Hello Rachel,

I just wanted to say that I am in complete agreement with you in the importance of just being yourself.  I learned this valuable lesson in a very interesting way.  I was a Chiropractor that had just graduated and I was in the process of trying to build a successful practice.  I had hired a practice management consultant who after getting to know me and having observed me in a clinical setting made what at the time I thought was a radical suggestion. He told me that I needed to act more like myself if I wanted to really grow a successful practice.

The reason I thought it was crazy is because I was still brainwashed by my clinical training at my school. I wore a white clinic jacket, I had the stethescope around my neck, the whole nine yards! It still cracks me up when I think about it. I told him if I acted like myself my patients would think I was crazy! The reason for that was because I loved practical jokes, I was a part-time professional magician and I loved having fun.  I didn’t think I was supposed to bring those aspects of my personality into my practice.

Anyway, I decided to follow his suggestions because I wasn’t really having too much fun being the serious Dr. Over the next 6 months or so the following events took place, About half of my patients dropped out of care because they thought I was nuts.  The half that stayed though referred to me approximately 8x the number of patients I lost. Two of them ended up working for me as assistants and another eventually became my office manager.  I ended up having a blast! My patients loved the environment we created and as an end result I believe because of my being me and attracting more people like me it ended up fostering an incredible healing environment which benefited so many more individuals.  Also, on the success side of things I ended up building 2 practices to a level that statistically should have taken a minimum of 5 years in only 18 months.

So because of that experience I 100% know and agree that being authentic to who you really are is of the utmost importance. You definitely might lose some friends and/or customers, but you will come to find that you didn’t want or need them anyway.  The best part is you will attract to you the type of people with the positive energy that you need in your life.  It is truly awesome once you see it all played out.

I appreciate your thoughts, comments and insights Rachel.  You are very wise for your years.  I look forward to reading any future thoughts that you come up with. Keep doing what you are doing because I am quite sure that your efforts have benefited many many people and that is truly extraordinary and inspiring.

Take care & God Bless,

Dr James

Cannot wait for my copy to wing its way, or sail. to the UK .
Your review and that of others that I have read, are compelling, hope to get it before my vacation so I can take it and read at my leisure

Hi Karen,

Totally agree that more humour is never a bad thing!

And I also 100% love the idea of someone living their life on their terms, regardless of what other people think.

If there’s one thing I remind myself a lot of, it’s that it usually makes sense to do the OPPOSITE of whatever the majority wants. The majority are broke and unhappy. As T. Harv Eker says, “If you want to be rich, don’t take the advice of broke people.”

I use this with everything – don’t listen to unhealthy people if you want to be healthy, don’t listen to people in miserable relationships if you want the love of your life, etc…

So if the majority DON’T like Brad, it actually draws me a little closer to him.

Anyway, that was a long rambling. Can’t wait to hear what you think!

Thank you Richard!! I’d love to hear what your thoughts are. It’s definitely very in your face.

Hey Rachel,

I really appreciate the effort and thought in this post. While I do not necessarily agree with all of these above points I can see where you are coming from and appreciate your insights and wisdom you brought to the subject. I think I just may pick up a copy of this book to see what all the fuss is about. Great post!

Thanks,

Richard

Hiya Rachel,

I just ordered Brad’s book over the weekend through Barnes and Noble and I’m hoping it doesn’t take too long to ship to my home here in southern Ontario! Of course I was attracted to Brad’s sales page, his style, etc. (The sales page is brilliant!)

First of all, he’s Canadian, and I want to support a fellow Canadian.

Second of all, he has a great sense of humour, and I appreciate that a lot. We need more humour in this day and age, don’t you agree?

Third, he’s a renegade. His style may not appeal to everyone, and he may not be everyone’s role model, but that doesn’t matter.

What does matter is that he doesn’t conform – no true entrepreneur ever does conform, don’t you know!  He does things his way, and whether you approve or not, you can’t help but admire someone who lives their life the way they want to as long as they don’t hurt anyone.

I’m sure ‘ll enjoy his book, and I’m looking forward to it. I know there will be some golden nuggets in there for someone like me.

Have a great day, Rachel!

Haha, exactly… I tried to be clear about that! Have you read the book yet?

Hey Katy!

I definitely hear where you’re coming from. I’m in no way saying that he, or anyone, is a role model. You obviously can choose your own role models – I am just giving my favorite takeaways from the book. Personally, I’m not so big into swearing, but I do think there’s a very strong power that comes from unabashedly being yourself, you know?

My personal role models are Mother Teresa, Einstein, and heart-centered people all over.

You stated  “Brad mentions drugs, curses up a storm”  Great role model, huh?  Is someone who relies heavily on four letter words demonstrating their intelligence?  Okay, so he is “branding” himself in one way like Frank Kern… they have so much courage to swear and “show us ” they have the Right & Power to offend.  As for the drugs, the hundreds of celebrity drug deaths are of less concern than the millions of everyday people who have looked up to them as role models.

Rachel, what a powerful precis. an I love the fact that you brought it here as I am aware of the controversy so you have saved those that are sensitive the trials of reading lol