“Congratulations! Today is your day. You’re off to Great Places! You’re off and away!”
We want to recommend a book that may look like a children’s story on the surface, but behind its colorful illustrations and simple rhymes lies a moving reflection on overcoming the fear of failure, the courage it takes to try, and the dreams that can only come true when we step outside our comfort zone and follow our natural curiosity.
Dr. Seuss is certainly not a behavioral economist, but trust us on this one: find a reason to get your hands on this book and you will not regret it. It speaks to anyone who has faced a challenge, anyone who has experienced setbacks and hesitates to take a risk or embrace something new, and anyone who has found themselves waiting for change to happen while letting the present slip by. In short, this is a book about all of us.
Even those unfamiliar with Dr. Seuss’s work will easily connect with the small character who sets off on a new journey, gets lost in a fantastical world, and along the way learns a thing or two about life. The hero discovers that sometimes we need to change our familiar surroundings: “If you find you don’t like it, move on.” Yet out in the open, many challenges await, and we quickly learn that “when things start to happen, don’t worry, don’t stew. Just go right along and you’ll start happening too.” Through a fantastical world and the eyes of a childlike hero, it becomes easier to let our guard down and truly listen to the author’s wisdom: that “life is a Great Balancing Act.”
In so few words, Dr. Seuss manages to pack in wonderful insights about life, without ever sounding preachy. I came across this book by chance and only later discovered it is well known in professional coaching circles. It is a wonderful, humor-filled pause in any journey of growth and goal-setting.
Happy reading!
