways we lose time and energy is thinking about where we have to go next. Having a schedule eliminates that issue and it provides a structured regimen that allows us to focus our energy on the tasks at hand. Instead of asking over and over, ‘What should I be doing now?’ you are well on your way to getting it done.”
Faith, Family, Fitness, Faculty (career) and Finances
Assign a weekly goal for how much time you want to spend on activities. Add up the activities at the end of each day and make sure that you are meeting your weekly goals.
“Your schedule works like a Slinky because the efforts you make create the energy - they lead the way - and the results follow, at some times more slowly than others.. . . As Dave Ramsey says, ‘Discipline is not a microwave; it’s a Crock-Pot.”
Eric Chester Tape Measure “He showed us how making good choices and working incredibly hard for those tiny 12 inches could set us up for an entire lifetime, some next 60 years (60 feet) , of success. Likewise, making one wrong decision, in one moment, on one day would also set our life on an entirely different trajectory for a very long time.”
“The Perspective Principle of Faith: Our ability to have peace is directly proportionate to the term of our perspective.”
“Any resolution that is made today must again be made tomorrow.” -Albert Gray
“We consistently find that people who are struggling with inaction or procrastination invariably have one of the following three deep-rooted attitudes: Fear, Entitlement, Perfectionism.”
4 People you need accountability from: Supervisor, Subordinate, Significant other, Supporter.
“The real secret to success has more to do with action than attraction.”
“We have to be willing to go to the level of the ridiculous. Which is why I decided awhile back to start taking the stairs everywhere instead of taking the escalator. It’s a symbolic gesture, but people all around me have noticed it.”
“Simply stated, there are only two types of activities: things we feel like doing and things we don’t. And if we can learn to make ourselves do the things we don’t want to do, then we have literally created the power to create any result in our lives.”
“The Rent Axiom: success is never owned, it is only rented - and the rent is due every day.”
“So, counterintuitively, an easy life in the long term comes from the sacrifice of completing more difficult tasks here and now. But the paradigm-shifting insight and breakthrough that successful people have made that many others have not is that often these more difficult activities are only necessary for a short amount of time. Which brings us to the Pain Paradox of decision making that states the short-term easy leads to the long-term difficult, while the short-term difficult leads to the long-term easy.”
“Every dollar you spend today is worth at least $5 in 20 years and $10 in 30 years (assuming only 8% growth rate). So that $5 a day coffee is really taking $25 out of your future pocket.”
A man named Bob is in a restroom, standing in front of a urinal - and he is suddenly in a bit of a predicament. Somehow he’s managed to drop a $5 bill into the urinal. Just as Bob is looking down thinking about what he’s going to do, another gentleman named Dave happens to walk into the restroom. Dave sees the $5 in the urinal, assesses the situation with an empathetic sigh, and then says, ‘Oh, that’s a tough decision. What are you doing to do?’ Bob thinks about it for a moment. Looks at the urinal, and then looks back to Dave. A split second later Bob pulls out his wallet, and out of nowhere grabs a $50 bill and throws it into the urinal! In shock, Dave exclaims, ‘Man, what are you doing? I can’t believe you just did that. That’s fifty dollars!’ Bob looks back at Dave, cracks a smile, and replies, ‘Well c’mon, you don’t think I’d stick my hand in there for just five dollars, do you?’ . . . I call it the Principle of Commitment, and it simply states that the more we have invested in something, the less likely we are to let it fail.”
“We need to stop spending so much of our time trying to make the right decisions and instead start spending our time making decisions and then making them right.”
“To someone who is truly committed in an endeavor, there is no chance of turning back only because of the unacceptable consequences of doing so. At some point, either the stakes have become so high, or the person truly decided long ago that turning back just simply isn’t an option.”
“How can you increase your commitment to something you know needs to be done even though you’re not yet sure if or how you’ll be able to do it? How can you create an unacceptable consequence that will compel you to take action?”
