Skip the Line: The 10,000 Experiments Rule and Other Surprising Advice for Reaching Your Goals

When I was a kid Ions ago, there was this popular TV show - James at 15. Hmm, I wonder what happened to that actor? Probably 70 and with a walker. Anyway, every week the main protagonist would find himself in a sticky (not literally amazingly enough) adolescent dilemma - most he created in his head because the boy just never fit in. Then magically, 10 minutes before the program ended, James was a better, more mature iteration of himself. Ostensibly, this is James Altucher at 50-something. He never really 'fits' in and it makes him the success he is today. A friend and mentor for over a decade who after boom and bust in his life, financial and otherwise, is now deeply entrenched in the lessons that accelerate the booms and minimize the busts. In other words, he's on a life's highway finally paved, and possesses the map of experience to help all of us reach our next destinations with maturity, wisdom, and armed with rules of the road. This book showcases a maturity of James I haven't witnessed in past writings. I've been fortunate to learn firsthand from James. From the time we witnessed the genesis of Occupy Wall Street from a restaurant window, to Thanksgiving together, to watching him perform in comedy clubs. Whether we communicate often or once a year, my bond with him is strong and unbreakable. In his latest, James takes his 10-Ideas-A-Day wisdom (I'll admit I come up with 10 ideas a day and almost all of them stink but it gets my brain revved - If you're a writer at heart, consider them prompts to get the blood flowing to your head), to the next level. There's math to it now - idea addition, multiplication, division. He helps the reader get excited about these exercises as the sum of them over time can lead to more brilliance, empathy, money. He expounds on the 1% Rule where he assists a reader to break down major milestones into daily millstones. I guess you can call it GRIT and a way to LOVE THE PROCESS - pave the way to flourish of your passion one small step, every day. My favorite chapter is 11 - Frame Control. In every high-stakes situation, one person has the frame and the rest in room don't. Are you in somebody else's frame? Are you comfortable being in their frame? Understanding 'frames' will make you far more difficult to manipulate, allow you to create stronger boundaries. In some way, I have been doing this for a long time in part due to my conversations with James. I've also learned and this book helps to clarify what really goes on in our heads when rejection sets in. From all James' writings, I've learned never to internalize rejection and keep moving forward. Overall, next to Choose Yourself, this tome of James' I believe, opens up a new world of advice from inside his head. From Jedi to Jedi Master (ok with curlier hair), this is James "all growed up!" I look forward to continuing on this ride with him. I hope you enjoy the trip, too.

Loved this book, got the audio version. I found this book to be informative, motivational, and uplifting. Lots of positive advice for improving your present circumstances. James Altucher packs the book with lots of methods and suggestions, and examples demonstrating perhaps a different perspective to approaching problems. He does it in a brilliant and self-depreciating style to encourage the listener or reader to be bold and act on their ideas. There's no shortage of humor, and often at the author's expense. Mr Altucher tries to build people up in their own minds, by saying: …" if I can do it you can do it". So he comes across as that friend in high school or college that you always could rely on for friendly helpful advice. He leaves you upbeat and feeling positive, your day goes better just by having listened to his ideas. To sum it up I would say it's brisk and brilliant like a nice cold Martinelli's apple cider. Great read and perhaps an even better audiobook like an extended podcast. If you don't buy the book you should listen to his podcasts, you'll have a virtual friend and advisor. Good stuff!

This book has very good concepts and provides the tools and questions that will allow you to think differently. The thought process is structured and gives the lessons on how to achieve results by focusing focusing on the process of improving 1%/day and gaining that compounding effect. The skills get you to where you want to go, the results are just the score based on your skills. Don't focus on being the best, focus on being the only. Very good read!

There are two types of readers in the world, those that LOVE James Altechar and those that can spell his name! A wise man makes the complicated simple, while a fool complicates everything....Altucher is no fool and you won't be if you read his latest prose. Skip the Line (StL) is deceptively simple on the surface yet profound in its implementation. StL is the capstone of the Altucher library of knowledge. What is the appeal of the folicly frenzied multi-bestselling author? In a world of hype, he remains remarkably relatable and more importantly real. His business advise is immediately implementable if you have the courage to do it. If you read this book, listen to his podcast, and read his news letter, you will receive any number of potentially successful business ideas or tips....the question is do you have the 'stones' to do something. You could read StL and walk away thinking it is simplistic, and you'd be right, but implement even a few of the ideas and you'll see it is genius. I purchased both the hard cover and audio book! You should too!

James's book "Choose Yourself" literally helped me make it through federal prison and was instrumental in reinventing my life after prison. I was excited to hear that he was coming out with another book and had high hopes for it. I was NOT disappointed. Skip The Line is his best work to date. It's packed with valuable and executable information. I'm already implementing some of the practices (50/1) in my business. What I like most about James is that he does not merely regurgitate knowledge. He walks his walk, and everything in this book is something he has put to use in his own life, and he openly shares his experiences. I found myself putting the book down every couple of pages to capture all the ideas and inspirations that were flowing. I created a file in Evernote to keep track of them all. Skip The Line gave me the courage and the tools to finally take action towards a lifelong passion (40 years) that I never had the courage to pursue. I have a short list of books that I reread regularly. Skip The Line just made that list slightly longer. It's a must-read for anyone who wants to reach their goals.

I have been following James for some time now, I read his books and listen to his podcasts and get so much out of all of them. With this book he has surpassed himself as a writer, I am blown away by the quality of his writing and the invaluable advice contained herein. James is a compassionate, funny, wise and sharing human being, and we are so lucky to have his voice help us navigate this world. This book is worthy of reading again and again. I lost my 'job' two weeks ago but thanks to applying his advice since 2013, it's a mere blip on my life's radar screen as I have numerous fulfilling side hustles. Thanks, James! You are the utter bomb!

Felt somewhat of a Altucher-re-cycle mixed into the. new. batter. Kinda tasted like a Chocolate chip ginger snap.

Skip The Line is the shot in the arm that embraces the best of what it is to be human … how can we leverage the best of our desires to grow and learn? There are about a gazillion ways in this book. Practical, implementable strategies with lots of examples on how to execute. I’m scared to try some (most … maybe all) of them. But I think that’s the point. And even if you don’t want to practice any of the strategies given in the book … you can read it to learn how to write. It’s witty, fun, funny, vulnerable, direct, heartfelt, inspired, inspiring … and even when I get to something that makes me scoff or disagree, Altucher just has a way of making me ask, “why am I fighting this?” He forces the expansion of brains everywhere. We’re so busy accumulating knowledge and reading a book a day! / week! / month! What’s the point of shoving our brains full of stuff we don’t use? This book is the antithesis to the rest of the crowd’s same-old hokey leadership / self help / how to be an entrepreneur! advice that most often stays firmly planted in the theoretical (and generally useless). Not Skip The Line. I feel this is a book I can't not use. And if only in the smallest way ever, that small bit will be guaranteed to make me 1% better ...