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Scanners Refuse To Choose by Barbara Sher

Ranked #4,842 in Culture & Society, #104,525 overall

Scanners : Use All of Your Interests, Passions, and Hobbies to Create the Life and Career of Your Dreams

Don't know what to do with your life? Drawn to so many things that you can't choose just one? best-selling author Barbara Sher has the answer-do EVERYTHING!

I didn't know I was a scanner until I read this book, find out if you are one too by reading below! I used to worry if I had ADD but now I know I'm not alone with having lots of passionate interests and that it can even be an advantage.

With her popular career counseling sessions, motivational speeches, workshops, and television specials, Barbara Sher has become famous for her extraordinary ability to help people define and achieve their goals. What Sher has discovered is that some individuals simply cannot, and should not, decide on a single path; they are genetically wired to pursue many areas. Sher calls them "Scanners"-people whose unique type of mind does not zero in on a single interest but rather scans the horizon, eager to explore everything they see.

In this groundbreaking book, readers will learn:

  • What's behind their "hit and run" obsessions

  • When (and how) to finish what they start

  • How to do everything they love

  • What type of Scanner they are

  • Which tools they need to do their very best work

Key Facts, Ideas and Concepts from Refuse To Choose

Refuse To Choose 101

  1. Scanners fear that they have but usually do not have ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder)
  2. Scanners are people who believe that they are Hopelessly interested in Everything
  3. Scanners where previously often seen as Jack of all trades
  4. Start a Scanner Daybook, use this to note down all your various ideas should not ordered (the Da Vinci Notebooks were famously not ordered). When you are distracted by a tangential idea write it down "get it out of your system" then return to your previous task
  5. Yappers
    Another name for Scanners is YAP Yet-Another-Project
  6. Backward Planning Flowchart
    A way of breaking down a project until you find a step that you can action immediately
  7. Start Small Start Now
    The importance of doing something now, making some small progress. This builds your confidence
  8. There are scanners who can never start their projects
  9. There are scanners who can never finish their projects
  10. Other Scanners find that they are organized enough to start and complete their projects but unfortunately lose interest in it as soon as they have mastered it. So for instance they might qualify as a teacher and then announce that they have no desire to teach this often astonishes and dismays friends and family.
  11. Scanners often have Good Enough Jobs that is to say jobs which earn enough to pay the bills, but allow them enough energy to pursue their other passions. Scanners have usually given up on finding the perfect job anyway.

Barbara Sher Refuse To Choose

Refuse to Choose!: Use All of Your Interests, Passions, and Hobbies to Create the Life and Career of Your Dreams

Refuse to Choose!: Use All of Your Interests, Passions, and Hobbies to Create the Life and Career of Your Dreams

by: Barbara Sher

Amazon Price: $6.24 (as of 06/03/2012)Buy Now

Refuse To Choose Testimonials and Comments

Pick up some tips here

All these are real comments and testimonials. When you are evaluating reader's comments read the positive ones and the "intelligent" negative reviews (many negative reviews are ill though out, or the book arrived late). The intelligent negative reviews will also teach something about the book/product.
  • This is the book I have been searching for all of my life
  • You need to read it if you are someone who has so many interests you can't seem to get anything done
  • Help for Jacks of All Trades
  • Finally my random approach makes sense
  • I bought this book for my daughter who, though bright and motivated, was having trouble deciding on which one thing she wanted to devote her life to. She loved this book
  • The Book I Was Waiting For and Never Knew It!

