Be Yourself, Everyone Else Is Already Taken: Transform Your Life with the Power of Authenticity

Mike Robbins: Thank you for writing such an honest, dare I say "authentic" book! It is so true, we have been trained since birth to "calm down", "be quiet", and "fit in", whether this was coming from school, family, religious organizations, the media, or all of the above. We start saying these things to our children as soon as they are born, and it is reinforced literally everywhere. What if we said, instead, to ourselves and our children, "MORE! MORE EMOTION! MORE OPINIONS!!" ?? It's no wonder then, why we all struggle with sharing who we really are with the world. There are very few examples of people living authentically and we all have so little practice at it. But we want it. I want it. Thank you for reminding me that I'm my own worst critic. I enjoyed going through the exercises, especially, "Why do I want to grow and improve myself" Am I motivated by authentic reasons? What's driving me? I am inspired to be more of myself and to let go of my perceptions of others' perceptions of me. I really see how this is limiting me.

I have had the pleasure of reading Mike Robbins' first book, "Focus on the Good Stuff"...which was powerful in its own right (read this absolutely amazing article on how a young man's life was changed forever as a result of reading it: http://www.facebook.com/ext/share.php?sid=52790618686 & h=o1Pfr & u=6ZXye ). Mike's "voice" as a writer has matured and deepened. It was great to read and to see such vulnerability and humility expressed in a "self-help" book. I have recommended "Be Yourself" to my business associates and colleagues as a great gift to give to their entire staff. Businesses, non-profits, and families alike could benefit greatly from a large dose of authenticity, and this book brings it! Check it out. Your life could be changed too.

I hated this book...at first. As I now fight to get out of my own way and fully embrace and take on what Robbins is saying, I'm lamenting how right he is and how much I need this book. And so do you. I can't say I love this book. Not yet, anyways. I barely even like it. But I need it. And so do most people. I think it takes courage to follow his advice. I think it's hard to be one's authentic self in this day and age. How many of us go through life trying to be something we're not? Trying to say and do all the right things, to not mess up, be perfect. Not offend. But that is not what leads to growth. That is not the path to fulfillment. The most ironic part of his book for me was the realization that we all go through life wanting everyone else to be honest, real, authentic with us - yet, how many of us are able or willing to do the same in return? Basically, we all want (and expect) from others what we ourselves struggle to deliver. This book does a solid job of making the case for what it costs you to not be authentic. It does an even better job of teaching you how to get to get clear on who you are, what you want, and how to achieve this - all the while being respectful of others. I think many of us get caught in the trap of being less of ourselves so as to not offend or make others uncomfortable. I'm realizing as I read his book than anything less than authenticity is the most offensive way of being and that if we really care about and love others, we must first and foremost love ourselves enough to be ourselves, not some feeble facsimile of what we think others want us to be. Here's my concern - everyone should read this book and follow Mike's teachings. But who among us has the enough humility and self-awareness to acknowledge how full of it we are? I just don't think many people are saying to themselves, gosh, if only I was more authentic... So even if you think you don't need this book, buy ten copies and give it to everyone in your life who does. At least they'll be happy and more fulfilled, even if you're not ready to do the same. I didn't want to read this book. I didn't want to like it. But I did and I do and hope you do too.

Mike's authentic voice in this book makes it very believable. As a "self-help" book reader, I have read literally hundreds of them over the years, some have been good, some great, most okay. A lot of self-help books can come across as preachy and pollyanna and too new-agey for me, this book is FAR from that. I appreciate Mike's real and vulnerable and sometimes raw examples from his own life...it's who he is, how he lives his life, and he provides real insight and tools for doing more of that in my life as well. I think that now, more than ever, authenticity as a real-world practice can be a bridge to a better world for us all. I'm grateful that an author as accomplished yet humble as Mike Robbins has delivered such a powerful and life-changing message. I encourage everyone I know and work with to read and use the important learning in this book. Full disclosure: I admire Mike as an author, a man, and a dear friend.