“You’ve got to be willing to fail to win,” Triffany begins her book, but “fail” isn’t what you think it means. In her life coaching, “F.A.I.L.” is an acronym: “For All Is Love.” Each word is a step on the path toward better thinking, better actions, and a better self. “For” is the acceptance stage of traditionally-defined failure; “All” further defines the place you are now; “Is” starts taking action; and “Love” is the ultimate goal. How these words correspond to each stage is loose and vague, but she follows the typical life coaching pattern of recognize, reconceptualize, and restart.
The book is designed to change the reader’s perspective. Instead of planning our lives around what we “want,” we should be directing our energies toward what we are “For:” positive adjectives versus materials. “This tiny shift in how you measure success is the first step to finding an energy and a passion that will carry you through your endeavors.” From there, reframe your actions: the “All” section includes helpful exercises for getting out of negative thought loops and starting to take positive action. The “Is” section focuses on the reader’s Inner Life: “with an abundant, vivacious Inner Life you can find happiness and peace no matter the external conditions.” Finally, “Love” is a noun in this book: “your life force; your natural state of being.” Essential to this section is forgiveness and acceptance.
There are blank sections in the book for the helpful exercises. Triffany’s message is clear, strong, and useful. It just doesn’t feel particularly new. I wished she would have included more concrete examples—either case studies or from her own life—which help the reader to connect with the author and see their own problems as worthy of focus. The book is explicitly marketing women but doesn’t have any specifics that would exclude other genders; everyone would benefit from Triffany’s reframing of success.
A helpful handbook for when life is going to “hell in a handbasket”, F.A.I.L.* TO WIN proposes to help refocus energies inward and reframe definitions of failure and success to lead a happier life.
~Danielle Bukowski for Indie Reader