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If you’ve ever seen Michael Strahan on-screen, you know how
easy he makes his job look. He seems comfortable with stars
and strangers alike, although he calls himself “a shy guy.”
He says he gets nervous, but he knows how to handle himself
because that’s the way he was raised.
Because Strahan’s father was in the military, the family
lived overseas when Strahan was still very young. “Mannheim,
Germany,” he says, “was an awesome place to grow up” because
of its small-town feel and because children were truly
raised by a village of stay-at-home mothers.
Strahan’s father was busy, but Strahan remembers the
frequent one-on-one time he spent with his dad, and the
advice that poured forth on those events.
“In a perfect world,” Strahan says, “I’d have 92
[motivational] rules to match my jersey number. But in real
life, I’ve found that you need only 18 to get and stay
motivated.”
Rule Number One, he says is to “Be open to everything around
you.” What you need, and the help to get it, can “come from
the most unexpected places…” Pay attention, don’t make
assumptions, and never throw away a chance to see what
comes.
Remember that the journey is joyful, too, so take pleasure
in it. If you want something, let your determination power
your actions and keep in mind that when you’ve given your
all, there’s still more to give. Know when to bow out
gracefully but don’t quit a tough road; instead, know when
to “hit pause.”
Take the word “if” from your vocabulary. Listen to music
that motivates you. Remember that “bad experiences… often
teach you the most.” Keep your sense of humor. “Be
excellent. “
So you’re in need of some motivation, but you don’t want
something that sounds like a million bees in a hive.
Instead, you’d like something fresh, and Wake Up Happy
is what you want.
Readers who have come to love author Michael Strahan on the
field or on TV will be glad to know that his writing is
genuine: what you see on the small screen is what you get in
this book. This personable style of motivation carries
through Strahan’s life story, his careers, and his love
life, which has been rocky and he’s forthcoming on it all.
That no-holds-barred attitude in storytelling lends
trustworthiness to the lessons.
This is one friendly book and it’s short enough to
read twice. You’ll probably want to do that anyhow because,
when you need a book to boost your confidence, Wake Up
Happy is a good choice.
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