book review

The same folks who runs Shifting-Paradigms.com also run the MangroveRootGang.com Blog.  They had these comments to say about my book, “The Intrepid Way”:

   I wrote a short review in our Books/Audio section on the SP website. In essence, this is the quintessential book on what you need to know on passive income. Chan’s writing is easy to read, and he comes across as genuine and no-frills. You can buy this book by clicking on the link below. If you are serious about passive income, then read this book.-RY

Thanks to MRG blog for sharing their positive feedback on my book.

You never know what you might find when you publish a book.  It appears the folks at Shifting-Paradigms.com like my book, “The Intrepid Way”.

The original link is here.

The text of their review is shown below:

Matthew Chan does an incredible job of sharing his life changing experiences in The Intrepid Way. A specific guide that recounts his personal development of a passive income lifestyle. The book simply relays a practical illustration of what passive income is, how it can be achieved, and what benefits Chan has gained as a result of this dramatic life change. The perfect primer for those seeking a better way to make a living.

I thank them for recommending my book to others as a valuable resource.

This book review was done by G.A. Bixler on the 2004 edition of “The Intrepid Way”.  (There has since been a 2006 Revised Edition.)  I am grateful to the thoroughness of her review.

This may be the best self-help book that you ever read!  Unfortunately, for me, it came into my hands much too late, for I’ve already finished a life-long career.  Still, as I read the book, I found myself getting enthused and even exploring new ideas, just as I used to do!  Matthew Chan in The Intrepid Way: How to Create the Freedom You Need to Live the Life You Want may indeed inspire the necessary courage, may indeed help you determine whether you are brave enough to follow his guidance. You may have the entrepreneurial spirit and the courage that can result in your totally following his formula to success.  Maybe not!  Regardless, this is still a Must-Read book! Why?  Let me share my experience with this and other books by the author.

Matthew’s books are written as if he is talking directly to you.  He is the teacher. We are his students if we want to be.  He willingly has agreed to be our mentor and has indeed written his book as if he were right with you, discussing each topic, each issue.  Sometimes he’s enthusiastic, sometimes he’s brash, sometimes he may offend but  always, he speaks what he feels is “truth” and he challenges you to consider and respond to those truths.

The Intrepid Way is based upon a formula.  A formula for Personal Freedom.

Personal Freedom = Monetary Freedom + Time Freedom

Matthew Chan has solid advice about the use of money, creating layers of income, etc.  He shares his fears when he risked taking the necessary step to follow his dream.  He shares his successes.  His guidance is specific and easy to follow, easy to understand.  In this and other books, he discusses his choice to become an entrepreneur.

What does that mean exactly?

Well, he quit his job!  He eliminated the stream of income that most of us use for our entire life.  He chose not to depend upon having a salary coming in every single month.  He chose Personal Freedom.

Without support from family, friends, or a salary, Matthew Chan worked hard to achieve his goal.  As you read his book, you may be interested in the way(s) he achieved monetary freedom.  He shares in detail about his work in real estate, writing, and selling on the Internet.  His thoughts and ideas are there for you to glean and develop to meet your own needs.

Aside from the money issue, which is very important to any goal, any dream, I’d like to share my personal story about why I believe this book is a must read.  Matthew Chan realized early enough in his life that he needed personal freedom and that had to include time freedom. Most of us learn from the past, from our family, from society—that we should plan to find a career for our future in order to bring in the necessary money from which we live.  Unfortunately, nobody shares that, in doing so, we may lose ourselves!

How did Matthew acquire his wisdom so early?  We don’t know. He probably doesn’t even know because it did not come to him through his family ties, or through his long-term higher education studies.  Perhaps he first subconsciously saw it.  Perhaps through one or more of his continuing education courses, he began to move early thoughts into his daily conscious.  Thankfully, for him and for those of us who read his book, we can also review and, hopefully, work to correct and save the rest of our life!

I speak from experience.  After 37 years of commitment and loyalty to one institution, I was given a letter that my position was eliminated.  Yes, there is a lot more to it than what I say here.  However, one of the reasons that I chose instead to retire early was that I had sufficient years and funds in a “mandatory” retirement program that allowed me to retire before I was 60.  Before that, however, I had had a medical leave of absence mandated on job burnout.  I had no other life other than work, even church was another time commitment that I felt had to be met.  I had indeed lost all time freedom and my personal freedom to the job.  When the doctor told me I had to choose between life and my job, there really was no choice in my mind.  I walked out and, in many ways, I continued to “walk out” for many years thereafter.

