Say It With Me- Everything is Figureoutable!
by Astrid Ferguson
So how could I not write a review on this life changing book? I mean the title in itself sums it up. I took my time reading this one because this book required you to do some thinking, soul searching, and implementing action. I mean every chapter was filled with exercises and down right juicy examples that everything really is figureoutable! Before I dive into this much needed book for anyone dealing with mental blocks, limiting beliefs or a good kick in the butt; allow me to give you some background on the book.
Everything is Figreoutable Synopsis:
As it reads on Amazon: From the host of the award-winning MarieTV and The Marie Forleo Podcast, an indispensable handbook for becoming the creative force of your own life.
While most self-help books offer quick fixes, Everything is Figureoutable will retrain your brain to think more creatively and positively in the face of setbacks. In the words of Cheryl Strayed, it's "a must-read for anyone who wants to face their fears, fulfill their dreams, and find a better way forward."
If you're having trouble solving a problem or reaching a dream, the problem isn't you. It's that you haven't yet installed the one belief that changes everything.
Marie's mom once told her, "Nothing in life is that complicated. You can do whatever you set your mind to if you roll up your sleeves. Everything is figureoutable."
Whether you want to leave a dead end job, break an addiction, learn to dance, heal a relationship, or grow a business, Everything is Figureoutable will show you how.
You'll learn:
• The habit that makes it 42% more likely you'll achieve your goals.
• How to overcome a lack of time and money.
• How to deal with criticism and imposter syndrome.
It's more than just a fun phrase to say. It's a philosophy of relentless optimism. A mindset. A mantra. A conviction.
First Impression:
Everything is Figreoutable by Marie Forleo is like a life manual for when self doubt, adversity, trying times, mental blocks and all kinds of shit clogs up your toilet and that dame plunger isn’t doing the trick. Yea one of those “Ahi Dios mio ayudame” embarrassing moments in the bathroom you wish to erase forever. Ironically, this book at first didn’t persuade me to buy. Partly because I expected to read another cheesy self help book. I had been binge reading self help books because I didn’t know what I was doing as an entrepreneur. All these self help authors and public speakers say it’s all about mind shifts, morning routines, and personality traits— I was honestly getting bored out my mind. I mean let’s be honest, some self help books are pretty cheesy because most of them say the same thing in different ways. No one really gives you the how-to formula or tangible steps to move forward. It is mostly a get your mind right and here are some quotes type of ordeal. I know that sounded pretty shady from someone who owns and reads a ton of self help books. I am just keeping it real or how Tank would say, “keeping it 100.”
This book however, was not cheesy at all! Although it has quotes (insert side smirk here) it was strikingly engrossing. There are very few self help books that hits me where I need them to. Nope, not there you silly person. In the throat, in the throat guys (wink* wink*). Everything is Figreoutable by Marie Forleo did one hell of a job captivating you from the very beginning and yanking tight on your mind, thoughts and emotions. I instantly felt like we were in a coaching room and she was there with her fabulous Herbal Essence type long uxorious hair in perfect wand spirals (she really does have fabulous hair). Like you just want to hate on her because she has naturally beautiful full head of hair while mine is… Let’s not talk about my hair. Carrying on with my coach and patient scene. Her office smelling like Japanese Cherry Blossom and cool breeze fresh linen from Bath and Body Works. Watch you all hit up Bath and Body Works after this review ha-ha. If you do, tell them to hook up Astrid with a coupon or something (read it with a Hispanic accent)!
Just picture the scene of going into a therapist office and he or she says lie down and lets talk about your shit! Literally is how I felt Marie was talking to me through this book. Except in this book Marie brilliantly tells you about other folks shit and how they figured it out. Then hits you with the why can’t you figure this out? I mean Dr. Tererai Trent was living in poverty in Zimbabwe, came to the United States to obtain her Ph.D. — Dealt with an abusive husband, worked tirelessly, lived in a trailer and was eating out of trash cans. It took her twenty years to obtain her Ph.D. —was grateful for the journey and humbly says, “at least in America they clean their trash cans.” That’s when Marie attacked your excuses like street fighter vs. champion and you had no other choice but to take action.
I was glued and carried this book with a notebook and pen to do each one of the exercises. Not because Marie told me to but because I too became instantly intrigued as too why I hadn’t adapted the everything is figureoutable formula. After reading all these stories of people from all walks of life overcoming poverty, learning disability barriers, abusive trauma, physical damage from shark attack and Marie sharing some of her own you couldn’t help but ask yourself— Damn, what is my excuse? Why haven’t I figured this out? What is really keeping me from doing this thing? Because As Marie put it if it isn’t figureoutable go by this rule of thumb:
Rule 1. All problems (or dreams) are figureoutbale.
Rule 2. If a problem is not figureoutable, it’s not really a problem— it’s a fact of life or a law of nature (e.g., death or gravity).
Rule 3. You may not care enough to figure this problem out or achieve this particular dream. That’s okay. Find another problem or dream that ignites a blazing fire in your heart and go back to Rule 1.
