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Stop Being Lazy: How to Overcome Laziness, Defeat Procrastination, Increase Productivity, and Break Through Barriers Like an Unstoppable Bulldog

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Deep in your heart……you know there’s potential.Why are you too lazy to discover it?John Sonmez was fat and unmotivated. He knew he could do more but getting past the daily“survival by taking the easy path” mindset had him shackled to misery. There was only one thing heneeded to unlock his productivity.He had to stop procrastinating!This personal journey from lost to the Bulldog Mindset, took him from nothing to running 50-miles, weight-training on a regular schedule, and finally getting the six-pack abs women are so fondof on a man.Learn John’s to break free of putting off your success.Develop a mindset of a tenacious, unstoppable bulldogWhy you need this attitudeThe change your persona project that will get you on trackHow to develop mental toughnessWays to become a finisher and moreYou’ll love this manual for life, because the future you’ve dreamed of but were too afraid to goafter, is waiting for you in these pages.Get it now.

54 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 9, 2018

169 people are currently reading
148 people want to read

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John Sonmez

8 books176 followers

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5 stars
85 (36%)
4 stars
67 (29%)
3 stars
44 (19%)
2 stars
19 (8%)
1 star
15 (6%)
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
Profile Image for Joel.
93 reviews
October 14, 2018
Not what I was expecting

I will admit up front that I am likely not the target audience for this book. The book takes a simplistic view of life where everyone is either lazy and pathetic or a “bulldog” and super driven. While it makes an occasional nod to using your talents to help others, overall the message is extremely self-centered and feels a little shallow. Is there no value in contentment? Do I constantly need to be climbing a mountain to experience happiness? Is there no value in enjoying quiet moments of life or *gasp* watching or listening to something for entertainment?

I really enjoyed other books by this author, so I was hoping for some practical tips on efficiency or productivity, but I did not find any. If you burn countless hours a day on mindless pursuits and need a foul-mouthed boot camp instructor to yell you out of complacency, then you may find some value in this book.
Profile Image for Rishi Mehta.
5 reviews
March 9, 2019
This book goes a lot further than prescribing a cure for laziness - it reads as a call to action to transform your life, and seems directed at someone a lot more dissatisfied with their current state of affairs than me. Nonetheless, it was mildly inspiring and I learnt some new things (eg pomodoro time tracking).
Profile Image for David.
84 reviews7 followers
May 20, 2019
The author tries to take a macho and confrontational approach into making you less lazy. It is a very thin book, you don't get much for your money. But I did feel that I got some extra motivation from reading it. So therefore I recommend it to those people that would not be averse to reading a book that kicks their arse.
Profile Image for Akshay.
872 reviews7 followers
February 10, 2025

Title: Stop Being Lazy: How to Overcome Laziness, Defeat Procrastination, Increase Productivity, and Break Through Barriers Like an Unstoppable Bulldog


Author: John Z. Sonmez



Intent: Motivational and self-help guide




"Laziness is a mindset, not a character flaw."




John Z. Sonmez's book, Stop Being Lazy, delivers a straightforward message that is both practical and empowering. The book is a short but potent manual aimed at anyone who feels stuck in the cycle of procrastination and low productivity. The author uses an energetic, no-nonsense tone, motivating the reader to stop making excuses and take immediate action.



Main Themes:



Understanding the root causes of laziness
Effective techniques to overcome procrastination
Building strong habits and routines
Mindset shifts for long-term productivity
Breaking through mental barriers


Content & Structure:


The book is divided into digestible sections, making it easy to follow. Sonmez doesn't dwell on theory but offers concrete advice you can apply right away. From personal anecdotes to bullet-pointed lists of action steps, the content is designed to be consumed quickly and used immediately. This pragmatic approach makes the book accessible for readers who might be struggling with time management or focus issues.



Sonmez's emphasis on discipline, rather than relying on motivation, is particularly valuable. He highlights the importance of consistent habits and the necessity of being brutally honest with yourself about the excuses you make. His comparison of productive people to “unstoppable bulldogs” adds a visual and motivational punch, encouraging readers to adopt a determined, tenacious mindset.