Now, the point I make is that through a mandatory retirement program and length of employment at one institution, I have the stream of income that is important to sustain basic life needs.  If I had had no retirement program, I would have been in a position many of you may be in if you were to also lose your job, your career!

Consider right now, that your personal freedom is not only important, it may be the only thing that keeps you from physical, mental, spiritual or emotional burnout.  Your job is NOT your life.  I know that now after a commitment of nearly 40 years to an institution that, in turn, had no commitment to me!  The Intrepid Way is an answer!  It may not be the only answer; i.e., there may be other ways than Chan suggests to ensure that you have the required monetary freedom.  That’s not really the point!  The point is to read between the lines.  Absorb what Chan shares with us, with you!  Let the book awaken thoughts that you have buried because you are doing the only thing you think is possible.  Remember The Intrepid Way only requires that you have courage. It requires the courage to seriously review your life and ensure it is the life you want to be living. Chan will be your teacher, your mentor, if you allow him.

G. A. Bixler
For IP Book Reviewers

Shortly after my book’s release in 2004, Scott Allen of About.com’s Entrepreneur Section contacted me and expressed interest in reviewing “The Intrepid Way”.  (Incidentally, that 2004 version of the book is now out-of-print and has been replaced by the 2006 Revised Edition of “The Intrepid Way“.)

As a first-time author and publisher, I was somewhat uncertain of how the review might turn out but I did agree to submit my book for his review.

I was pleasantly surprised at Scott Allen’s review.  He gave “The Intrepid Way” a rating of 4-stars out of 5.

You can read his book review here at the site About.com

This well-written book review was based on the 2004 Edition of “The Intrepid Way”.  That book has since been updated to the 2006 Revised Edition.  Needless to say, I was extremely flattered by this review below.

As a person with an entrepreneurial spirit and, sometimes, unconventional wisdom, I was not disappointed in reading The Intrepid Way by Matthew S. Chan. In reading the book I used my yellow highlighter to mark important passages; however, I soon realized that I was highlighting most of the book.  Every chapter contained information that kept my eyes literally glued to the pages as the concept of “personal freedom” was explained in a way that was easy to understand, it made sense.  No, it isn’t a “get-rich-quick” book filled with dull facts and figures; instead, it is a personalized story as told by the author who lived it. After ten years of selling his employable skills to the corporate world, Matthew Chan decided he wanted more out of life and took the necessary steps to bring this about. He wanted a lifestyle that gave him monetary freedom as well as time freedom.

 In the introduction of The Intrepid Way, the author shares how two individuals made him see that he had something important to say that would benefit others; they helped him feel comfortable in regard to his qualifications for writing this book. Mr. Chan understood that other people wanted what he had obtained freedom from the daily grind associated with being, more or less, owned by an employer.  He allows readers to follow him on his journey as he takes risks and defies conventional wisdom by walking away from a high-paying job with all its security perks to become a successful entrepreneur with layers of streaming income that provide him the means to live as he chooses.  His formula for personal freedom is:  Personal Freedom=Monetary Freedom+Time Freedom. This formula isn’t complicated and is realistic for individuals who truly want to change their lives . . . perhaps even take them back by straying from the entrapment of conventional thinking.

 I found the chapter on Financial Fundamentals to be a refresher course on the accounting practices that are taught in most colleges.  For the most part, the author ignores formal practices, defining assets and liabilities in a clear, concise way that readers will understand and appreciate.  He emphasizes that most colleges focus on teaching students to become employed rather than becoming entrepreneurs. 

 When I finished reading the book, I found myself wishing that the author had gone into more depth in explaining his sources of streaming income; in other words I wanted to know exactly how he made his money whether in real estate, selling on eBay, publishing books, or investing.  Though I realize every individual will have to create his or her own layers of income, depending on skills and interests, I was hungry for more knowledge from the teacher for more details. However, when I went to visit his web sites at www.theintrepidway.com and www.ascendbeyond.com, I discovered other books that provide some of this information.  

 If you like the thought of being in charge of your own life even enjoying little things such as sleeping in as late as you desire and traveling anywhere at any given time then consider this a must-read book. It covers a great deal of material, including the importance of personal support networks and how to utilize business networks.  The Intrepid Way is about a journey that requires you to take a first step so that you can eventually create the perpetual or continuous wealth that you seek.  It isn’t about being rich; it is about lifestyle choice! Remember the formula: Personal Freedom=Monetary Freedom+Time Freedom.

Bettie Corbin Tucker
For IP Book Reviewers