When did you find out you were a Scanner poll

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More Brilliant Barabara Sher Books

Barbara Sher is All about Ideas and Inspiration

Barbara starts her book by remembering her bewilderment at college when she had to choose her classes, her fellow students all seemed to be organized and know exactly what they wanted. Barbara on the hand just listened to amazed to things being discussed "The golden peaches of Samarkand ", "200 million year old fossils from the ancient sea of Tethys are now found on the slopes of the Himalayas", "The rebirth of learning after the dark ages", "Ancient trade routes", that there were people in love with learning hungry for knowledge. Of course at that time she didn't know how to channel or focus all that, didn't know she was a scanner and Refuse to Choose was eventually born out of that
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Refuse to Choose Links

Barbara Sher Websites

I don't think it's an advantage to be a scanner but at least we are never BORED. A Scanner never says "I don't know what I'll do with my retirement", a scanner forced to stay in a dull town for a few weeks for business reason becomes practically an honorary member of the place in that time.
Barbara Sher Website
Barbara Sher presents a unique perspective on self- improvement. She is a career counselor and bestselling author, who is dedicated to showing you .how to do what you love. Learn about her Success Teams and get ideas
Welcome to the home of Barbara Sher's WISHCRAFT!
Download free chapters of Barbara Sher's groundbreaking book

Barbara Sher on eBay

Always worth checking if it's not cheaper on eBay
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Squidoo is Ideal for Scanners

Squidoo has allowed me to resolve many of my scanner projects ie get them out of my system. I just create a lens on whatever subject has grabbed my attention. Sometimes that's enough and I've fulfilled my interest in that topic, other times it's a stepping stone and my interests develops, either way I am proactive and can stop the idea worrying me as yet another uncompleted project

Lens Love Widget

This module only appears with actual data when viewed on a live lens. The favorite and lensroll options will appear on a live lens if the viewer is a member of Squidoo and logged in.

Add this to your lens »

Refuse to Choose Feedback

Barbara Sher Feedback

The most important thing I got From Barbara's book was the realization that I might as well accept the fact that I'm a scanner, and that the Internet allows me to even make money out of it!

When did you first come across Barbara Sher?
What did she inspire you to?
Why do you like Refuse to Choose?
What's the best thing you learned from her?

