The Powers: 12 Principles to Transform Your Life from Ordinary to Extraordinary

by Mark W. Erwin

**Nonfiction Book Awards Gold Winner and Winner of the Illumination Book Awards' 2018 Gold Enduring Light Medal**

The Powers is written for people who have a drive to become highly successful in their chosen field of endeavor. Throughout this revised edition, you will meet many who came from ordinary backgrounds to achieve extraordinary things in a variety of pursuits. They came from different circumstances with a wide range of gifts as well as many personal limitations. All have experienced failure and some were serial failures. The Powers they discovered within themselves are the same Powers Erwin has identified and discusses. Through study, they can become your Powers.
While everyone has different dreams and goals, everyone also possesses their own set of Powers, even if some are hidden deep within. Erwin has found that intellectual curiosity, developing a grand vision, setting clear goals, practicing persistence, and other concepts included in this book are common traits among the most successful people. After years of studying works by great authors such as Napoleon Hill, Norman Vincent Peale, and Dale Carnegie, befriending highly successful people, and exploring an experimental learning style, Erwin has found common traits that not only create success but also allow one to go from ordinary to extraordinary. Mark Erwin has mentored hundreds of people, and has collected life-changing lessons throughout his journey that brought him from a sixteen-year-old in a jail cell to a multimillionaire before he was forty. In The Powers , he shares personal stories, philosophical and practical advice, and a one-of-a-kind collection of wisdom and insights from some of the most successful people in history, many of whom are his friends.
This book creates the blueprint for you to become exceptionally successful and maps out how using the Powers, in combination with your unique personality and emotional intelligence, will help you stand out and make a difference in whatever area you choose to pursue. Read and reread this book and your true path for success on your terms will be revealed, and you will know exactly how to make your dreams come true.

204 pages, Paperback

First published June 7, 2016

Reviews

[Kes · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a quick, readable book.

The author basically articulates twelve principles (referred to as "powers") that helped him obtain success. They are:

1. The Power of You - basically, find your strengths (e.g. are you good at memory? logic etc). I liked that it talked about potential. I also liked the way he describes that there are three categories: doers, observers, and those who don't know and don't care. Lastly, he outlines three important factors to success: passion, focus, and strength.

2. The Power of the Brain - a discussion of how great and flexible our brain is. What stuck with me is that that training for the LSAT changes the brain. I also liked that he devoted some time to talking about EQ and personality profiles.

3. The Power of Vision - a discussion of setting a grand vision (or overarching ambition) for yourself and what you want to achieve.

4. The Power of Goals - short term goals to achieve your grand vision (including planning a specific strategy). I liked his suggestion of making written goals.

5. The Power of Knowledge - it's important to be curious and see beyond our immediate personal concerns. Knowledge broadens our perspective as well as our ability to empathise with and understand others. There's also a bit about mindset and the difference between rational and emotional thinking.

6. The Power of Faith - not necessarily organised religion. I think this would have been better defined as "recognising what you cannot control".

7. The Power of Persistence - willpower is important, as well as having good self-control. Self-control can be learned from friends. Willpower and stubbornness are not the same thing. He talks about people who continued trying despite failures.

8. The Power of Hard Focus - basically, ability to concentrate.

9. The Power of Mentors and Friends - importance of hanging with the right people and learning from others.

10. The Power of Service - importance of volunteering and helping others below you. As he says: "Whenever you raise your hand, you wind up being asked to do more, and that is great; doing so gives you an opportunity to learn, to impress, to gain skills, and to build new relationships."

11. The Power of Words - when to keep your mouth shut. He also talks about the rule of reciprocation - i.e. attempting to return in kind what someone else has given us. This is why we say hi back to people we pass in hallways.

12. The Power of Money - it gives you security. Also, the joys of delayed gratification - not spending everything immediately.

It's written in a conversational style, grounded in his anecdotes. I detested his stories about working as an American ambassador in Africa - he talks about how he decided to make Mauritius a part of the UN Security Council over Sudan. He says it was a longshot (especially since Mauritius was hated by most other African nations), but with US's backing, they succeeded. As someone deeply uncomfortable with US exceptionalism, this was a telling story about America's influence.

Other than that, fun book to read. 3.5 stars

[Webb Hubbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've already read it twice. The first time because I was fascinated with the stories. The second to dog-ear and make notes. There will be a third, fourth, etc. Mark says, "this book is for the very few." Actually it is for everyone.

[Heather Larcombe · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am getting very tired of stories. I don't want to hear about someone else's life and process and progress. Just give me the recommendation and leave it at that. I think probably all these "inspirational stories" are really just filler to make good suggestion pamphlets into full-size books.

[Ted Highsmith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend The Powers. Wonderful and relevant stories within each chapter. A quick read and very inspiring content!

[Tom Pollan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mark Erwin writes from the heart in a truly unselfish manner to clearly and concisely guide the reader through the major tenets of success. I strongly recommend this book to anyone interested in the continuous improvement of their self.