Foreword Clarion

ForeWord Clarion of ForeWord Magazine fame has granted us permission to reprint their recent review of my book, “The Intrepid Way – 2006 Revised Edition”.  They have given the book 4-stars out of a possible 5-star rating.  I was pleasantly surprised at their positive review given their normally stringent standards of reviewing books. 

For middle-class, white-collar workers, it’s almost required to dislike one’s job. The daily grind seems boring and spirit-crushing. It offers no mental stimulation or fulfillment, and it takes time away from family, friends and hobbies. A person stuck in such a job may not leave because he or she values the regular paycheck and insurance benefits. For years, unhappy workers have wondered how to find personal freedom to earn a living wage while working a reasonable amount of time.

To address this problem, Matthew Chan offers The Intrepid Way: How to Create the Freedom You Need to Live the Life You Want! The book may look like a get-rich-quick scheme, especially since its cover promises that the reader can “escape corporate America forever” and “retire in five years.” 

Appearances can be deceiving. The Intrepid Way is written by a man with bachelor and master”s degrees in business administration, a successful entrepreneur by the age of 29 who has authored a series of how-to manuals on smart investing. With his credentials and motivational attitude, Chan provides the reader with a well-organized primer for the beginning entrepreneur.

Chan begins his book with an overview of The Intrepid Way philosophy. He drives home his point with a simple equation. Personal freedom (the goal) consists of two things: monetary freedom and time freedom. Basically, Chan believes that savvy creation and management of “income streams” (rather than nest eggs or hoards) allow a person to spend less time earning money and more time enjoying life. Chan gives readers a step-by-step plan to do so, with sections covering the philosophy and creation of “income streams,” the entrepreneurial mindset, and the importance of business and personal support networks. The logical set-up of the book ensures that The Intrepid Way is easy to read and accessible. 

Although Chan discusses finance, investing and starting a business, his tone remains lively throughout, never dry or boring. Chan”s use of anecdotes makes the lessons more interesting. When talking about the go-getter spirit of staking one”s claim, he refers to the film Far and Away, starring Tom Cruise. Cruise”s character immigrated into the United States to participate in the land rush of the late 1800s. “Tom”s character, with great drama and heroism, did in fact succeed in placing a wooden stake on a piece of land…. I see so much opportunity in the world today, yet so few people are able or willing to put their stakes in the ground.”

The Intrepid Way is well-written, spirited and straightforward. Its motivational messages are interspersed with loads of practical advice. Whether the reader wants to quit the rat race entirely or just start some lucrative freelancing on the side, this book has useful pointers. 

Reviewed by Elizabeth Allen