The Fire Starter Sessions Book Summary - The Fire Starter Sessions Book explained in key points

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The Fire Starter Sessions summary

Name: The Fire Starter Sessions
Rating: 4.6 (19 reviews)
Author: Danielle LaPorte

Danielle LaPorte

A Soulful and Practical Guide to Creating Success on Your Own Terms

4.6 (19 ratings)

19 mins

Table of Contents

The Fire Starter Sessions
summarized in 11 key ideas

Audio & text in the Blinkist app

Key idea 1 of 11

What’s in it for me? Set your creativity aflame without burning your true self.

Do you want to make it big, but are afraid of sacrificing your integrity? Do you want to create a business or a creative enterprise, but don’t want to lose sight of your true self? Many of us are blocked by these kinds of dilemmas, but the truth is, we are blocking ourselves – because success and our values are compatible.

But all great things come at a price. What you’ll need is the self-knowledge to stick to your true self and the marketing skills to make it in the big business world. You’ll need to be prepared to dive into the depths of your being, into places you’re scared to go – and you’ll need to learn how to take control of your life to achieve your peak potential.

In these blinks, you will:

discover the tools for success and how you can get results the fastest: by being true to yourself,
learn how you can discover your true self, and how to lever your innate potential to your advantage,
find practical exercises that will help you discover who you really are and how to set your creativity on fire, and
find out why it’s sometimes better to ask for less money for your hard work.

Instead of trying to be good at everything, discover what makes you feel alive.

For many of us our day to day work is a draining necessity. Mentally, a lot of us are limping through our lives. But don’t despair; there are ways to reignite your spark.

Start by discovering what lights you up – because this is usually where your true strengths lie.

Think of Michael Jordan playing basketball: people just couldn’t figure out how he could be one of the best players in the world and make it look so easy and fun. Yet, although he was a brilliant sportsman, Jordan failed miserably when he decided to retire from professional basketball and play professional baseball instead.

Why?

Simply because baseball was not his main talent, and he didn’t particularly enjoy it. When he returned to basketball, he excelled once again, showing that when you choose the right job, it lights you up.

If you want to discover your true talent, try thinking of all the things that you are good at. For example, what activities do you truly enjoy? When do you feel truly at ease with yourself? Write the answers down – and if you’re at a loss for words, try asking your best friend.

You might end up with a long list of things you are good at. But if you want to be successful, you need to start picking your battles, instead of trying to be good at everything.

Let’s say you are a pretty good cook, but get really stressed when preparing a meal. You might think that you can make it as a professional cook if you just practiced some more, but in fact, it’s actually more likely you’re not made for the job. Instead of mobilizing all the energy to get better at something which doesn’t flow, try cultivating another of your strengths until you find one that feels right.

Do what comes easily to you and brings you enthusiasm.

Most of us learn early on that we have to work our asses off to meet other peoples’ expectations. But in fact that is the Myth of Endurance that keeps us from choosing the easy, efficient and self-compassionate life.

Truth is, choosing an easy route in life is more effective.

Instead of picking goals, figure out how you want to feel – and don’t be ashamed of it.

Are you one of those super-productive people who have to-do lists, quarterly objectives and five-year goals? If so, do these lists actually make you happy? More often than not, they don’t.

Why?

Come up with a “cocktail line” that makes you feel good about yourself.

What do you say when you get asked the most notorious party question: “So, what do you do?” More importantly, how does your answer make you feel?

In fact, a lot of people have cocktail lines that make them feel bad.

Let go of your past failures and visualize the future.

When you’ve truly messed something up, it is easy to dwell on what you did wrong. In fact, some of us are still living our worst failures, defeats and break-ups over and over again.

But how does that mindset help you?

Prioritize your feelings and don’t be afraid of criticism.

Have you ever had a vision of where you wanted to go, but were too afraid to make it a reality? Don’t worry, you’re not alone – and this blink will help you overcome your fear.

Try and prioritize your positive feelings by imagining you are a team coach giving your emotions a pep talk before the game: “So, how is everyone feeling?” Enthusiasm will be right there: “I can’t wait to get playing.” But fear will stand up: “Are you crazy? I will never play again if I lose this game!”

When dealing with people, trust your gut and know when to walk away.

Other people are a blessing and a burden to us all: while some encounters can be very rewarding, others can be very stressful – especially when people try to play you.

So how can we distinguish the good from the bad?

Revitalize your inner muse by pricking up your ears and sharpening your brand.

All of us have that voice hidden inside of us: the voice of our inner muse that comes alive when you listen to its call. Next time you hear it whispering, try paying close attention – and watch your creativity flow.

For example, you can try doing what the author Richard Bach does, and give your muse a name: he calls his “the idea fairy.” She visits him either when he is gardening or when he is flying in a plane. That’s why he learned how to pilot his own plane – and soon he found ideas for his books amongst the clouds. You too should pay attention to when and where your inner muse strikes you the most. You can then recreate the optimal working conditions your muse needs to visit you often.

Find out your time personality to deal with your time management issues.

Like many others, you might have tried a plethora of time management systems over the years without finding one that fits you right.

This trend is common because, although systems can be useful for running our lives, they can also enslave us.

Know why you need money and make sure you feel comfortable with what you’re charging.

What truly matters to you? Wealth, reputation, happiness? The answers vary wildly from person to person, and drive us down all kinds of paths – but when you don’t even know yourself, you can feel like you’re running in circles.

To find out what truly matters, you should get an idea of what you actually need money for.

Find your tribe and strengthen your relationships by being a giver.

Do you have a group of friends or co-workers that make you feel totally at ease? Then you have already found your tribe – and you’ll know how valuable it is.

If you don’t have a tribe already, try to get an idea of which kind of people inspire you. Who do you really want to work with? What do they need to believe in?

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What is The Fire Starter Sessions about?

The Fire Starter Sessions is a spiritual guide to how you can achieve success on your own terms. It will show you how to become successful – without sacrificing your true self – through practical exercises that will set your full creative potential free.

Best quote from The Fire Starter Sessions

The moment you say yes to acting on your desire is the real beginning.

—Danielle LaPorte

Who should read The Fire Starter Sessions?

Anyone who wants to be successful without compromising their integrity
Anyone who feels they can’t express their true self

About the Author

Danielle Laporte is a best-selling Canadian author, motivational speaker, entrepreneur and blogger. She’s written several self-help books and was a regular contributor on the show “Connect with Mark Kelley” on Canadian television.

Categories with The Fire Starter Sessions

Creativity Career & Success

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