2008 Woodie Awards
Book Review: "Live What You Love: Notes From An Unusual Life"
Couple shares secrets on living life to fullest
By: Tiffany Johnson
Issue date: 11/10/05 Section: LifeStyle
In Bob and Melinda Blanchard's fourth book, "Live What You Love: Notes From an Unusual Life," the couple explores the experiences in their lives that have led them to their dreams. Throughout the book there are inspirational quotes and readers hopefully will learn life lessons from a truly entrepreneurial couple, who have started several businesses.
"Kites without strings don't fly; boats without anchors get lost at sea. Tie dreams to reality or get ready for an exhausting chase." This is just one of the many quotes in the book about the Blanchard's life traveling from Vermont to Anguilla, in the Caribbean, with a brief stint in California.
Each new place led them to a new experience and a new business. While they were not all successful, the Blanchards learned a lesson each time. Each chapter of the book covers a period of their lives. The chapters are not in chronological order and there is little to distinguish between whether it is Bob or Melinda writing.
The book cover features a kite, the dream that is tied to reality, which is one of the main themes found in the writing. The Blanchards take us through their dreams, miracles and the reality of sometimes having to admit that you have to say no and move on. The Blanchards live their lives by what they refer to as the "Big 4: passion, people, environment, money."
They believe in a balance between these "four checkpoints in life" insisting that while money definitely is important, it must come last as a goal in life. What the Blanchards subtly convey in their book is that they haven't always been perfect, that they've had hard times, but with careful planning and the courage to take chances, the unusual per son can live a life that fulfills dreams.
"No Experience Necessary" is the first chapter in the book. It tells the story of the Blanchard's first experience in making a wedding cake to enter in a contest for the "Today Show." The Blanchards accepted the challenge of making a wedding cake for a couple to wed on the show, but despite months of planning and learning, they did not win the contest. This chapter sets a precedent for the rest of the book, showing a couple who is willing to accept a challenge and be happy about their work, despite not winning it all. The Blanchards show that they can be happy just learning something new.
"Kites without strings don't fly; boats without anchors get lost at sea. Tie dreams to reality or get ready for an exhausting chase." This is just one of the many quotes in the book about the Blanchard's life traveling from Vermont to Anguilla, in the Caribbean, with a brief stint in California.
Each new place led them to a new experience and a new business. While they were not all successful, the Blanchards learned a lesson each time. Each chapter of the book covers a period of their lives. The chapters are not in chronological order and there is little to distinguish between whether it is Bob or Melinda writing.
The book cover features a kite, the dream that is tied to reality, which is one of the main themes found in the writing. The Blanchards take us through their dreams, miracles and the reality of sometimes having to admit that you have to say no and move on. The Blanchards live their lives by what they refer to as the "Big 4: passion, people, environment, money."
They believe in a balance between these "four checkpoints in life" insisting that while money definitely is important, it must come last as a goal in life. What the Blanchards subtly convey in their book is that they haven't always been perfect, that they've had hard times, but with careful planning and the courage to take chances, the unusual per son can live a life that fulfills dreams.
"No Experience Necessary" is the first chapter in the book. It tells the story of the Blanchard's first experience in making a wedding cake to enter in a contest for the "Today Show." The Blanchards accepted the challenge of making a wedding cake for a couple to wed on the show, but despite months of planning and learning, they did not win the contest. This chapter sets a precedent for the rest of the book, showing a couple who is willing to accept a challenge and be happy about their work, despite not winning it all. The Blanchards show that they can be happy just learning something new.