Struggle: The surprising truth, beauty and opportunity hidden in life’s sh*ttier moments

by Grace Marshall

Struggling? You’re in the right place.In a world that’s obsessed with fast hacks, quick wins, and Instagram-perfection (cue “Everything is Awesome”) struggle has become a taboo. A sign that something’s gone horribly wrong. But what if we’ve got it all wrong about getting it wrong?What if struggle isn’t a battle to fight, a trap to avoid, or a sign of weakness? What if struggle is precisely where the magic happens - where we do our best, most important work?Whether you’re wading in treacle, waiting for the storm to pass or just damn tired of the hustle, this thought-provoking exploration will shine a surprising new light on the truth, beauty and opportunity hidden in life’s shittier moments.Author of the award-winning ‘How to be Really Productive’, Grace Marshall is known for her “refreshingly human” approach to productivity. Featured in The Guardian, Forbes, Huffpost and BBC Radio, her work as a Productivity Ninja has taken her from Norway to New York, helping thousands of people - from startup founders to corporate managers, artists to engineers, students and CEOs - to replace stress, overwhelm and frustration with success, sanity and satisfaction.

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Business

228 pages, Paperback

Published April 1, 2021

About the author

Grace Marshall lives in South England with her husband and the growing gang of hooligan birds who frequent their feeders. When Grace isn’t busy writing something sexy and romantic, she’s busy digging in her ever-expanding veg garden or walking across the British countryside. She finds inspiration outdoors in nature, and most of her best story ideas come to her while she’s walking or gardening.

Grace is the author of the fast paced, quirky Executive Decisions Trilogy published by Xcite Romance. An Executive Decision, Identity Crisis, The Exhibition are all available.

Grace Marshall’s alter-ego, K D Grace, writes critically acclaimed, best-selling erotic romance. Whether it’s sexy romance or romantic sex, between The Graces, there’s a story for you.

Reviews

[Jono Down · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much great stuff in this book, I read this at a time when I'd taken on a new role in the place where I work, and when I started, things didn't work out how I wanted, I struggled to make it work. But through that struggle I learned how to move forward and make it happen. The struggle wasn't a nice place to be particularly, but it was a catalyst for getting it right and, as she says in the book 'Just because you're struggling doesn't mean you're failing.' Grace has written some incredibly wise words here, you could literally turn to any page and find something that would inspire you and help change the way you deal with struggle and how you approach it and use it to your advantage.

[Richard Tubb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Motivating, Inspiring and Thought Provoking.

Full disclosure - I was honoured to be asked to beta read this book and give feedback to the author during the writing stages. This review is based on the finished book, which I've just read for the 2nd time (it's that good!).

I'm a huge fan of author Grace Marshall's work in the Productivity and time management field, and her latest book on struggle is definitely related to the productivity field.

The author looks at the journey we all take, through tough times, through challenges and, at the time the author was writing, a global pandemic!

The book shares examples of, rather than trying to find hacks to avoid struggle, we instead embrace it and open our eyes to what we can learn from it.

I found this book incredibly eye opening, and exactly what I needed to read during some periods when I looked outwardly successful, but was feeling disillusioned and discouraged inside.

I'd suggest this book is essential reading for any high achievers who are wondering when things get easier or they solve everything. Spoiler - you won't and you can't. You need to read this book to help you keep going and enjoy the journey.

Highly recommended.

[David Washbrook · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the one I have referred more people to than any other in the last year. It is easy to read and full of practical tips.
Grace Marshall finishes the book by saying "I'd love to continue the conversation. Come over and say hello". I did just that and found Grace to provide plenty of other fuel for thought and that she is very responsive to any questions I have asked.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic read, with so many takeaways. I highlighted and bookmarked SO much throughout as so much resonated.

A must read particularly for those work for themselves, suffer imposter syndrome or anxiety, who just generally doubt their greatness.

