Small Steps, Big Changes: The Personal Stories Of A Life Coach
It is inconceivable to me that in the four years since this book was first published it did not occur to me to devote a book review column to it until I received an email from one of our readers last month pointing out how much the book has helped her and wondering why I had never written about it.
My reaction was disbelief in realizing that I had not already devoted a column to this book—first, because the author, Dale Brown, is a highly regarded writer and newspaper columnist. The second reason is that I myself have purchased five copies of this book as gifts for members of my family on their wedding days to provide them with Dale’s guidance for long-lasting, happy and successful relationships.
Indeed, I had been so enthusiastic about the idea of Dale sharing her knowledge and advice with the widest possible audience that when she asked me to add my own comments on the back cover of her book I was proud to do so.
The very concept of the book had come from Dale’s grateful clients in her successful practice as a certified life coach, many of whom told her that after the successful completion of their in-person consultations they would love to have a way to be reminded from time to time of her thoughtful lessons, wisdom and outlook on life.
The result is this 246-page paperback that is carefully and thoughtfully organized as a continuing guide, with 62 brief, four-page “reminder lessons” arranged under seven overall headings: Attitude, Life Lessons, Communication, Mind-Body Connection, Habits, Aging Gracefully, and Goals.
There are far too many to be listed here, but just a few of the more than 60 “lessons” will offer a hint of why well-known author Philip J. Harkins offered this praise of Dale’s work: “Rarely does one find a book that they will keep at their bedside, desktop or coffee table. This is not to be stashed on the bookshelf. Readers will want to keep it close by … as a handy reference to help guide through important times in your life.”
Here are the titles of just a dozen of those 62 chapters:
• Love the Skin You’re In
• Don’t Kill the Messenger!
• What are You Grateful for Today?
• Move On When It’s Time!
• To Have a Friend Is to Be One!
• Do You Have the Disease to Please?
• You Hear But Do You Listen?
• How Well Do You Cope?
• Time to Make a Change?
• Why Not Shake Things Up?
• Too Old for Sex? Think Again!
• Better Than the Alternative
• To Keep or Not to Keep
Dale writes so interestingly that you will enjoy reading this book from beginning to end and benefit greatly from each section. Or, you can turn to a specific chapter depending on what problem you may be experiencing for the guidance you need at the time.
Dale has included a list of brief thoughts at the end of each chapter as a “take-away” that will help you focus on the solution to whatever issue you need to resolve.
As I note in my comments on the book’s back cover, I can’t think of a more comforting feeling than having Dale’s counsel as a year-round companion, which is why I have given this book as a wedding gift to members of my own family and recommend it highly to you and yours. Look for it on Amazon.com.
