MY LIFE INC.

How does one become the CEO—or, as this book puts it, the “Chief Evolution Officer”—of their own life? This self-help book borrows themes from the business world to direct readers toward better balance in their lives. Each of 22 chapters contains explanations of the author’s ideas, which revolve around the concepts of “Vision,” “Purpose,” “Values,” and “Methodology.” “Pauses” for reader reflection break up the chapters midway through while “Imagineering Check-In[s]” end each chapter: “Imagineering—a portmanteau of imagination and engineering— is the disciplined process of converting creative insight into structured action,” the author explains. Readers who enjoy self-help books with clear narrative flow may find this book challenging. Instead, this volume offers elements of a workbook designed for note-taking and patient consideration, and aspects of a more comprehensive reference guide. Along the way, Olofsson offers psychological and business concepts inspired by historic thinkers, such as a quote from Albert Einstein about the importance of becoming “people of value,” which leads to the author’s opinion that “values are neither right nor wrong, and are formed by life experiences and codes of conduct, created both implicitly and explicitly from your experience of family, culture, and society.” The book’s greatest strength is in how it inspires readers to think about their present and future lives in “audacious” and “attainable” ways; it’s possible, the author points out, to simultaneously conjure up dreams and be realistic about them. The trick, according to the author, is one’s vision, mindset, and values. Regular readers of self-help may not find this to be particularly original, though, as it mostly involves charting one’s own course to success through intentional strategy and a positive outlook. However, there’s something to be said about an author who can convey these ideas in an energizing manner.