  • smileysj Jun 3, 2012 @ 10:39 am | delete
    Brilliant lens-I completely agree with your comment about Squidoo being the perfect platform for scanners to focus on all their different interests :) Thanks for the informative info!
  • lincoln norton May 29, 2012 @ 12:01 pm | delete
    I am almost finished with the book and posted a little tidbit on my blog. Thanks for this I linked it at the end of my post.
  • Leilani-m Nov 17, 2011 @ 7:59 am | delete
    Now I know I'm a scanner :) I guess it runs in the family, my father is a typical one :)
  • TravelingRae Jul 4, 2011 @ 9:36 pm | delete
    Thanks for this lens; I didn't know there were other people like me. I'm glad I found the one thing (RVing) that can encompass all my other interests.
  • Ruthi Jun 12, 2011 @ 6:45 pm | delete
    Oh joy! Now I have another book on my TBR list -- that list I've not actually fully written down all in one place -- yet!
  • LikinTrikin May 15, 2011 @ 8:08 am | delete
    Very informative lens. Sounds like Me :) This book will be on my list to read..soon!! Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
  • rhonney May 5, 2011 @ 11:28 am | delete
    interesting!!
  • Mujjen Apr 9, 2011 @ 4:38 pm | delete
    Sounds like a very interesting book. Don't think I'm a scanner, but know quite a few who are!
  • thesuccess Apr 9, 2011 @ 5:30 pm | delete
    Mujjen
    Lucky you! do you know where you got your discipline?
  • Serenia Feb 11, 2011 @ 4:01 pm | delete
    I was looking for more stuff about scanner personalities (I had just discovered that I am a scanner) and thanks to THIS specific lens coming up in the search engine, I found Squidoo!!!! Now I am addicted to squidoo for satisfying my scanner personality.
  • thesuccess Feb 11, 2011 @ 4:31 pm | delete
    Serenia
    I am thrilled to have helped you find Squidoo. How does your scanner personality manifest itself?
  • Sammie Jan 29, 2011 @ 7:13 pm | delete
    I'd never heard of this but it makes perfect sense to me :-) Will definitely be chasing up the book.
  • thesuccess Jan 30, 2011 @ 6:19 am | delete
    Squidoo seems to be the antidote to Scanner Mentality , allows me to get some of my projects "out of the way". In any case it sure isn't a problem for us scanners to create a hundred or more lenses.
  • Tipi Jan 24, 2011 @ 2:46 pm | delete
    I haven't read the book, but its on my list of things to do now. Thank you for the great review.
  • thesuccess Jan 24, 2011 @ 4:06 pm | delete
    Tipi the book certainly stopped me worrying about the fact I had so many interests
  • Nightowl_John Dec 3, 2010 @ 7:32 pm | delete
    One of my favorite books! I'm back to bring an Angel Blessing.
  • DinosaurEgg Nov 11, 2010 @ 4:39 pm | delete
    Yep, that's me. Definitely the lose interest once I've mastered it type. Must keep moving. And yes Squidoo is great for this. Great lens.
  • thesuccess Nov 11, 2010 @ 4:57 pm | delete
    I feel so guilty with all the kit/clothing/equipment that gets left behind when I move on!
  • Nightowl_John Nov 9, 2010 @ 10:31 am | delete
    This book really helped me to understand that I was OK! Your lens has inspired me to read it again. This is a very good book review lens. And, I agree. Squidoo is a great outlet for Scanners.
  • hotbrain Oct 14, 2010 @ 2:02 pm | delete
    I think I might be a scanner too, although I never heard of that term or Barbara Sher's book before. Great page! I agree that Squidoo is a great place for all of the scanners! I think I fit into the category of a scanner that has a "good enough" job in that I make enough money to pay my bills, but not enough to fulfill my dreams (yet).. I think probably the key is becoming an expert in something, perhaps something that ties together several different interests. I'll favorite this page!
  • thesuccess Oct 14, 2010 @ 2:17 pm | delete
    Welcome fellow scanner!
  • lizziebeth Oct 9, 2010 @ 8:36 pm | delete
    Wow! I think I am a scanner too. Neat! I think it's great that other people are also scanners, and have lots of interests. That is a plus, I think. I have not read any of these books yet, but I will be looking for them now.
  • aesta1 Sep 25, 2010 @ 9:04 pm | delete
    I have read Barbara Sher's books and I was really impressed that I also wrote about her in my lens, Working for Others Just Doesn't Work for Me. I am now happy to proclaim I am a scanner. I thought before that this was a liability. You are right. Squidoo is great for scanners. Here I am having a great time.
  • MarkDykeman Sep 10, 2010 @ 12:43 pm | delete
    now I understand what a scanner is!
  • lisakleinweber Apr 6, 2010 @ 1:08 pm | delete
    interesting. I think my husband may be a scanner.
  • thesuccess Apr 6, 2010 @ 3:03 pm | delete
    Lisa,
    Yep it helps to know that you are a scanner or know a scanner. I guess it is a bit tough on the scanner's partner !!
Show All

Scanners the Film

Welcome to the world of the Scannersa race of humans with telekinetic powers that can wreak havoc beyond your most dreaded nightmare. Writer/director David Cronenberg (The Fly, Naked Lunch) brings the terror closer than ever beforehe brings it right into your mind. Cronenberg is a modern-day horror master whose name fits in easily with the likes of King, Craven and Carpenter...and Scanners, with its spectacular and shockingly realistic special effects, is a startling masterpiece of the genre. When a rogue Scanner of unparalleled power (Michael Ironside) wages a bloody war against the normals, young empath Cameron Vale (Stephen Lack) is recruited to trackhim down. But Vale is inexperiencedand a battle with another Scanner could mean a grisly death...or worse. Can Vale vanquish his insanely violent, power-mad adversary? Only one thing is certain: Scanners delivers the chills-down-your-spine, heart-in-your-throat, you-can't-watch-but-you-daren't-leave goods
Scanners

Scanners

Amazon Price: $16.99 (as of 06/03/2012)Buy Now

Nothing to do with Barbara Sher's Scanners but why not feature it here anyway!

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