Book Review: The Aladdin Factor
Author: Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen
Publisher: Berkley Trade
Year Published: 1995
Rating: 
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In The Aladdin Factor, Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen of Chicken Soup for the Soul fame lay out a framework for asking for and receiving what you want. You may know Jack Canfield as one of the teachers of The Secret or the Law of Attraction. Unlike with The Secret, The Aladdin Factor isn’t concerned with the metaphysical (for instance, all you have to do is ask the Universe for what you want and wait for it to happen.) Rather, it takes the much more direct approach: become clear about what you want then ask people who have the means to help you to guide you towards your goals.
The book starts with a list of five reasons why people don’t get what they want.
- Ignorance – Often, people don’t get what they want because they don’t know what to ask for. Perhaps this is due to lack of clarity about what they want, or perhaps they don’t know what’s possible or what resources are available.
- Limiting beliefs – Our beliefs are a product of the experiences we’ve had with parents, teachers, peers, colleagues, social circles, and the media. In many cases, we hold inaccurate beliefs about what is actually possible based on our previous experiences.
- Fear – We often let fear hold us back from asking for what we want. Types of fears include fear of rejection, being humiliated, feeling powerless, abandonment, looking like a fool, and so forth.
- Low self-esteem – Sometimes, we feel unworthy of receiving what we are asking for.
- Pride – We tend to not want to admit that we need help and support because asking makes us feel inadequate.
The authors offer several exercises to help you become clear about what you want and then have the courage to ask for help. The core foundations include: knowing what you really want, believing you are worthy of receiving what you want, being optimistic and passionate about your desires, taking action in the face of fear, and being persistent.
If you’ve been struggling with achieving your goals, The Aladdin Factor will give you the tools to successfully approach others for help, guidance, and mentorship. As the authors say, “What’s the worst that can happen?” If they say “no,” you are no worse off than when you started. But if they say “yes,” you’re one step closer to achieving your goals.
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