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Writer's pictureRyan Reed

What’s Ryan Reedin’ #4

Two book reviews in two months! Woohoo. I have been reading a little bit almost every day the last two months. Since, we are getting in the heavy writing season there have been a few I didn’t read on, but they are farther between now. I am hoping to stay in this swing of reading as I go off to drum corps this summer. In the past, I haven’t really had a habit of reading so it wasn’t hard to get away from it. As I said in the my last review post, I still been journaling while I read so I think that has helped make it more of a habit now. Reading and journaling has definitely been helpful to my mental/emotional wellbeing the last month.


“You Owe You” by Eric Thomas is the book I just finished, and it is AMAZING! Many of you will know Eric Thomas (also known as ET, the Hip Hop Preacher) from his “As bad as you want to breathe” guru story YouTube video. He is a motivation speaker with infectious passion, and it was easy to hear his voice as I was reading the book.


The subtitle to the book is “Ignite Your Power, Your Purpose, and Your Why.” That basically sums up everything about the book. ET talks about finding your “Superpower”…the thing that makes you you and makes you special. Some would call this your “gift.” He goes into detail about how he found his “superpower,” how he learned to harness it and use it for good.


The book also goes in depth about your “why,” or the reason that will take your “superpower” to the next level. Your why gives you a reason to use your superpower. He gives stories about how his why changes, and evolves, with time and circumstance. Your why can be a person, place, or thing, but it gives you a reason to use (and grow) your superpower.


There is a chapter called “Walk in Your Purpose: Moving Through the Awareness of Your Gifts Is Walking in Your Purpose.” I loved this chapter because I have heard the saying (like most of us have) of “walk with a purpose.” In this chapter, Eric talks about being aware of your gifts and using them to walk “in” your purpose. Essentially, he is talking about using your gift/superpower as the foundation of your life to actually live with purpose.


The book actually starts with stories of overcoming adversity and overcoming the victim mentality to open yourself up to your superpower. Eric gives stories of his childhood, being homeless and struggling with school. It you know his story it took him 12 years to get a 4 year degree. The book ends with chapter dedicated to turning your superpower, your why and your purpose into a business.


I would 100% recommend this book to anyone and everyone. As a follow up, I listen to Eric’s podcast “Secret to Success” that he does with his business partners. I stumbled across them at the start of the pandemic and have listened almost every week for the last 3 years. I highly recommend following all that ETA (the business, “Eric Thomas and Associates”) has to offer!

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