I have to admit, I have not been one to sit down and read one of Eckhart Tolle’s books. I have, however, become totally enthralled by his audio CDs. Most people can’t listen to Eckhart Tolle’s voice without dozing off. Not me. Good thing both the book and audio CDs are available.

I felt inspired by his perspective on living in a new state of consciousness which is the theme of his latest book, “A New Earth”.

Of all the non-fiction I have read and/or listened to, this body of work has moved me the most. Maybe it’s the timing, as I do believe we uncover new information when it is time to receive it.

Tolle explains human nature in such a way that allows us to forgive ourselves for chronically over-thinking which results in constantly recycling negative and painful feelings that lead to great pain and suffering.

Although Eckhart Tolle is only one of thousands, possibly millions, of spiritual leaders who have authored books communicating this message, the way he explains it was quite riveting and easy to comprehend.

I have found myself repeatedly listening to several of the eight-CD set over and over again. I’ve done this to retain the information, assimilate the concepts and then put them into practice.

Many spiritual teachers profess the importance of acceptance; the concept of accepting what is happening in our lives at each given moment. They also emphasize doing this no matter what is happening in our lives in the present moment.

Eckhart Tolle says that, beyond acceptance, enjoyment is the next level of fulfilment followed by enthusiasm. When we reach a state of enthusiasm, we are living our purpose.

He also speaks about how we have an inner purpose and an outer purpose. Our inner purpose is simply being present in each moment (to the extent that humans can be). By being present in everything we do, whether it’s washing the dishes, mowing the grass or sitting at the board room table, clarity around our outer purpose will emerge.

For the longest time I struggled with finding my outer purpose. It was uncomfortable and at times painful. Yet, now, I understand that based on ideas outlined in this book that our outer purpose will constantly change based on life’s circumstances. By primarily focusing our attention on inner purpose first, we will be led to our outer purpose.

I highly recommend Eckhart Tolle’s “A New Earth, Awaking Your Life’s Purpose” if you are ready and have desire to live your life in a more present state of being and want to find deep compassion within yourself and others.

When you read a new non-fiction book, do you tend to apply at least one or more of the principles?
Alan Weiss is an intellectual and his books are full of great stuff. I tend to take what I want from them and leave the rest because at times Weiss’ ideas can be quite heady.

In the case of “Value Based Fees,” I love the concept he instills in regards to giving the client exactly what they want. More often than not, we – not the clients – are the ones who put limits on what we deliver to our clients. In fact, who are we to decide what our clients or customers need? It is our responsibility to share all options with our clients in their entirety and then let them decide which option they find to be of the most value.

Michael Gerber has been around for a long time and so has his original masterpiece, The E-Myth. I remember reading The E-Myth when I first started my business, and proceeded to hand out a copy to all of my clients.

This book is a must-read every few years. Now the E-Myth Revisited, an updated version of The E-Myth, has become one of my true favourites. Clients of Lift Strategies tell me that once they read the book, it puts into words what they wanted to do and say all along.

Business systems and the way we approach our business from the inside of the organization is critical to the business’ external success. Michael Gerber’s stories are great examples of how we can work harder, not smarter, set up a profitable company and enjoy life.

Not only is Mark LeBlanc a savvy business person, he is an expert in helping small business owners grow their business. I have had the pleasure of hearing Mark LeBlanc speak on several occasions. His no nonsense approach to business is very direct yet refreshing.

His little blue book, “Grow Your Own Business,” offers a number of fundamentals that are true gems. I highly recommend owning a copy and often give one away during my speeches and training sessions.

Eckhart Tolle’s concept of a new state of consciousness really speaks to what I would consider to be the ultimate way of experiencing life. If you are anything like me, the person with the brain that lives in a thousand different places, this book will ease your mind.

The Power of Now is definitely one of my favourite books of all time and I love the audio version even more. I believe it’s time for us as a human race to embrace each moment as it is. Constantly living in our past stories and our future fears and fantasies is fatal to our health and well-being.

Over the years of working with and speaking to women business owners, I have discovered that most of them, like myself, have had to work through issues around money.

The main issue surrounding money is about asking for what is considered a fair market price for the value of the service that we provide. Overcoming Underearning is an excellent book in that it addresses these issues and walks the reader through a series of beneficial exercises that can be both habit-changing and life-transforming.

Thank you, Barbara Stanny, for your commitment to helping women believe in themselves and their true value.