Start Up Your Life Book

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· 78 ratings · 23 reviews

Start your review of Startup Your Life: Hustle and Hack Your Way to Happiness

Feb 20, 2017 MD rated it liked it

I've been in the business world for quite a while, including working as an IT project manager in an Agile environment. I've read a lot of business books, including the Tony Hsieh book the author cites. I was expecting a book about achieving personal happiness. This book felt like a book of advice for the entrepreneurially-minded to achieve success. For some people personal happiness and entrepreneurial success might be the same thing, and for those people this might be an awesome book. For me th I've been in the business world for quite a while, including working as an IT project manager in an Agile environment. I've read a lot of business books, including the Tony Hsieh book the author cites. I was expecting a book about achieving personal happiness. This book felt like a book of advice for the entrepreneurially-minded to achieve success. For some people personal happiness and entrepreneurial success might be the same thing, and for those people this might be an awesome book. For me they are not the same; it didn't speak to me at all. All of the examples I saw here related to starting businesses, not to achieving happiness.

Other issues:
1. The analogy doesn't work. It just doesn't. Since that's the premise of the book, that's a problem. Unless I completely misunderstood the purpose of the book.
2. The author tosses in buzzwords like "scrum," but they don't fit what she's saying. If you are a Scrum Master you will wince.
3. Sometimes the book just doesn't make sense. "Finding the most sustainable place in your life for any given passion requires some thoughtful interrogation." What?
4. Little to no how-to. Several examples of various well-known entrepreneurs who achieved success but I saw little readers could actually use to achieve their own success/happiness.

The one thing I saw that seemed useful is on page 73-74 about expanding your worldview to open up possibilities and perspectives you might not have thought of before. There might be more, but having found just that one useful idea by page 86, and that being one I already practice, I decided to put this book aside and pick up something that seemed more rewarding of my time.

If you would like to apply Agile and Scrum principles in your personal life, try Jeff Sutherland's excellent book. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

I received a copy of this book for free via the Firstreads program. Now you know that doesn't automatically get it a 5-star review from me.

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I won this book in a goodreads giveaway. i am so grateful I did, this has given me the motivation, tools and steps to get my life back on track and head in the direction I want to go.

The writing is straight forward,a s is the advice. The analogies used are relevant to the subject and help to put context to the topic. There are both positive and negative examples to show how things can go pear shaped if things are done in the wrong manner.

Best self- help book I have read since The Road Less Trav

I won this book in a goodreads giveaway. i am so grateful I did, this has given me the motivation, tools and steps to get my life back on track and head in the direction I want to go.

Best self- help book I have read since The Road Less Travelled.

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Mar 23, 2018 M rated it did not like it

The concept is a bit late to the party - and at this point it's worth noting that the majority of start-ups, FAIL.

Not sure I want to design my life in the way of a failing business.

Not very helpful and the concept would have been cute 7 years ago. Now, it feels dated and out of touch.

The concept is a bit late to the party - and at this point it's worth noting that the majority of start-ups, FAIL.

Not sure I want to design my life in the way of a failing business.

Not very helpful and the concept would have been cute 7 years ago. Now, it feels dated and out of touch.

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Feb 01, 2017 Mujahid Aziz rated it really liked it

Book was great inspire a couple new songs another pretty book with valuable information her perspective was strong kinda enjoy the way she put it her word structure was nice...Enjoy the overall theme pull it all together at the end finish with a conclusion...Great Job

Aug 16, 2017 Dujo rated it did not like it

90% fluff. Don't waste your time. 90% fluff. Don't waste your time. ...more

Dec 22, 2016 Ted rated it it was amazing

Startup Your Life is a GREAT book with a very important theme that is super relevant to navigating today's rapidly changing world. Well written and, more importantly, very practical. I don't understand the low reviews from the other reviewers. This book has a great story about how the author started out as an academic and ended up as a successful founder of her own startup.

I love the perspective that we need to abandon the outdated paradigms of how to go through modern life and why we should ad

I love the perspective that we need to abandon the outdated paradigms of how to go through modern life and why we should adapt the flexibility and agility of a Silicon Valley startup. This applies whether you're looking to become an entrepreneur or just want to get the most out of life. I've used many of these strategies to improve my own life.

My advice: don't just read this book and judge it on whether you liked it or not. Instead, APPLY the lessons in experiments to see the RESULTS they give you. That, in my opinion, is what this book is all about!

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Jun 27, 2017 Haylie rated it really liked it

I was lucky enough to win this book in a Goodreads giveaway. This book is very great if you enjoy self help and motivational reads. It was very easy to connect with the author and their story. I was able to pick and choose parts of this book that related and benefit me but think that this book would be more meaningful to readers who come from a business background/setting.

