Life Strategies: Doing What Works Doing What Matters

In this presentation, I will consider the book entitled *Life Strategies: Doing What Works Doing What Matters. Also, please go to “The Word Is…” on my website for an audio presentation reprise on “Goals.”

This book is written by Phillip C. McGraw, Ph.D. who, as a TV personality, is better known as “Dr. Phil.” Dr. Phil is a Psychologist and in the book he provides a number of exercises geared towards increased self-knowledge. His first exercise, to list “…the top five things in your life that you have simply failed to fully and completely acknowledge to yourself” (p.19) may seem especially daunting. There is another exercise in the chapter entitled A Guided Tour of Your Life. This, too, is difficult (and time-consuming.) But, if completed, the reader would certainly gain clarity. As is true of all the other exercises presented, the exercises serve to bring awareness to people as they go about their daily lives and to confront what may not be working.

There are Ten Laws of Life presented in the book which Dr. Phil describe as “…the rules of the game” and is essential towards taking control of your life. (p.32) He goes on, “You can ignore them and stumble along, wondering why you never seem to succeed; or you can learn them, adapt to them, mold your choices and behavior to them, and live effectively.” (p.32) These Laws include Law #3: People do what works and Law #8: We teach people how to treat us.

Other sections include the ten factors present in successful people such as having a vision for what they want and having the ability to take risks. Lastly, but no less important, Dr. Phil describes his Seven-Step Strategy for realizing one’s goals.

Dr. Phil can be described as “no-nonsense.” He is direct and eschews the victim mindset. He rallies everyone to take control of their lives and helps them do so with the exercises and information presented in the book. As stated by Dr. Phil: (p.15)

Most people…cheat themselves by not asking themselves the
hard questions, not facing their true personality and behavior,
and therefore not addressing the nitty-gritty issues undermining
their efforts to succeed. My position is this: Let the rest of the
people live in a fog of self-deception. You take off the blinders
and deal with the truth, and you’ll leave them in the dust.

Thank you. May this book be influential in your life on your own road to success.
*Note this review is based on the 1999 edition of the book.