Leadership Book Review Blog: The Miracle Equation
I received this book as a gift for participating in a coaching mastermind group so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. Because I didn’t hand select it, I may have put off reading it until I ran out of books that I was looking forward to reading. I am embarrassed to say, this book is INCREDIBLE and I am not sure I can articulate why.
The author, Hal Elrod, describes The Miracle Equation as two decisions that guarantee astonishing levels of success and fulfillment: Unwavering Faith and Extraordinary Effort. On the surface, I was skeptical about any book that guarantees success because, well, the human element. You can’t just read the book, understand the equation, and expect success to happen. I suppose that’s where the Extraordinary Effort comes into play.
Hal has a compelling story to tell. Not only has he escaped death twice, he has set some pretty lofty career goals. Using his Miracle Equation, he exceeded those goals and has gone on to set even loftier goals. As a reader, you start to believe he is unstoppable, and perhaps immortal. The way he writes is casual, familiar, and relatable.
Two of the great lessons I am taking from this book are the 5-minute rule and the “can’t change it” mantra. I won’t ruin the surprise because I really hope you read the book. But I will say that after my recent trip to Costa Rica, one of my 2023 intentions is to channel the Pura Vida way of life, not sweating the small stuff. Hal’s tips line up nicely with the Pura Vida lifestyle, shifting perspective and building resiliency.
When I work with clients to achieve goals, I often rely on my experience and what I have found to be true about goal setting, which is:
Big, sweeping changes rarely work. Small changes over time will get you further and your results will be sustainable.
Your goals should stretch you, and if they do, you will need to fundamentally change who you are to achieve them.
You can’t get there without a plan. Your plan will be tested and challenged so you’ll also need a plan for when that happens.
Your goals and the plan need to be visible. Refrigerator art works best for me, because I know dang sure I’ll be looking at it a few times a day.
Professional athletes are the best of the best and they have a coach, someone who taps into their potential, challenges them to do better, and keeps them accountable.
These concepts are also covered in the book, so while they weren’t necessarily new or different for me, I felt like Hal was coaching me through his book. He had me evaluating how far I have come and what I still want to achieve. He inspired me to set a lofty business goal of my own this year.
My goal is to help 36 new clients in 2023. How did I come up with 36? I have no idea. It just hit me while I was reading.
In the spirit of Extraordinary Effort, I am sharing this goal here in hopes you, the reader, will share this blog post with someone you know that has big goals and is looking for a coach who will help them achieve measurable results. In the meantime, pick up a copy of The Miracle Equation and enjoy!