“However, once Bob took out his $50 bill and threw it into the urinal,he created an unacceptable consequence and the decision became very clear. Suddenly, his question changed from ‘Should I try to get my money back?’ to ‘How am I going to get my money back?’ It is that shift in mindset that makes all the difference.”
“This points to another important characteristic of unacceptable consequences: They must be ongoing. . . . Likewise, with every moment that passes by, the string of the consequence has less and less impact on us. If Bob were to walk away from the $5 in that urinal, with each passing moment the likelihood of him returning to get it would be less and less.”
“Remember a commitment is just simply about asking yourself the question ‘How will I?’ instead of ‘Should I?’ The moment a spouse starts asking the question ‘Should I stay or go?’ is the moment the marriage is really in trouble.”
“The amount of busy work will always expand to fulfill the amount of free time available.”
We become what we think about. What we focus on we tend to bring about.”
“If you feel depressed, start singing.”
“Success is never owned, it is rented, and the rent is due every day - the only question now is am I willing to pay a price that is greater than everyone else?”
“The difference between a good speaker and a great speaker is 1,000 presentations. He told me to join Toastmasters and to speak as much as I could, anywhere someone would let me. My decision to join Toastmasters ended up changing the course of my life forever.”
“Describe and write out your vision using words that appeal to the senses: Visual, Auditory, Smell, and Touch.” (VAST)
“Vision boards have also become popular in recent years. They are very simple. You collect pictures or images from the Internet, in magazines, or anywhere else, and you create a collage of the things you hope to manifest in your life. This technique is powerful because it enables you to quickly remind yourself of the things you want, and to experience them as emotional triggers.”
“Crafting a vision boards is the first and most important exercise we do when someone enters into our coaching program. We update the pictures every couple of months to keep them fresh and inspiring. Try it for yourself. You won’t be sorry.”
“That which is recognized is repeated.” -Christine Roland
“Dale Carnegie wrote decades ago, ‘Never say anything bad about anyone. Ever.’ . . . The microphone is always on.”
“Making sacrifices also makes the taste of success so much more visceral. A drop of water to the man who stumbled across the finish line of a marathon tastes so much sweeter than a liter of soda to the man who quit before he was finished. Following through is always rewarded - sooner or later.” - Sean Wolfington
“Being on schedule means having a regimented routine within a harvest season. One of the biggest ways we lose time and energy is thinking about where we have to go next. Having a schedule eliminates that issue and it provides a structured regimen that allows us to focus our energy on the tasks at hand. Instead of asking over and over, ‘What should I be doing now?’ you are well on your way to getting it done.”
Faith, Family, Fitness, Faculty (career) and Finances
Assign a weekly goal for how much time you want to spend on activities. Add up the activities at the end of each day and make sure that you are meeting your weekly goals.
“Your schedule works like a Slinky because the efforts you make create the energy - they lead the way - and the results follow, at some times more slowly than others.. . . As Dave Ramsey says, ‘Discipline is not a microwave; it’s a Crock-Pot.”
Eric Chester Tape Measure “He showed us how making good choices and working incredibly hard for those tiny 12 inches could set us up for an entire lifetime, some next 60 years (60 feet) , of success. Likewise, making one wrong decision, in one moment, on one day would also set our life on an entirely different trajectory for a very long time.”
“The Perspective Principle of Faith: Our ability to have peace is directly proportionate to the term of our perspective.”
“Any resolution that is made today must again be made tomorrow.” -Albert Gray
“We consistently find that people who are struggling with inaction or procrastination invariably have one of the following three deep-rooted attitudes: Fear, Entitlement, Perfectionism.”
4 People you need accountability from: Supervisor, Subordinate, Significant other, Supporter.
September 19, 2017
When I began reading this book I encountered what I felt were some inaccurate generalizations, and I considered not reading it until the end. But another author I was already familiar with and deeply respect lent her praise to this book so I decided I should keep going. And it wasn't long before I was won over, and by the end of the book I was fully convinced of the value of Rory Vaden's insight and advice. His own experience combined with the expansive wisdom of other successful individuals make for a truly valuable resource. I highly recommend this to anyone needing a breakthrough or encouragement in their development whether personal or business - you can change your life.