Key Highlights:



Sonmez's concept of "Just Start." One of the central ideas is that the hardest part of beating procrastination is getting started. The author encourages readers to focus on doing something, anything, to break the inertia.
The "One Thing" principle. Sonmez advocates for focusing on the most important task at any given moment and committing all your energy to completing that task. This emphasis on prioritization is a simple but effective productivity strategy.
His candid style. There’s no sugarcoating in this book. Sonmez frequently pushes readers to confront their own laziness, procrastination, and bad habits, making it feel like a tough-love coaching session.


Tone & Writing Style:


The writing is direct and blunt, occasionally bordering on harsh, but that’s exactly what Sonmez is going for. The tone of the book feels like a motivational coach shouting at you to get up and make a change. It’s a deliberate choice that resonates with readers who prefer tough love over more gentle, philosophical self-help. The language is simple and accessible, which makes it suitable for a wide range of readers, especially those who want practical solutions over introspection.



Strengths:



The book’s brevity is one of its biggest strengths. It doesn’t overcomplicate things, and each section is focused on giving readers immediate takeaways.
Actionable steps. Each chapter ends with clear steps, making it easy to put the ideas into practice.
It effectively targets those struggling with motivation, delivering an emotional push alongside practical advice.


Areas for Improvement:



For readers looking for a more in-depth psychological analysis of procrastination or laziness, the book might feel too simplistic. Sonmez doesn’t delve deeply into the scientific or emotional aspects behind laziness.
The tone, while motivational for many, could be off-putting to those who prefer a more gentle, compassionate approach to self-improvement.


Conclusion:


Stop Being Lazy is a no-nonsense, action-packed guide for anyone tired of feeling stuck in their own bad habits. John Z. Sonmez provides a swift kick of motivation paired with a pragmatic approach to defeating procrastination. Though it might not appeal to readers seeking a deeper, more philosophical exploration of laziness, it’s an ideal pick for someone looking for fast, tangible results. In the spirit of Sonmez’s bulldog analogy, this book will push you to grit your teeth and charge through your mental barriers.



2 reviews4 followers
June 16, 2019
Curto e objetivo com uma mensagem que e necessária ser passada
Profile Image for Mario  A.
136 reviews
March 24, 2023
I only read this book because I respect the author having browsed his other books Soft Skills: The Software Developer's Life Manual and The Complete Software Developer's Career Guide: How to Learn Programming Languages Quickly, Ace Your Programming Interview, and Land Your Software Developer Dream Job , the book is quite brief an easy enough read(less than 2 hours to finish), though like most self help books, it's useless reading it, if you didn't make notes and make a decision and plan to apply it in your life.

One of the foremost point that resonated with me was his emphasis on working out and how being physically fit gives you focus and clarity in your work, considering this point has been driven across to me in multiple books, this only enforces it, though it gives you some good points on being disciplined as a software developer.
Profile Image for Giovanni Hale.
25 reviews1 follower
February 18, 2020
Stop Being Lazy: How to Overcome Laziness, Defeat Procrastination, Increase Productivity and Break Through Barriers Like an Unstoppable Bulldog (Kindle Edition)
A quick read, with a few things I already knew but were not put entirely in the way John presents the information.

Now I must warn you if you are the type of guy that's gets easily offended by harsh language, then this might not be the book for you. John spares no use of the f word and will ensure you understand this is not to be taken lightly.

Overall I am glad I did not listen to others' reviews of the book and just chose to read it myself.
2 reviews
June 11, 2019
Quick inspiring read, recommended

This book inspired me to stop being lazy and move forward with my own goals, I am sure that down the road i may be tempted to go back to my old lazy self,but not today,and not tomorrow as I am empowered by the advice from this book.

Read time is about 60 minutes so my own advice is read it and judge it yourself, then set your own goals and challenge your old self to never stop moving forward.
2 reviews
November 28, 2018
Good, short read.

