Why I Picked This One Up
I've watched probably 30 or 40 of Michael Neill's YouTube videos. I don't own a TV, so that's what I do at night, and Neill is basically the opposite of me. I'm fast-paced, go-go-go, New York City energy. He takes his time — every word sounds thought out before it leaves his mouth. I went into Supercoach wanting that voice on paper. It's his first book, he's got close to 18 out by now, and it delivered.
The book runs 10 sections and moves fast. It also quietly debunks half the goal-setting and happiness books sitting on my shelf right now.
The Problem with Goals (and Why You Were Born Happy)
Neill's take on goals surprised me, because I'm a heavy goal-setter — I write affirmations every day. He's not against having a vision. He's against being attached to hitting it. Tie your happiness to reaching a goal and you'll never actually get there, because the goal line keeps moving. Someone will always be wealthier, funnier, happier. Hit one level and you just want the next one.
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That connects straight to his idea that you were born happy. You didn't get taught happiness — you got taught unhappiness. Say four friends are in my apartment and the ceiling springs a leak because I'm on the top floor. Same event, four different reactions, because we're all interpreting it through our own head. Happiness isn't something you buy. I'm filming this on an iPad I love, but I was happy before I owned it. Depend on the iPad, the trip, the money, or another person to make you happy, and you're never getting there. Enjoy the process now, because you don't want to hit 60 or 70 and realize you never actually enjoyed getting where you were going.
The Simple Way to Make Decisions
This is the section I'd give five out of five on its own. Neill's argument: there's no such thing as a wrong decision. There's just a decision, and then what you do with the outcome.
I run a real estate company, so I'm deciding all day — who to hire, who to trust, what to prioritize. I used to ask myself, "am I making the right decision?" Neill reframes it: make the call, and if it's wrong, learn and make a better one next time. Almost none of the decisions we make daily are life-or-death. We live in a world where you can start a company, go bankrupt, and come back financially successful — thousands of people have done exactly that. Lincoln lost four or five elections before he became Lincoln. The decisions weren't "right" or "wrong" in the moment. He just kept deciding to move forward.
Ask for Anything from Anyone
Section 8 hit close to home. Neill's push: get out of your comfort zone and ask for what you want, because it's always a no unless you ask. I already run by that rule — I ask for the free coffee, and half the time I get it, not because I'm owed it but because I made the person behind the counter laugh and I didn't need the outcome to feel good. If you're in sales, real estate, referral-based business, or you're just introverted about asking for what you need, this section alone is worth the book.
The Mindset Behind Financial Security
Section 9 tells the story of a client worth $500 million who's still afraid of going broke. Neill's line: broke is a mindset, poor is a mindset — not having money right now is just a fact, not an identity. I've read a version of this in Bob Proctor and T. Harv Eker too, but Neill's framing stuck with me: you can have a thousand dollars and feel wealthy, or five hundred and feel broke. Until I'm financially free, I keep telling myself I'm wealthy, I'm rich — not as a delusion, but because the mindset has to show up before the number does. He closes the book with the power of hope: you have to actually believe it's going to work out, or you'll unconsciously pull yourself away from the thing you want.
Who Should Read This
If you're a goal-setter who's never quite satisfied when you hit the goal, if you're in a referral-based business and hate asking for things, or if your relationship with money runs more on fear than confidence — this one's for you. Neill's YouTube channel is worth your time too, but start here. Five out of five stars, easy recommend.
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