People who attended CGW#2 and HAD NOT read Steve's book

[Kevin V]

I was extremely surprised to have met so many people who were at the workshop that had NOT read Personal Development for Smart People. It just seems counter-intuitive to pay close to $1000 total for a trip to show up at a writer's workshop without having read his/her book!

Sure, Steve says it's not required to read the book to attend the workshop. Sure, you may have been reading Steve's blog for 5 years now and feel you don't need to read the book. But guess what? I worked with quite a few people at the workshop during exercises who could have become aware of (or even solved) their sticking points MONTHS AGO had they read the book! There were times where I would look at someone's sticking point and I would say "Oh, do you remember that part in the book where Steve talks about that and goes on to say..." only to hear "Well, uh, actually, I didn't read the book".

If you've been reading Steve's blog since Day 1 but may still be missing out on even JUST ONE A-HA MOMENT because you haven't read the book, you're just plain lazy! What's a few hours of your time to find that one potential, life-changing A-Ha moment that you can experience now instead of months or years down the road at the workshop?

[Margarita888]

I wouldn't be so quick to call people "plain lazy" if they have not read the book but have been following Steve's blog. I attended the workshop without having read the book. I actually have the book but just haven't gone past the Truth chapter. My excuse? I've got 3 kids under 6, I'm a stay/work at home mom & run my business from home, and I prepare 80-90% of our meals at home from scratch. A few hours to read is pure luxury around here. Yes, I'm giving some of my power to my kids instead, family, my work, etc. instead of reading the book, but it's well worth it and something I consciously choose to do so without regret.

I don't believe people have to have read the book to get much from the workshop. And I don't believe reading the book would replace going to the workshop either. I've met a lot of people at the workshop that HAVE read the book but are still stuck on some areas in their lives. I think people just have their own journeys to follow at their own pace. Everybody is exactly where they should be--whether that involves having read the book or not.

[Kevin V]

Originally Posted by Margarita888

I wouldn't be so quick to call people "plain lazy" if they have not read the book but have been following Steve's blog.

You're right, I shouldn't have been so quick to call people lazy. I'm just so aligned with power I'm used to taking immediate action!

Also, if your time management is optimal, you should be able to allow yourself the luxury of more reading time!

I don't believe people have to have read the book to get much from the workshop.

Keep in mind your opinion could be completely different had you attended the workshop after reading the book.

[Mabel]

I agree with both of you...

Kevin--I think your point about the value reading the book before attending the workshop is spot on. I went out of my way (special ordering the book) to make sure I had it before Steve's October 2008 I Can Do It 1.5 hour talk when I learned that the book was unexpectantly available before the conference. In that case it probably was not as important since it was a shorter lecture geared at introducing the concepts in the book as oppossed to delving in deeper. So it did not hurt my understanding of the material that I did not finish the book before the lecture, but it did help my understanding that I read part of the book. For myself, I cannot imagine not having read the book before attending CGW1. That said....

Margarita--It hardly sounds like you are lazy and while it could have been helpful for you to read the book ahead of time, I certainly would not have let that get in the way of attending the conference. I hope you found it a rich experience regardless of your book-reading status! In a perfect world, I would have liked to have re-read the book before each conference, but I did not. I only read it from cover to cover once. Something to strive for next time!

Sonya

[Mabel]

Yikes--sorry for all the double-negatives in my response!!!

[Gene]

Originally Posted by Margarita888

I wouldn't be so quick to call people "plain lazy" if they have not read the book but have been following Steve's blog.

I agree with you you certainly not lazy and most of the other attendees probably are not lazy. Anyone who made the effort to attend has energy and purpose.

I can thing of a number of reason for a person to be there without reading the book. One of them is that the book was just too big a chunk of information for them to complete without help. There are lots of others.

[Gene]

Originally Posted by Mabel

I agree with both of you...

Kevin--I think your point about the value reading the book before attending the workshop is spot on. I went out of my way (special ordering the book) to make sure I had it before Steve's October 2008 I Can Do It 1.5 hour talk when I learned that the book was unexpectantly available before the conference. In that case it probably was not as important since it was a shorter lecture geared at introducing the concepts in the book as oppossed to delving in deeper. So it did not hurt my understanding of the material that I did not finish the book before the lecture, but it did help my understanding that I read part of the book. For myself, I cannot imagine not having read the book before attending CGW1. That said....

Sonya

I believe reading the book allowed me to be more prepared for the workshop and familiar with the concepts Steve was presenting to the attendees. I would recommend a friend to read the book before the workshop if said friend asked my opinion.

The path has many variations and any of those paths which lead to a conscious life is a good path.

[yoopersmith]

I read the book...and I'm still lazy!! Lazy is my choice to make...just like everything else in my life.

[mmartin2009]

I didn't read the book or even think to until 2 weeks before the conference. It was so helpful to be in a supportive environment going through the exercises (instead of an unsupportive one at home) and seeing the one on one's were HUGE! I saw something of myself in everyone who was on stage. Working with different people during each session got me thinking about myself differently and I got some good advice. There is no book that could be as helpful in the same way (DVDs maybe) and I loved meeting so many awesome people.
I bought the book but I haven't read it yet, it IS just much like the conference. I hope to soon but by then I may have the DVDs!

[David Hooper]

The book will point some people in the right direction, but it's not going to solve sticking points.

Reading about it, without living it, is what I call "Marriage Advice from a Priest."

Think of it like this...

I could read a book on yoga, but does that mean I'd be able to touch my toes or do whatever else is the purpose of yoga after doing so? No. Success with anything comes from "time on the mat." And not just any time either... "Practice makes perfect" only when it's perfect practice. Practice the wrong thing and you'll only get better at doing it wrong.

With that said, I haven't read the book myself, so maybe I'm wrong about this.

[spadesmaster]

I have been to TWO CGWs now and still not fully read Steve's book. I find the the workshop so much better anyways as it is an opportunity to meet so many smart, enlightened people. Besides, as others were alluding to, applying the concepts is so much more important than the concepts themselves. That said, I am reading the book now and hope to garner one more nugget or two out of it and reinforce what I have already learned and am applying!