January 18, 2021
HIGHLIGHTS:
1. Three faces of an action: fear, entitlement, perfectionism.
2. Success means we have to develop the self-discipline to get ourselves to do things we don't want to do.
3. Choices that are easy in the short-term are often in direct conflict with what makes life easier in the long term.
4. It's the person who makes the sacrifice that gets the gift sometimes in ways we wouldn't have expected.
5. Classic procrastination waiting to do the things that we struggle with.
6. Unconscious procrastination-- creative avoidance, keeping busy but not getting the important things done.
7. To stop mediocrity learn to master positive self-talk.
8. In the absence of discipline and focus, we become strangely loyal to performing daily asked trivia.
9. Priority dilution found in high-performing people spread too thin.
10. The most important skill for the next generation of the knowledge worker is not learning what to do but rather determining what not to do.
1. Three faces of an action: fear, entitlement, perfectionism.
2. Success means we have to develop the self-discipline to get ourselves to do things we don't want to do.
3. Choices that are easy in the short-term are often in direct conflict with what makes life easier in the long term.
4. It's the person who makes the sacrifice that gets the gift sometimes in ways we wouldn't have expected.
5. Classic procrastination waiting to do the things that we struggle with.
6. Unconscious procrastination-- creative avoidance, keeping busy but not getting the important things done.
7. To stop mediocrity learn to master positive self-talk.
8. In the absence of discipline and focus, we become strangely loyal to performing daily asked trivia.
9. Priority dilution found in high-performing people spread too thin.
10. The most important skill for the next generation of the knowledge worker is not learning what to do but rather determining what not to do.
November 21, 2015
There were snippets of value to me, but overall the book was too simplistic in it's approach. It seemed to me that the target audience was 17 (ish). I'm well past that age, but would recommend to a younger reader.
February 24, 2017
I read this book a while back and I keep re reading it. Rory Vaden is truly mind opening. It changes your perspective on the way you see and view things. After reading this book your life won't ever be the same
February 10, 2014
Don't bother!
January 16, 2015
Such a great book! So applicable to everyone in all walks of life. Highly recommended!
May 25, 2016
This is a great book about how to incorporate more discipline into your life so you can more quickly achieve your goals. I particularly recommend this to my college age students.
October 4, 2016
Great idea (taking the long view, etc). Agree with many of his ideas but it ends up sounding like an ad for Southwestern sales.
December 4, 2016
I really enjoyed this book. Do yourself a favor and read it.
July 30, 2020
Watch my full video review at https://youtu.be/gZyiCMzM5IE
In August 2020, I am reviewing books on habits. I share many of the habits I have built over years and the lessons I have learned as I have worked on this life skill. These are the books that have helped me develop better, more productive, more positive, more proactive habits.
This week’s book review is Procrastinate on Purpose: 5 Permissions to Multiply Your Time and Take the Stairs: 7 Steps to Achieving True Success by Rory Vaden. Rory is able to articulate the way I think and many of the ways I understand the world. Reading his books has helped my confidence in my understanding of how I see the world. Take the Stairs helped me to choose to do the hard things and to do them the right way, rather than taking shortcuts. Procrastinate on Purpose solidified and validated why the Sunday Basket® works. The book discusses the procrastination funnel that helps to reduce workload to narrow your focus to what is significant. Listen in to hear all of the steps!
In August 2020, I am reviewing books on habits. I share many of the habits I have built over years and the lessons I have learned as I have worked on this life skill. These are the books that have helped me develop better, more productive, more positive, more proactive habits.
