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Steve Pavlina has taken his passion for personal growth and carved out quite a successful little niche, online with StevePavlina.com and now in print with the publication of Personal Development for Smart People.  Expounding upon the concepts of others in this area, and applying his own personal experiences, Pavlina has developed seven universal principles that can be applied to all areas of life.

Pavlina’s scientific approach required that primary principles be universal, complete, irreducible, congruent, and practical.  Based upon these criteria he identified Three Primary Principles: Truth, Love and Power.  These core principles can be combined to create a second tier of principles, including Courage, Authority, Oneness and Intelligence.

I felt an immediate connection with Pavlina when he mentioned his pursuit of personal development began in 1991.  Pavlina was incarcerated for stealing a car before he realized he was throwing his life away seeking cheap thrills.  I was at a very different place in my life in 1991, when my employer gave me a copy of Personal Power by Anthony Robbins.  I was pregnant with my first child, a newlywed and struggling to adjust to adulthood.  After reading Personal Power, I felt a sense of calm knowing that I was in control of my life, even if it seemed to be happening rather quickly, it was all based on choices I made.  

Steve Pavlina has taken the ideas of others and made them his own.  Don’t get me wrong, that isn’t a criticism.  There is a central, inarguable truth in the messages of personal responsibility, the power of thought and action and giving to receive.  Pavlina does offer his personal story as evidence these theories work.  He has gone from felon to published author, helping others while finding fulfillment. Unfortunately we only get brief glimpses of the man behind the curtain.  

The first half of the book introduces and explains Pavlina’s seven principles, much like a textbook, it is very structured and analytical.  The second part is devoted to the application of these principles and seeing these principles applied to everyday life, in areas of career, relationships, money and health was enlightening.  It seemed as though Pavlina sighed a breath of relief, took off his jacket and rolled up his sleeves for this section of the book.  I found several fresh and thought provoking exercises, such as the 30 day trials, triage projects giving attention to those that will only survive if you take action and approaching habits with a strategy for victory, much like a game of chess. 

Whether this is the first book you’ve read on Personal Development or the hundredth, you’ll find value.