Have you always wondered why you get bored easily, never get attached to anything for long periods of time, quickly lose interest in things or change your mind about what you want to do and end up doing nothing? Good news: According to Barbara Sher’s book, you may just be a “scanner.”
Summary
Barbara Sher brings us closer to a type of person who, as described above, does not follow the traditional scheme of ‘find what you want, make a career and follow it with strength and passion for the rest of your life’.
More in details
The subtitle of this book is ‘A Revolutionary Program for Doing Everything You Love’ and alludes to the fact that scanners often find themselves arguing about not being able to pick one thing and stick with it. Barbara suggests the opposite: Refuse to choose.
The author identifies seven types of scanners, divided into two groups: cyclic scanners and sequential scanners. The first 3 belong to the cyclic scanners:
- dual agent: These are people who have fantasies of being two people, one who does the right thing and one who is free to live their dreams.
- Sibyl: He is someone who has many areas of interest and returns to them again and again, but rarely finishes anything.
- Turntable: They are energized by having many things going on at the same time, they love to solve problems, but all of this leaves little time for their own projects.
Cyclic scanners know what your interests are, unlike sequential scanners that always discover a completely new interest. The following six types belong to the sequential scanners:
- Serial Specialist: They often excel in whatever field they are in, fully commit themselves, but then often when they are at the top of their game, they drop out and start something new.
- Series Master: For these people, interests come and go, but the love of mastery always remains. Once they have mastered something, they go in search of a new project.
- One thousand uses: Jacks enjoys learning for his own good. They are usually not passionate about any career, but rather a love of learning something new and helping people.
- Homeless: He is someone who loves random experiences and allows himself to move towards what seems attractive and interesting.
- Sampler: These people are looking for a special kind of wealth in their lives and discover that there are very few ways to fill it.
- High speed indecisive: They are perhaps the most misunderstood of all scanners, as they get away from something new before anyone else, but not because they have lost interest, but because they see something more fascinating.
In addition to the detailed description of the different types of scanners, Barbara also shares many valuable tools and techniques that will make life easier for scanners.
About the Author
In addition to being the author of six self-help books, Barbara Sher is also a motivational speaker, workshop leader, business owner, and has amassed a lot of experience working as a counselor, working with many scanners. In addition to that, she has appeared on national and local radio and television, including shows like Oprah, Today, 60 Minutes, and Good Morning America. She lives in New York City.
Recommendation
This is a great book if you feel like you could be a scanner, have lived your life wondering: Why does everyone find their passion but I can’t seem to find it, start and stop many projects, or never finish anything?
In my work with clients, I have found it extremely valuable to help people find their freedom and passion through the fulfillment they gain from reading this book.