This week’s book review is Procrastinate on Purpose: 5 Permissions to Multiply Your Time and Take the Stairs: 7 Steps to Achieving True Success by Rory Vaden. Rory is able to articulate the way I think and many of the ways I understand the world. Reading his books has helped my confidence in my understanding of how I see the world. Take the Stairs helped me to choose to do the hard things and to do them the right way, rather than taking shortcuts. Procrastinate on Purpose solidified and validated why the Sunday Basket® works. The book discusses the procrastination funnel that helps to reduce workload to narrow your focus to what is significant. Listen in to hear all of the steps!
December 26, 2021
Honestly I didn't know what to expect when I picked up this book. This book was not written by a scholar and does not pretend to make scientific insights into self-improvement or personal productivity. This book is a motivational work that advocates specific virtues and mindsets for anyone who wants to succeed at something. In spite of this, or perhaps because of it, this was a very good read. I completed the book in only a few hours, largely because this book was not very long, but also because it was hard to put down. It was very well written and motivational.
My only criticism of this book is that it comes close to falling into the same fault that many self-improvement books often fall into, and that is the sin of advocating the workaholic mentality. The author advocates taking ownership of your career and not making excuses, and this requires sacrifice. All of us have to understand that. But single minded devotion to work has very dire consequences in one's spiritual and personal life. Relationships are destroyed and virtues dissolve away in the face of the workaholic mindset. The author is not an advocate of the workaholic mindset, but his advice can lead there very easily. And the author does not address this.
Overall I would highly recommend this book. It is very motivational and could very well change your life.
My only criticism of this book is that it comes close to falling into the same fault that many self-improvement books often fall into, and that is the sin of advocating the workaholic mentality. The author advocates taking ownership of your career and not making excuses, and this requires sacrifice. All of us have to understand that. But single minded devotion to work has very dire consequences in one's spiritual and personal life. Relationships are destroyed and virtues dissolve away in the face of the workaholic mindset. The author is not an advocate of the workaholic mindset, but his advice can lead there very easily. And the author does not address this.
Overall I would highly recommend this book. It is very motivational and could very well change your life.
November 12, 2019
Loved this book, I feel very motivated from the words contained within these pages. Doing the hard things are what decipher if you have what it takes to take on anything, or you choose to ignore challenges. It really is up to you and how you think about situations. I appreciated how the author combined his own personal stories within the advice he offers, it was done very well without distracting the reader from the real messages within this book. Well worth reading if you are looking to change how you live your daily life.
February 9, 2026
As a small business owner/ entrepreneur I really enjoy books in this category.. if you have never dived into this genre before, this would be a good one to get you started. At 200 or so pages it’s not too long and it presents seven principles of success that are easy to wrap your mind around and implement. I especially like that there are case studies throughout with real life examples of people putting the principles to work. This book was published in 2012 but the points inside are still very relevant today.
June 8, 2023
A must read for everyone. We hold ourselves back. Why do we do that. We can be better and yet we settle for less than stellar citing stupid excuses. This book will kick you out of that feeling and moving along your journey of better.
September 29, 2024
Great examples and reasonable actions you can take to improve your way of living. I especially appreciate the questions for thought at the end of each chapter further reinforcing the concepts shared.
October 11, 2021
I’ve been challenged on the way I think about hard work, success, etc. Taking action instead of waiting for the “perfect set of circumstances” is a big theme of this book. That’s something I need to hear every day.
July 4, 2022
Honestly a great great great read. Loved it!
August 7, 2023
Second time reading this book (I think!). It’s a quick and easy read. The insights, while fairly light and nothing groundbreaking, help reframe your mentality. It provides decent motivation, but the real impact occurs if you take the time to reflect on the messages and study how you yourself are taking the escalator or taking the stairs in your current season of life.
July 27, 2017
This was an excellent motivational book to be all you can be and push yourself farther than you think you can go. My favorite part was about the harvest seasons and how to focus on one goal and just work hard until it's accomplished.
July 10, 2017
Rory Vaden has a no nonsense way of explaining straight paths to success. I picked up this book for motivation in my business and thought of many ways to apply these principles to my everyday life. These are not paths that have not been introduced to me before, but the author revisits these ideas so that I am inspired to apply them now, where I am in my life.
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