Feb 01, 2018 Jon Birger rated it it was amazing

This is the self-help book for people who don't see themselves as the self-help type. It's a practical guide for using startup principles to make your life measurably better right now — regardless of your stage in life. This is the self-help book for people who don't see themselves as the self-help type. It's a practical guide for using startup principles to make your life measurably better right now — regardless of your stage in life. ...more

Apr 18, 2021 Zoeauthor rated it it was amazing

Más que un libro de superación, o que un libro de emprendimiento, lo encontré como inspirador y didáctico; lleno de ejemplos útiles para todas las personas que estamos involucradas en el área de mercadotecnia, diseño e innovación de productos, etc.

Lo recomiendo ampliamente.

Sep 17, 2019 Amina M rated it liked it

Okay read. Wanted more information on intersectionality of identities and how those serve as barriers for people as they are trying to start-up their lives. Enjoyed reading about the author's journey. Okay read. Wanted more information on intersectionality of identities and how those serve as barriers for people as they are trying to start-up their lives. Enjoyed reading about the author's journey. ...more

Jun 19, 2019 Lou rated it did not like it

Anna Akbari filed for bankruptcy in 2017. Why would I take her advice? This is totally insulting as a reader. If she was successful it might be worth considering but she failed at life so it's worthless.

May have been 4 stars but I didn't really like the order of the book because it impacted how the author used her own examples…and the ones at the end were better for being more relatable.

A quick read that encourages an entrepreneurial mindset about all aspects of life. Good anecdotes and smooth writing.

I really enjoyed this book and liked the MVP analogy. It offers practical and realistic advice; the tone is exciting and encouraging.

Dec 27, 2016 Jean Mileham rated it it was amazing

Wow! Finally a realistic, practical alternative to the hundreds of psycho-bable books on self-improvement. If you want to move out of wishful thinking to see real progress on your professional/personal goals, this is a handbook on how to create positive change.

The author is your teacher, the book is your textbook, each chapter a lesson on empowerment, laying the foundation for daily progress measures on attitude AND activity.

Too many self-help books focus only on attitude; leading to the ide

The author is your teacher, the book is your textbook, each chapter a lesson on empowerment, laying the foundation for daily progress measures on attitude AND activity.

Too many self-help books focus only on attitude; leading to the idea that if I just change my attitude success will magically appear. Not true! One of the themes of this book is that success is created; it is not luck. This book inspires and pushes us to daily action to create profound positive change. You learn how to incorporate the start-up world's results oriented approach, applied to yourself or your projects. Concepts like MVP-Minimally Viable Product, optimization, pivoting out of failure, flow, and many more, provide a fresh approach to developing a consistent modus operandi to anchor ourselves and create happiness in a world of constant change. You can read and re-read this little book to mine gold for yourself.

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Jul 10, 2017 Gio rated it liked it

Startup Your Life is a self-help book for people who aren't into self-help. The idea is to think of your life as a startup and run it as you would a new business. Concepts like MVP (Minimally Viable Product), pivoting and flow can be applied to your personal life, as well. Akbari argues they must, if you want to see the results you crave.

Instead than affirmations and meditations, Akbari shares practical tips anyone can use right now to start making changes in their life. Akbari doesn't believe i

Instead than affirmations and meditations, Akbari shares practical tips anyone can use right now to start making changes in their life. Akbari doesn't believe in luck. She believes in hard work. She reminds you that successful people aren't afraid to try new things, experiment, fail and pivot. The key is taking action. Every day, do something that brings you closer to your goals. Reading this book counts too. :)

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Feb 07, 2017 T.J. Burns marked it as to-read

I received a copy of this book from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I received a copy of this book from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. ...more

As someone that is trying to become the best version of myself everyday, I'm always looking for inspirational books with practical advice that I can apply to my life right away. And, that's why I'm so glad that I found this book, because it's packed with practical advice that can help you live a better and happier life. It's a MUST read. As someone that is trying to become the best version of myself everyday, I'm always looking for inspirational books with practical advice that I can apply to my life right away. And, that's why I'm so glad that I found this book, because it's packed with practical advice that can help you live a better and happier life. It's a MUST read. ...more

Anna Akbari, PhD is a sociologist, entrepreneur, and writer. She is the founder of Sociology of Style, an image and life coaching company, and a partner in HVCK, a Silicon Valley innovation consultancy. A former instructor at New York University and Parsons School of Design, she is a frequent speaker and media personality and has written for and been featured by Forbes, CNN, The Atlantic, The Econ Anna Akbari, PhD is a sociologist, entrepreneur, and writer. She is the founder of Sociology of Style, an image and life coaching company, and a partner in HVCK, a Silicon Valley innovation consultancy. A former instructor at New York University and Parsons School of Design, she is a frequent speaker and media personality and has written for and been featured by Forbes, CNN, The Atlantic, The Economist, Financial Times, TED, Bulletproof Executive, TIME, and dozens more. She lives in California.
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