EDMONTON, AB, Dec. 1, 2012/ Troy Media/ – As an avid fan of Ernie Zelinski since his original release of the The Joy Of Not Working through toHow to Retire Happy Wild and Free and having read and re-read many of Ernie’s books over the years, I eagerly awaited the arrival of Look Ma, Life’s Easy.
While virtually all of Zelinski’s books have had his signature style – offering inspiring and thought provoking nuggets of wisdom and life lessons – this one is different. It’s written in a story style, in the form of a parable, a fable in some ways reminiscent of Robin Sharma’s, The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari, but still uniquely Zelinski.
The story revolves around Sheldon, a young man, and Brock, an obviously successful, prosperous and confident middle-aged man. The two meet as Brock encounters Sheldon admiring Brock’s pristine vintage Mercedes 190 SL black ragtop parked on a Vancouver street.
With Sheldon’s obvious envy, Brock reassures him that he too could own one. But Sheldon’s come up with several reasons that would never happen.
Sometimes we look at things as unattainable so we immediately write them off. But Brock challenges Sheldon by illustrating the difference between something that is difficult and something that is impossible. Sadly, as human beings we tend to shy away from the difficult, believing them to be impossible. This attitude, more often than not, hinders and limits us from reaching our true potential and achieving what we really want.
Of course, there is a price to pay to achieve your desired result. You have to work at it, make the effort and put in the time. “It’s a basic rule of the universe,” Zelinski says “and it’s called the Easy Rule of Life.” It says:
“Do the easy and comfortable and life ends up being difficult. Do the difficult and uncomfortable and life ends up being easy.”
This is the main message of the book.
Brock offers to take Sheldon under his wing, showing the young man how he is only limited by his own limiting beliefs. The two go though a series of adventures, meeting a number of interesting characters along the way.
It’s a truly compelling story and, as you turn the pages you wonder both what the duo are going to do next or what the next lesson to be learned will be.
Unlike many of Zelinski’s other books, where you can pick up the book and read a chapter, put it down, then read another, this is certainly one where you want to delectably consume page by page, like a novel.
If you have ever met Zelinski, as I have, saw him on TV or heard him speak, you can certainly hear his voice in Brock’s. While knowledgeable and well-read Brock comes across at times during the story as being outright flippant, with a touch of “know-it-allness”. And when you think something has gone to his head or maybe gone too far, for example during a seminar when a doubter decides that he’s heard enough of his arrogance and wants to leave and file a complaint against him, the doubter is immediately challenged. At that point, Zelinski literally pulls yet another rabbit out of his hat to redeem himself.
The doubter is put in a position of proving Brock’s lesson if he leaves but if he stays he will either be transformed or have much more ammunition to use against him. Either way, the doubter is better off staying.
The book is much more than a story about a successful man guiding a young man who wants a car. Sheldon in many respects can be anyone: there seems to be a little bit of Sheldon in all of us. At some point in our lives we seek guidance, mentorship, and inspiration; maybe some of us just need a good swift kick in the pants to get us going.
Regardless, if you are looking for any of these or perhaps a good story to read, Look Ma, Life’s Easy should be immediately added to your must-read list.
Look Ma, Life’s Easy: An Inspirational Novel about How Ordinary People Attain Extraordinary Success and Remarkable Prosperity (186 pages) by Ernie J. Zelinski.
Greg Gazin is a Tech Columnist, Small Business and Technology Speaker and Senior Editor at Troy Media. He can be reached at Gadgetguy.CA on Twitter @gadgetgreg.
Great review and summary of the book. I recently (in the past month or so) binged Ernie’s books including The Joy of Not Working, How to Retire Happy Wild and Free, and now Look ma, life’s easy! Love that the books are extraordinary relevant and timely during the covid-19 pandemic. I also echo the idea that Sheldon is really in all of us. In some ways, parables are one of my favourite non-fiction book types as the stories can help you remember and solidify concepts in your mind (think The Alchemist or the recent The 5 AM Club by Robin Sharma).
Thanks Wang! Glad you enjoyed the review. It’s another great Zelinski title.
And Yes, it’s amazing how some things are evergreen, i.e. always relevant, but also how some things can be so timely as if they were conceived, written or created today!