Book Review: The Compound Effect

If you work on your job, you can make a life.  If you work on yourself, you can make a fortune. -Jim Rohn

My closest friends know that I’m on a constant quest to better myself.  I keep a jam-packed schedule (and love it that way), and I always make sure I spend some time either listening to or reading a book on personal development each day.

Why are you writing this on a beauty blog?  You ask.  The answer is I’ve found that nothing makes me look or feel better than when I’m genuinely happy, which means having both peace of mind and a sense of purpose.  And from talking with family and friends, I’ve learned this is universally true:  You have to feel beautiful and purposeful to look beautiful and have a sense of presence.

The Compound Effect is one of the best books on personal development I have ever read, and perhaps the best that has been written in the past five years.  Darren Hardy, the current editor of SUCCESS magazine, reveals the secrets that enabled him to build a successful business by age 18, to become a millionaire by age 24, and the ability to retire (“enough money to last the rest of my life”) before age 40.

My favorite part of the book is the logic.  As someone with training in science, non-practical self-improvement books like The Secret often leave me cold.  Yet what Hardy says makes sense.  Take his point with weight, for instance:

Let’s take three buddies who all grew up together.  They live in the same neighborhood, with very similar sensibilities.  Each makes around $50,000 per year.  They’re all married and have average health and body weight, plus a little bit of dreaded “marriage flab.”

Friend number one, let’s call him Larry, plods along doing as he’s always done.  He’s happy, or so he thinks, but complains occasionally that nothing ever changes.

Friend number two, Scott, starts making some small, seemingly inconsequential, positive changes.  He begins reading 10 pages of a good book per day and listening to something instructional or inspirational on his commute to work…He’s going to cut 125 calories from his diet every day.  No big deal…

Friend number three, Brad, makes a few poor choices.  He recently bought a new big-screen TV so he can watch more of his favorite programs.  He’s been trying out the recipes he’s seen on the Food Channel…oh, and he installed a bar in his family room and added one alcoholic drink per week to his diet.

At the end of five months, no perceivable differences exist…At the end of ten months, we still can’t see noticeable changes in any of their lives.  But at about month twenty-five, we start seeing really measurable, visible differences.  At month twenty-seven, we see an expansive difference.  At by month thirty-one, the change is startling.  Brad is now fat while Scott is trim.  By simply cutting 125 calories a day, in thirty-one months, Scott has lost thirty-three pounds!

31 months = 940 days
940 days x 125 calories/day = 117,500 calories
117,500 calories divided by 3500 calories per pound = 33.5 pounds

Again, it is the simple but profound logic in The Compound Effect is what really wins me over.  Inspiration without action is delusion, and Hardy makes it a point to give clear lines of action you can take to start changing all areas of your life dramatically, one small step at a time.  Whether you want to look better, earn more, or be more present at home, there is practical advice in The Compound Effect that can help you.

My Story

I bought The Compound Effect a week ago, and already, I’ve started to notice its effects.  Realizing that failing to do 2 blog posts a day adds up to 730 posts a year gets me logging onto the computer.  Acknowledging that one Snickers bar a day equals 29 pounds per year makes me bypass the vending machine.

And it works from the positive angle, too.  When I acknowledge I can get 21 hours more out of the week by getting up at 5 a.m. instead of 8 a.m. – now that is motivating.

What Do You Think?

I hope that FutureDerm.com readers will like my inspirational posts.  As FutureDerm.com grows, I want to include in-depth reviews and analyses of different subjects that touch my heart – not just dermatology and beauty products.  I want for FutureDerm.com to document my growth as a person, not just as a professional.  However, I’d love to know your opinions!  Please write to me on the FutureDerm.com Facebook page, Twitter, or in Comments below!