Stephen Mills talks openly about 7 Simple Steps

Recently, popular Personal Development and Neuroscience blogger Stephen Mills did a review of my book, “7 Simple Steps – Life Transformation Guide” and posted it on his on his blog The Rat Race Trap. I wanted to go beyond the review, so I asked Stephen if he would be willing to answer some questions about his personal thoughts on the book and he agreed.

I came up with 10 questions that were designed to help you get a better feel for 7Simple Steps while also giving Stephen plenty of room to fully express his honest opinions. Rather than interview him in the traditional way, I sent him the questions so that he could give them some thought before answering. I have a lot of respect for Stephen and the work he does, so I was anxious to hear his thoughts and benefit from his feedback.

Here are my questions along with Stephens answers

Q. 1) I know that you have read quite a few personal development books. Is there anything about 7 Simple Steps that stands out as different or unique compared to other books you have read?

A) Yes, 7 Simple Steps is exactly that; simple to implement.  For example, Jack Canfield’s book Success Principles is almost 500 pages.  It’s great and it’s packed with a lot of content and great ideas, but I didn’t implement it.  It’s too overwhelming.  Your book makes it easy to actually do something. 

Q. 2) The first section includes a number of self-discovery exercises on values, passions, and beliefs both limiting and empowering. Was this section helpful?

A) I loved this part of your book.  I’ve gone through various purpose finding, what do you really want, and other similar types of exercises before.  Some of them were fantastic.  However, despite that I learned a number of things about myself going through your exercises.  Well, maybe not learned as in “I had no idea”, but became more aware and conscious of.  That’s probably a better way to put it.

I love to go back and read my 5 Guiding Principles for Internal Harmony.  One of my favorite parts was the top 10 passions list.  I’m am still surprised and delighted at what I find on that list.  I found the exercise to generate that list quite fun.  I’m curious as to what these exercises will show if I do them again five years from now.

Q. 3) Were there concepts in the book that were new to you, and if so could you share some of them?

A) Yes, two things jump immediately to mind.  Near the end of the first section there was an exercise where I went through an anchoring process on my empowering and limiting beliefs.  I’ve got to believe I’ve read about that before, but I certainly never went through the process.  I have those anchors written down on your worksheets and I consider them very valuable.  The second was the patterning process.  That was brand new to me and I found it fascinating and powerful.

As I answered that another one came to mind that I would like to mention.  I found the chapter on wants vs. intentions very insightful.  Your description of how saying “I want” was really a visualization of a negative was great.  I really liked that chapter and I never thought of it that way before.  I always thought saying “I want” was a good thing!

Q. 4) Did you feel that most of the information was practical and actionable, or was it more philosophical or academic?

A) Without question it was very practical.  You made it simple, taking us by the hand and leading us through it step by step.  I don’t want anyone to take that answer in a negative way though.  As someone who considers himself philosophical, I love philosophy and I appreciate it.  There is plenty of philosophical reasoning in your book.  That is a necessary part of anything I consider valuable.  You can’t just tell somebody what to do.  If they are going to accept and internalize it they have to know why they are doing it.  You find an almost perfect balance between the two.  I expect a lot of work went into that book.

Q. 5) If you were asked to classify 7 Simple Steps, would you say it was a how to book, a personal study course, or something else?

A) Actually I like your subtitle – “Life Transformation Guide”.  I consider it a “guide” book.  Of course it tells you “How to”.  The exercises and the way it makes you reflect make it more of a “course” book.  But I’m going to stick with “guide’.  That’s my gut reaction to what I would call it. 

Q. 6) In your opinion, who could benefit from 7 Simple Steps?

A) Everyone.  It does not contain prescriptions that would limit its audience.  If you force me to give a specific answer, I would say it would most help those who are struggling with how to get started.  It does take what many people would consider complicated and distill it down into simple steps.  However, even sophisticated veterans of self-development would benefit from the exercises and reflection you go through, especially early in the book.  Some people need to be taken by the hand and guided step-by-step.  I do not consider myself that type of person and yet I enjoyed and benefited a great deal from it.

Q. 7) In what areas of life could people apply this information?

A) I would have to say for me it was all areas, but I think it’s best in helping you develop an overall strategy for success.  I think it is more personal than business.  It’s not a time management book about how to do your email.  It’s a high-level life strategy and action type of book that can be applied generally.  I remember the chart that looked liked ascending stair steps.  I thought that was excellent and applicable to your whole life.

Q. Was it difficult to get through?

A) No, but it wasn’t a light read either.  I would categorize it as an “action read”.  I remember the first part being a little painful but not too bad.  I started reading it on a plane.  Keep in mind I’m a very impatient person and that is something I need to work on.  Anyway, I was really into it and loving it when I  got to a part that said I couldn’t go any further until I completed an exercise.  I remember being frustrated and thinking damn!  I wanted to read more and I didn’t want to try and start the exercise on the plane.  But I was good and put down the book and picked up another until I could sit down and go through the exercise.

Q. 9) Now that you have finished reading it, will it be of any further use to you in the future?

A) I certainly hope so.  Like I answered earlier, I’m very curious as to what the exercises will reveal after a few years.  I think this is true of almost any good self-development program.  They are applicable to any level of sophistication and each time you go through it you peel back another layer and discover something new.

Q. 10) If you were to summarize how you have personally benefited from 7 Simple Steps, what would you say?

A) Well, the biggest benefit was meeting you, but I’m sure that’s not the answer you were looking for me to provide!  I learned some new techniques from you and I crystallized and discovered some new knowledge about myself.  I think I answered earlier about how I loved to go back and read what is on my worksheets.  Learning is repetitive and when you learn from something like this you need to periodically review it to reinforce it.

Jonathan, your book is a new tool in my toolkit and it’s a valuable tool.  Ultimate success in transforming your life requires you get a variety of experience and tools and draw upon the best of them in various situations.  This book reinforced some things I already knew and provided me a new and unique perspective on some others.  I put it in a binder and it gets prominent position on my bookshelves.  If you knew how I feel about books and how obsessed I am with them, you would know that says more than anything I can say in words.

What do you think?

If you haven’t already read it and would like to, here’s a link to Stephen’s review. If you would like a peek inside 7 Simple Steps you can preview the table of contents. To read the story behind the creation of this Life Transformation Guide visit 7 Simple Steps.

I want to thank Stephen for sharing his thoughts with us and encourage you to see what he’s been up to by visiting him at The Rat Race Trap. If you already have a copy of 7 Simple Steps and would like to share your thoughts please do. If you have a question about the book, please feel free to leave a comment or send me a message and I will be happy to respond.

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