Love the book. Picked up the audio version to as well because I got a lot of extra content from listening to "The Complete Software Developer's Guide". I really like personal development so if you are looking for a quick read to help get you motivated to change your life, this is a good pick.
Profile Image for Velmurugan Moorthy.
56 reviews2 followers
June 21, 2019
A good start to get rid of laziness

Why : The book is small & crisp. Systematic way to get rid of laziness.
What : The example and the guidance the author provides is what I liked the most.
Who : To all people who would like to get rid of their laziness but, don't know how to do it.
Profile Image for idk ⁺˚⋆。°✩₊✩°。⋆˚⁺.
24 reviews1 follower
November 19, 2020
It is great insight but it is saying things you should already know. I would recommend listening to david goggins book before this one. This book felt like a bunch of motivation.

I do like that he gives a playbook and what not but I would recommend just listening for Joe Rogan, David Goggins, Jocko, and Owen Cook for the hard mindsets.
Profile Image for Lee Cochran.
23 reviews1 follower
July 12, 2022
Short and Quick to the Point

This is more a pamphlet then a book with the usual information that can be found elsewhere.
I recommend it for young readers if this is your first self help book on fighting procrastination.
You can finish the book in one evening.
Self promotion and promotions are present in the book but it's not as bad as others.
Profile Image for Rajiv Bais.
189 reviews
November 19, 2022
My review sounds sophomoric and unflattering, but it sucks.

It’s another one of those stupid take a challenge, risks, environment change, and vision books that won’t bring up the consequences of losses, burnout, angry people, and alienation from others. If people enjoyed this book, it was because they were pretty lazy beforehand. Something tells me that most readers are still lazy.
1 review
October 10, 2018
Stop being lazy, is perfect for the lazy in you!

Personally, I need motivation and reminders when it comes to procrastination.

Stop Being Lazy is perfect if you have fell off track, or if you need to get on track.
2 reviews
December 26, 2019
Lots of bad swearing words and annoying self promotion

Lots of bad swearing words and annoying self promotion .........arrogant jerk. The book is promoted with some kind of free giveaway
Profile Image for Ani.
32 reviews7 followers
May 21, 2021
Everything was trivial and very primitive. What i’ve seen in the book was just “To stop being lazy just stop being lazy”. :D
Enjoyed reading “Soft Skills”, but this one was no more than just a waste of time. The word “shit” is present in almost all sentences which is very annoying.
Profile Image for Martin  Roldan Araujo.
20 reviews
December 18, 2023
A good reminder

It's easy to get lost jn the way from time to time. This book reminded me of some of the things to look out for when in a rut.
A good read recommended for anyone who wants to keep it up.
12 reviews
January 21, 2019
Energetic, inspiring amd practical. You won't be disappointed on giving it a read.
1 review
March 10, 2019
Great Read

Highly recommend this book to anyone looking for sound principles and techniques to crush laziness. A very quick and easy read.
3 reviews
February 4, 2020
Crisp !!!

Thanks John for putting things across in such a crisp manner. I look forward to seeing my new Avatar. Tnks
Profile Image for Billy Ombima.
53 reviews2 followers
October 1, 2021
Straight to the point. With practical examples. I have been using Pomodoro myself for a while. This was very relatable. I love such short and succinct books.
Profile Image for Jaan Liitmäe.
269 reviews2 followers
May 8, 2023
Meh... Useful if You have only an hour for this theme to spend;-)
Profile Image for Ethan Petuchowski.
273 reviews5 followers
March 23, 2023
At least it’s short. I got WAY more value out of reading the author’s other books. I was expecting something a bit deeper and profound, like the other books. But if all you need is a pep talk (and who doesn’t), then this is a decent one.
542 reviews2 followers
February 25, 2023
Very short and concise book on laziness and tips to overcome it. It's clearly a lead magnet for the author to sell other stuff, regardless the content for the very low price is absolutely worth it.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews

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