Dare to Succeed: How to Survive and Thrive in the Game of Life

I picked up "Dare to Succeed: How to Survive and Thrive in the Game of Life" by Mark Burnett because I've enjoyed some of his TV shows. I am especially an "Apprentice" fan, liking both Donald Trump and anything business related. I found this book to be a quick enjoyable read. I learned some things about Burnett that I had not known, and I found it interesting to learn about his background and how he came to the United States and then came up with the ideas for his television shows and saw those ideas through. It is easy enough to say Mark Burnett is a television genius. His shows have become hugely popular, and the result has been to catapult Burnett into riches and stardom. As one of the hottest producers in television, it seems that what Burnett touches turns to gold. Well, not always, while I liked "The Contender" it did not seem to do as well as some of his others. Still, Burnett has made a mark on television and will most likely continue to do so for quite some time. It is a long ways from selling T-shirts on the beach in Southern California. It was interesting to learn of Burnett being a nanny and then selling shirts on the beach. His shows might not have become the huge successes they are without a burning determination Burnett possessed to make his inspiration become reality. (pun intended) As a former paratrooper myself, maybe I just enjoy seeing former service members succeed. Maybe it is because I've enjoyed watching "The Apprentice" and "Survivor." Maybe I just enjoy success stories. Whatever the reason, I enjoyed this book, and think anyone who enjoys Burnett's television shows will too. It is a good tale of how someone with a lot of determination can make his vision come true. It is an easy read, and one that will not only share some of Burnett's life story with you, but maybe motivate you to pursue your dreams a little harder as well. If it does that, it definitely deserves a read. Reviewed by Alain Burrese, author of Hard-Won Wisdom From the School of Hard Knocks and the dvds: Hapkido Hoshinsul, Streetfighting Essentials, Hapkido Cane, the Lock On Joint Locking Essentials series and articles including a regular column on negotiation for The Montana Lawyer. Alain Also wrote a series of articles called Lessons From The Apprentice.

Mark Burnett lists several rules for success in this book. I guess most of it is good advice, but this book is far from a thorough guide to success. There's also info about his business career since coming to America. I think the real reason Mark Burnett is successful is that he had a very loving and supportive mother who encouraged him to take lots of risks and explore the world. I think that just led naturally to everything else in his life.

"Dare to Succeed" tells the story behind someone who is one of the successful people in the United States. I found Mark Burnett's story of his path to his success very accessible and inspiring. Mark Burnett shows by example how one can go from having very little in America to finding one's own unique niche. Burnett offers tips, or "guideposts" on how to work avision into reality. I was uncharacteristically inspired after reading this success story. From being ones boss to learning from ones failures, I found tidbits of wisdom that I will definitely carry with me to any job interview or just the office.

This book is a quick read and very entertaining. Mark Burnett is the Producer of "Survivor" and "Eco-Challenge" and he draws from these shows in his example of how to succeed (at least how he succeeded). The book is structured like a self-help book, and it is (from the standpoint that Burnett's stories motivate you to put your dreams into action). However, I appreciated it as a story of someone struggling to establish oneself in life - not so different from you or I, but with results that most of us will only dream about. I was rooting for Burnett to succeed as soon as I read the first chapter where he moves to the United States from Great Britain and lands a job as a nanny. I will wholeheartedly recommend this book to friends and family.

Wow! Even if I weren't a fan of Eco-Challenge and Survivor going in I would have become one after coming to realize the story behind the stories. This book isn't intended to promote his television programs but after seeing all that Mark Burnett has gone through I have a much greater appreciation for what he has accomplished. I'm a 39 year-old pastor after having been a financial planner for over a decade. I have a comprehensive library of self-help and success books from Covey to Robbins and from Dyer to Ziglar. "Dare To Succeed" lines up with the best of the best because of the way Mark Burnett shares his real-life struggles as he grabs the reader's hand to help him climb that same hill step by step. Regardless of your type of employment or station in life, you will find these steps well placed. This award winning producer and mega-media mogul doesn't talk Pollyanna and doesn't come across as a primadonna. He shares his failures and fears as well as the practical steps to success. As great as your life is now it will be better after reading "Dare To Succeed" and if you are just embarking on your self-help journey you will find this book indespensible. Read it with a highlighter, a pen and a notebook.