Complexity in Stories We Share:
Everything is Figreoutable was like the mentor or a life bible I was looking for. I was dealing and still deal with, tons of self doubt and impostor syndrome. I decided to pick up this book because I attended her b-school program and saw so many of them posting how incredible this book was. Because I was at a very low point— questioning if I am meant to be an entrepreneur, I decided to give it a fair shot. As a full time employee or career I have it all. I have a very good paying flexible job, own property, landed the guy, my children are healthy, have a nice car, no longer living paycheck to paycheck (well most times)— still I felt a huge gap inside of me. I felt broken because here I am a very successful corporate working woman and I feel stuck/unfulfilled, without any sense of purpose. What’s wrong with me? Why do I feel stuck? I developed these side businesses that weren’t really generating any kind of income that I could feed the minions with. I felt like I was just doing what everyone else was saying I should do for my passion/side business to boom. Instead, it was like I was talking to crickets. I felt defeated and a bit hopeless. Worst of all, I didn’t know how to get unstuck. It’s not like I can say good bye job I found my dream and I will live on saliva and hot breath, you know? I have a family to feed and a roof to keep over our heads. However, I kept doing something. Even when I attempted to stop myself from writing I felt a strange calling to just keep going. It was like undergoing a losing game of Russian roulette with my responsibilities vs my desires. A high pitch nagging that just continued disturbing my sanity, my familiar life.
As I completed the exercises in Everything is Figreoutable, I realized I was on the right path. I was engaging and learning what I liked and disliked. I quickly realized I was doing a lot of busy work and not productive work. It helped me eliminate distractions from what my overall vision was for my business. I learned to manage being happy in my current stage of life while still pursuing this dream. Now I can say I am more confident in this path and trusting the process. Marie even inspired me to stop ignoring my call and become a certified life coach. One day I will be able to write a blog post saying how I built a multi-million dollar company doing what I love and that I was able to leave corporate America. I am manifesting it so don’t try to kill my vibe, ok?
Right now, in this moment I am finally content knowing I don’t need permission to do what I love. I can be a successful career woman who wants to help people. I can share how much I overcame to become the person I am today. I can still be an exceptional mother and wife who steps into her calling. I believe it’s part of learning to view selfish and selfless with a whole new set of lens. None of them are good or bad, they are simply options of what we aspire to become. A choice is how you change a belief and that is the first step of understanding that everything is figureoutable.
What Worked:
This entire book was brilliantly written. Marie asked us to come into Everything is Figreoutable completely open and prepared to dismantle the common excuses; time, lack of knowledge, lack of resources, limiting beliefs, impostor syndrome, perfectionism, fear and the list goes on. Marie does a wonderful job pairing stories of different individuals of all walks of life and having you complete a series of exercises where you get to dig into your own shit you know! I know that is what I enjoyed most. She also shares a bit of her story. She shares how perfectionism is disguised procrastination. Yes my friend digest that previous statement. With perfectionism we tend to (at least I know I do this) overthink and not take imperfect action. So if you are THINKING of taking that photography class and you’re unsure because you are still gathering research; chances are all that THINKING will keep you from taking the class. So just take the damn class! That is what Marie would tell you.
I loved that this book also helped me view failure as an opportunity rather than just this debilitating fear. I always allowed fear to keep me from moving forward because of all the unkowns. So I applied the following quote as my mantra because it is mood for all of 2020.
I win or I learn but I never lose.
There are so many good examples in this book from people overcoming trauma; to leaving abusive relationships to graduating college after being called incapable due to mental illness that I could go on forever. So my friend just go get the book. Start your transformation and remember everything is figureoutable! But if you are in need of a pick me upper I will leave you with a quote from one of my favorite poets:
I have written eleven books, but each time I think, “Uh oh, they’re going to find me out now. I’ve run a game on everybody, and they’re going to find me out.”
-Maya Angelou
What Didn’t Work:
Honestly, this was so well done I can’t even pick at anything. Marie does embed a good bit of marketing to her Marie TV and B school course but it was so well done that it doesn’t feel salesy at all. I mean after reading this book, attending her book tour and listening to her on the podcast, it makes me want to take some marketing classes from her. She basically wrote this book like she was having a conversation with you and did it at every event and you didn’t know she was doing it. I knew because I attended her book tour in Philly. I read a good portion of the book beforehand because Astrid felt she needed to be prepared like Marie was going to talk to little ole me. Everyone was hanging to every word and I was like she is the damn queen of marketing.
However, it didn’t bother me because as authors that is what you’re supposed to do. You want to give your readers/super fans something they can keep connected to. Something they can reference and feel like they are building a relationship with you.
Closing Thoughts:
I applaud Marie Forleo for doing such a great job with this book. She did her damn homework, you hear me! I mean she touched every possible example and gave you a coaching session in these 300 something pages. This book is one of those books that will live in my bookshelf for life. I violated every bookish rule because I highlighted, wrote and dog eared pages. So I know any booksih people reading this are cringing in their seats. However, if Marie was ever to read this I just want to say, Thank you. This book has transformed my life and I am sure it will for so many other people. So my friend go get the book! I even gave my mentee a copy.
Giveaway:
Didn’t I say I gave this book to my mentee? This book is mine and I am not giving it away! I will pass this down to my sons. Ok that was a bit mean, my bad. But seriously, get the book. Then get a copy for your girlfriends. Have a little discussion group and trust me when I say this is worth all your coins.
Now, tell me what did you enjoy most about this review? Have you read this book yet? If so, let me know in the comments I’d love to hear your thoughts. If you read this story and felt the same; my frien (read it with a Hispanic accent) let’s talk. Ok hasta la proxima my friends! Chao!
