Mastering the Seven Decisions That Determine Personal Success: An Owner’s Manual to The Traveler’s Gift
by Andy Andrews

Referred to as a companion volume or owner’s manual to The Traveler’s Gift, this book is a refresher course and excellent follow-up fortifying the original message with letters from established “successes” who share their enthusiasm for the author’s revelations. Andrews provides stories, examples and revisions of the wording of his first book that helps extend the reader’s ability to incorporate Andrews’ ideas.

Mastering the Seven Decisions guides readers to a profound understanding of how to fully integrate seven life-changing decisions into their daily lives. One way in which Andrews freshens his approach is to “rename” the seven decisions. In this book they become the following:

• The Responsible Decision: The buck stops here. I accept responsibility for my past. I am responsible for my success. I will not let my history control my destiny.
• The Guided Decision: I will seek wisdom.
• The Active Decision: I am a person of action.
• The Certain Decision: I have a decided heart. Criticism, condemnation, and complaint have no power over me.
• The Joyful Decision: Today I will choose to be happy.
• The Compassionate Decision: I will greet this day with a forgiving spirit.
• The Persistent Decision: I will persist without exception.

The author provides you with an in-depth understanding of The Seven Decisions, exercises on how to integrate each, and authentic messages from celebrities, business leaders and athletes. The celebrity profiles include: Jimmy Dean, Bob Hope, Stan Lee, General Norman Schwarzkopf, Amy Grant, Norman Vincent Peale, and Joan Rivers.

You’ll also appreciate the many thought-provoking exercises offered throughout the book such as:

• The Death Bed Exercise … Write a glowing, incredible eulogy that you would like to have read aloud at your funeral. Andrews also provides some key questions to encourage your creativity in this exercise.
• 24 Hours to Live … What would I like to do with the next 24 hours of my life? Several leading questions guide you to what might be a surprising answer.
• Others include Crafting Your Ultimate Vision, Harnessing Your Inner Circle, Capitalizing on Your Strengths and many more challenging exercises.

I personally appreciate the presence of dozens of inspirational quotations sprinkled throughout the entire book. You’ll find yourself often pausing to contemplate some pretty deep observations such as: “There are generations yet unborn who depend upon the choices you make, because everything you do matters—not just for you, not just for your family, not just for your hometown—everything you do matters to all of us—forever.”

The author certainly knows how to communicate his thoughts and ideas as he relates his information in a reader-friendly manner, allowing even the most doubting reader to grow from the experience. Motivational books, audio tapes, and seminars are obviously inspirational and simply make us feel good. However, reading, listening or attending doesn’t necessarily insure a behavior change which is what we truly desire and often need. Andrews offers exercises, techniques and encouragement to master that challenge of actively changing attitudes and behaviors. This is a book you’ll want to keep in a convenient location as you’ll find yourself returning to it regularly for an additional dose of inspiration and guidance.

(This book review was originally published in 2008 as one of the Top 10 Books – Edition 18.)