A book I will definitely come back to ❤️

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book from Grace! We forget or don't even realise that struggle is part of the process, people don't go out and run a marathon from being a couch potato, so why do we pressurise ourselves to never fail. This book reminds us why the struggle is important and an essential part of the process. Well written, none of the corporate bullsh*t of the usual business literature.

[Fiona Morrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book for its bite sized yet deeply resonant insights about life and struggle.

The human-ness of Grace's storytelling makes it feel more like a companion than a self-help guide.

[Malcolm Down · Rating 5 out of 5]

Struggle is one of those books where there is absolute gem of truth on every page. With her characteristic wit and wisdom, Grace Marshall has provided the ultimate antidote to the ‘think positive’ movement. She clearly demonstrates that struggle, rather than something to be feared, should instead be embraced wholeheartedly as a normal process. A process, which though painful at times, ultimately leads to positive results. Well done Grace for lifting the lid on an often taboo subject bringing light and hope to all of us!

[Hannah Powell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an easy to read self-help guide, each page packed with pearls of wisdom. I marked a lot of pages to go back to, both for myself and to share with colleagues. I liked the loose structure and the sense that each short section is full of quotes or take-home messages. It's a book to dip in and out of when you feel you are struggling and need to lift yourself up. My natural inclination is to help others fix things, so I particularly liked these lines which will encourage me to step away from fixing. "The fixer wants to take our burden. The witness gives us strength."

[Clara Wilcox · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has a unique combination of being philosophical, coaching and practical. Almost a book of mini-essays, Grace Marshall makes us consider everything we have been told about struggle and successfully repositions it as an essential part of life; a messy life can bring amazing things.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Content: Language

Excellent book. Definitely recommend. Took so many quotes from it. It's a view on how struggle shouldn't be avoided, but embraced. This quote..... long but so worth reading.

"We often speak about the beauty of transformation. The butterfly emerging from its cocoon in all its glory, the cute caterpillar going into the cocoon. Even the cocoon itself we associate with safety. A soft enveloping away from the outside world. Wrapping up in soft wool. And yet cut the chrysalis open and you'll find a rotting caterpillar... The process of transformation consists almost entirely of decay. It's 1,000 tiny funerals for the things that never were and the things that are no longer. Letting go of who you were, or wanted to be, or who you thought you wanted to be. Letting it burn. The scaffolding, the relics, the carefully crafted cage, the digging out the rot, the cutting away. The amputation, the peeling away of layers leaving you raw and exposed. It feels like death because it is. The kind of death that clears the ground and provides rich, furtile soil to grow from. The kind of death from which life emerges."

[Maria Foxwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I felt I was reading the author’s journal and found it strangely comforting that I could identify with so much about life struggles and the power of post-traumatic growth.

Refreshing to read a book that looks at the magic that happens, and how we grow the most, in our moments of struggle. A reminder that our mistakes should be seen as a positive and we should ask “what is the cost of avoiding mistakes?”

I liked the snappy, striking layout with the bold reminders of learnings identified. The messages will live with: We can survive, we can overcome and we often develop skills that we wouldn’t have if things were easy.

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book hasn't left my desk or workspace since it arrived. Life is so full of rollercoasters, from the up, downs, highs, lows, and all those moments in between. This book has something to meet you at the place you are at and help you see "the truth, beauty, and hidden opportunities". The way it is written allows it to be picked up and consumed right at that very moment, and has got me through some tough and low moments already. Eye-opening, insightful and motivating. It will be staying within arms reach.

[Ellie Hull · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a personal, conversational book. It reads like a series of mini essays on struggle and related topics. For me, it was too much like an inspirational self help book and I’d have appreciated more summarising action points at the end. But that’s not its style. It’s main message is to change your mindset to struggle so that’s something I’ll try to take away and remember.

[Suzana · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read when you are feeling down.

[Niki · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quality (and quick! only 4 hours in audio format) pep talk for dealing with life's shittier moments.

[Andy]

DNF. This is like that one cubicle in an office that's wallpapered with post-it notes featuring motivational one-liners ("There will always be a third way"). Not my scene.