Rules for Renegades by Christine Comaford-Lynch - book review

First off, forget everything you've learned about what it takes to succeed. Christine Comaford-Lynch is a high school and college dropout, a former model and former programmer with Microsoft, a receptionist and an entrepreneur who had made 10 million by the time she was 37 - some 3 million of which she gave to various charities. At 40, she retired, having consulted to more than 700 companies in the Fortune 1000. And she was a five-time CEO.

 Christine Comaford-Lynch

Whew!

Let's back up a bit. Yes, Christine Comaford-Lynch ran away to New York at 16 to become a model; after she tired of that, she talked her way into college but did not finish, and opted, instead to become a Buddhist monk.

 A year later, she was back in the work world, and Christine, armed with a job as a receptionist in the banking field - soon found herself with a lot of responsibility, perks, a decent salary and a new-found respect for the business world.

She went back to college but left that for an entry-level job at Microsoft, (as she says, "embracing her inner geek") where she also picked up some programming skills on the side. When the call came for more programmers, Christine changed her name badge to Chris and talked her way into a programming job - since she already knew how to program the required languages, a skill she had picked up from friends at Microsoft.

Christine was well on her way to learning something about herself. She could do IT - whatever IT is! In one of her chapters, she says: You don't need an MBA - you need a GSD - Get Stuff Done.

Too many of us strive to get into the ‘right college,' choose the ‘right degree' and find the ‘right ladder' to climb. That is not the only way, nor is it the best way, or necessarily the right way for everyone to succeed.

Here is what Christine says in her book, Rules for Renegades: how to make more money, rock your career, and revel in your individuality

Rules for Renegades by Christine Comaford-Lynch

In her chapter, "Everything's an Illusion so Pick One That's Empowering", Christine encourages the reader to create create the illusion they want to become - to ACT who they want to become.

"We create illusions every day at every stage of our lives. These illusions can be positive or negative, growth inducing or destructive. Only when we recognize our propensity to create our own reality can we do it consciously, fostering happy, progressive illusions, instead of unhappy ones that hold us back."

In her sub-chapter, "Evicting the Vile Bitch - So what's stopping you? If you're like most of us, fear raises its ugly head just when the fun starts."

 But Christine knows that fears are only illusions - and you can pick a better illusion and live up to that. Her advice:

"Identify the inner fear monger inside your head - draw a picture of him or her and write down what he or she says. Mine is quite the blabbermouth - stop making so many mistakes! You're fat! Work out more! You're not making a big enough contribution to the world, do more, give more! You're a fraud, you're not as smart or as accomplished as you think you are!"

Christine tells of her friend, comedienne Terri Tate, who calls her own fear monger "that vile bitch upstairs" who, when she hears her ‘vile bitch' shrieking, she tells her: "Thanks for sharing. Please take a vacation/chill pill/nap."

 Our emotions are so powerful, Christine tells us - they can guide us toward failure or success. Christine tells of a communications coach who is a vibrant and attractive woman who wants to be in a relationship but who looks in the mirror and talks her self out of going to a party.

Christine also tells of a friend from years ago, who was a "regular gal, no high powered job," all of five feet tall and a size 14.  This girl looked in the mirror, as she was getting dressed and said to herself: "Honey, how could you get more gorgeous? I just don't know!  Turns out this girl dated stunningly gorgeous men who looked to be straight out of GQ.

Christine writes of her friend: "She was attracting guys who matched the way she envisioned herself: HOT."

 Trading on the old expression, ‘fake it until you make it,' Christine prefers this:

"Act it until you ARE it! Act as if you know how to be a CEO, act as if you've already received the promotion when you pitch your boss for it; it'll help you transcend the fear and self-doubt inherent in making a career leap. Act as if your company is important and successful when pitching your product to a key executive of a huge multinational company; you'll transmit your confidence and belief in your business."

 In Chapter 2, Christine has a plan for anyone to achieve their goals:

1.     "Set one to three goals in each of these seven categories: Financial/Wealth; Career/Business; Free time/Fun; Health/Appearance; Relationships/Personal Development/Learning, Community/Charity...

2.     "Write one to three goals per index card. Write in the present tense, starting with "I am" and using an active verb. Give it a due date and be sure to append with "or more or less"...Example: I am enjoying weighing 125 pounds or less by September 30, 2007...

3.      "Go through the deck at least twice a day, visualizing your goals, experiencing the good feelings associated with your success...

4.     "Create a ‘dream board' of pictures you draw or clip, illustrating what you want to become or get...

5.     "Mark time on your calendar for personal growth...

6.     "Remember that focusing on your goals isn't enough. You need to keep your eyes and ears open for opportunities and do the work required to achieve these goals..."

 Other chapters: Rock Rejection and Finesse Failure; Learn to Love Networking; Only You Can Lead Your Life.

Personally, I really resonate with this book. I believe far too many people simply do as they are told - or taught and never question much of anything.

Far too many of us let our negative inner voices rule our dreams. It does not have to be that way.

An excellent book for kick starting your life now!

A must read.

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List price is $24.95 but Amazon lists copies available for $10.79

Rules for Renegades, available from Amazon.