I didn’t think I’d like Bethenny Frankel’s book, A Place of Yes, but I originally didn’t think I’d connect to Bethenny when she first appeared on the reality television series, Housewives of New York City. But the truth is, I really enjoyed watching Bethenny’s honest, irreverent and funny personality on The Housewives, and so it was with guarded optimism that I bought her book.
But Bethenny’s book doesn’t disappoint even the most skeptical readers. It is an inspiring and realistic text about coping with struggle, self doubt, bad choices and failed dreams, and yet maintaining the courage, integrity and passion to move forward to great success. Reading the book is like sitting down over coffee with Bethenny and listening to her advice as if she were a good and trusted friend. Part self-help book and part memoir, Bethenny uses her own mistakes, and successes to illustrate the importance of each rule in her book.
The Rules are easy to understand and with a modicum of effort and determination are easy to implement. For example, in “Everything’s Your Business” (The Rules are also divided into chapters) Bethenny suggest you make a thoughtful determination of your life’s purpose before making new commitments. Her criteria for accepting a new commitment includes asking yourself, “Will it feed into your plan for your life, will it move you forward, is it in line with your goals and your values and who you are? Will you enjoy it? Do you think it will be worth your best effort?”
What I like about, A Place of Yes, is that it doesn’t preach from the pulpit but speaks from across the lawn like a concerned neighbor. Bethenny is forthright and brutally honest. She makes herself vulnerable and relatable in exposing so much of her own life. She is what you’d want from a friend and her advice is both savy and sound. Obviously, the success recipe she exposes has worked (and worked very well) for this Skinny Girl mogul. Ultimately, if you’re looking to kick start your career or personal life, define goals or achieve dreams this will be a helpful and encouraging read. Yes, buy it.
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