midlifejourney.com

I am a member of the oprah.com community. Great site. Within the last week Oprah offered members of her website community the opportunity to download Jean Chatzky’s latest book: The Difference:How Anyone Can Prosper in Even The Toughest Times free of charge! The free download offer was only for a 24 hour period, but I was lucky enough to get a copy.

What is The Difference? I have only begun to read the book, but the introduction and first chapters give an overview of the sum and substance to follow. She posits the question: why do some people seem to succeed in life, while others seem to fail, or best scenario, just get by? What is the difference between the Warren Buffets of this world and someone who lives paycheck to paycheck, or each year finds themselves deeper in debt?What have they got that you don’t have? What is the difference?

It’s more of a workbook than a fast read. In fact Jean encourages the reader to go slowly through each chapter, in the order in which they are presented, working through each of the exercises. Her point: each of us has what it takes to succeed. Life circumstances may cause us to adapt and change, but meet each circumstance as a challenge and opportunity. Optimism and thinking with positive energy seem to be a key to this winning philosophy.

As I said, I am only just beginning the book, but already am hooked. Will be commenting further in subsequent postings. In the meantime I encourage you to purchase the book and the companion workbook as well. It is available now online through Amazon.com.