Disclaimer: The intent of my musings is two fold. Firstly, I wish to document my own perspectives as I read the book and to see how they change over time. I fully well expect to find challenging insights, but I also fully well expect to begin with a lot of questioning of Stan's perspectives, motives, and full comprehension of reality. Secondly, while my questioning is not to indict, ridicule, or proclaim, I do expect that I will begin to shape an overall opinion as I progress. Suspicions will eventually prove right or wrong. But ultimately, I am simply reasoning out loud for anyone who wishes to follow along in this journey.
Since the purpose of this book seems to be heavily in regard to improving one's own mind and method of operation, I shall start by explaining where I am at to begin with. To start, I have no desire for power except in where I could use it to benefit the world. I don't need more things and I am already quite successful by the standards of many including my own. Defining success, however, is perhaps challenging. Most items of success have diminishing returns. Money is necessary and I have enough to call it successful. Having more would not make me more successful at this point from my own perspective. Having more could, however, enable me to be more successful in other ways. My main objective right now is to simply enjoy life and raise humanity higher than what it is--to leave it better off for my having been here. How to do either often eludes me since I tend not to take joy in the same things others take joy in and I cannot find a method in which to improve the world apart from small and local endeavors in hopes that they grow larger. Even if I had a larger stage, the world as it sits is someone else's playground. I have no power there and I would refuse to do what it takes to seize it. I have a strong sense of ethics which I am sure this book is bound to rub up against.
Preface:
Stan begins his preface with a marketing story. To water it down to a fine point, he explains how he helped the owner of a healthcare firm manipulate people into joining the team and believing it was their purpose or destiny. He explained they'd be loyal to their own detriment of lower pay than they're worth and do anything to defend the system exploiting them by making it their identity. What is interesting, is that Stan does not disavow this as unethical and seems to be the exact same thing he is doing with the purchasers of his book. But we shall see. Perhaps this is only to set the stage of understanding the puppetry to become inoculated ourselves and to use it for good, but I do believe the intent is for ethics be damned. His ads often seem to indicate that kindness is merely a puppeteers tool which I vehemently disagree with at this time. There may be some validity in the idea of not allowing kindness to rule our decisions, however, and this is something I need to work on myself. There is a difference between kindness and self-detrimental passivity. There is further difference in being an ass to get your way just because you can. And even if that works in the short term, I believe it will ultimately fail in the long term.
Part 1:
Stan begins by describing his readers (aka his target market). They are those who are drawn toward books and seminars that promise exactly what he is essentially promising: this will fix you. By mentioning how all the previous ones have failed, he makes a rather stark promise that this time will be different. Of course, that's always what we think when we start a new trendy method. Will his method work? Well, just as he states, it will depend mostly on you. It will work for some and not for others. Because in the end, it comes down to whether or not you're willing and able. He makes that fairly clear and I agree. Many are addicted to the identity of trying, but even this can and will become an identity for many. He is orchestrating it and allowing it, but perhaps out of necessity for marketing.
He then holds up many mirrors (or provides descriptions) of various behavior types he believes will make up his market. They will indeed match many of his readers much like a horoscope will. This provides a perspective for the reader that he is insightful and that this book is definitely the one they need. He's got their number, after all. But of course, this is just good writing and authority tactics. There is no other way to reach you unless you're already awakened to such tools. But then he goes on to use language like "the person you were born to be." This is a Tony Robbin's style hype to provide emotional engagement. He got my number, he promises more, and this could be it. I was born to be something greater! That is always the promise. And for every reader, there is always a potential. It really does come down to you. And he makes that fairly clear: "rattling the bars of the cage you helped build." It is true. We are our own worst enemies.
Stan encourages that we stop simply gathering data about how to move forward and actually take action to do so. Given that everyone is at different stages in their development, this is perhaps risky advice. Some people indeed need the kick in the pants and that's what this book serves as. If this is someone's first dive into introspection and self-improvement, however, this could be very damaging. Some insight is indeed necessary before we jump headlong into stupid decisions just to feel empowered. As most things, there is a balance to be had. That balance does not fit into the archetype or persona of Stan and would ruin the feel of the book. He is specifically targeting the people who keep trying and never do anything. The people who need the kick. If you need to be kicked, I think he does a decent job of using a form of reverse psychology to help you get past your "parasite" voice as he refers to it.
Moving on, he refers to this book as a covenant to be made. If you're not ready for the covenant, then get rid of the book. This seems fine to me as it's all a part of the psychology to kick you in the pants. It also doubles as identity, however, which is great for him, is a great motivator to start with for you, but does have the downside of potential manipulation in the future.
The book promises 3 aspects: to understand your programming, the provide you the insight to manipulate others, and to ultimately create your reality with this newfound power. My guess is that Stan has not yet achieved this but that this book is the beginning to doing exactly that for himself--just like all other motivational speakers. This is risky then as quite often our only proof that these people know what they're talking about is the very fact that they manipulated us into making them rich. There is no evidence that it works in other fields. Will any of this work in engineering? It is unclear.
In short, Stan is telling his readers to take control and stop whining. So far, it is unclear whether that offer of control is truly our own or just another illusion he’s sold us.
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