Review of The Black Dot Philosophy

[Love Ukaegbu]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Black Dot Philosophy" by Jerry Mark Fish, CLF.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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Over the years, I have considered life, and the one thing I can say that applies to every human is the presence of challenges and joy. In the book The Black Dot Philosophy by Jerry Mark Fish, CLF, the author shares his story, life experiences, and career challenges, as well as how he overcame life's challenges.

Having experienced multiple life challenges and been through difficult situations such as the death of his sister, who died of aids; the death of his mother, who died from stage 4 cancer; the betrayal of a partner that pushed him to bankruptcy; and other difficult situations. Each challenge he had experienced represented a black dot, and the size of the dot depended on the severity of the challenge. This concept of the Black Dot was inspired by his mentor, Mike Kroplin, at the time when he worked as a newly recruited manager.

The Black Dot philosophy provides a practical strategy to overcome life challenges by transforming them into opportunities for growth and success. The author further details the six steps to conquer challenges, such as uncovering the challenges, crafting your game plan, etc. The author further talks about the importance of having a purpose, maintaining discipline, and setting smart goals.

One of the major things I love about this book is that this concept can be applied to individuals from all works of life, no matter their current position. I also liked that the author included his personal story; this story made the book relate to me as they are challenges that the average person encounters at different levels of their life, such as the one about him dropping out from the football team when he was in high school basically because he lacked experience and technique. The techniques are well explained and easy to understand, even to the layman. I also like how easy it is to cultivate this technique.

On the downside, most parts of the book are repetitive, which might be boring to some readers. I also believe some parts of the book lack depth, such as emotional resilience. Although it is important to maintain a balanced perspective, most people will be unable to do that at a time when things are heated up. I also feel like the book is oversimplified as the black dot philosophy might not work for every challenge, such as in a life-or-death situation or a case of health issues. The oversimplification of the book can make people underestimate the severity of their problems.

On a general note, this book is a very good read and actually provides strategies that work. The Black Dot concept is a unique and effective approach to situations. I really enjoyed reading it, and I learned a lot from it. For these reasons, I rate it 4 out of 5 stars. I deducted a star because of the downsides I mentioned in the previous paragraph. I recommend it to everyone as this book will be a good read for people no matter what phase of life they are in.

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The Black Dot Philosophy
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[Shaniz Tobiaz]

This a must read to me, the author must have gone through a lot of challenges in life, but those didn't stop him from becoming who he is today.

[Yasmine Zaki Muhieddine]

Thank you for your honest review, I enjoyed reading it.
The black dot concept is unique and might work for some situations, but not others. Perhaps the author needs to go more in depth regarding certain aspects of his book. I like that the book emphasizes the importance of having a purpose, maintaining discipline, and setting smart goals in life.
My own opinion about challenges is that the first step is to accept that in life there will always be challenges, no matter what kind of life you lead. Once you accept there will be challenges, you don't get surprised and shocked when they happen. The next step is to believe that challenges don't stay forever and that we need to find a resolution.

[Pearl Flourish]

The Black Dot idea sounds like a simple yet powerful way to reframe challenges, but it seems like the book might have overdone the repetition. Still, the personal stories and practical steps make it worth a read for anyone looking for a fresh perspective on resilience.

[George Bastem]

A thoughtful and relatable take on overcoming life's challenges. The Black Dot concept is a simple yet powerful way to reframe struggles, though it may not fit every situation. Still, the personal stories and practical steps make it a valuable read for anyone looking to grow through adversity.

[Mark Lazarus]

The concept of viewing life’s challenges as “black dots” that vary in size based on severity is an interesting and practical approach to resilience. I like that the book offers a structured method for overcoming obstacles while emphasizing purpose, discipline, and goal-setting. Personal stories always make self-help books more engaging, so it’s great that the author shares his experiences to make the lessons relatable.

That said, I understand the concern about oversimplification—some problems require more than just a shift in perspective, especially when emotions run high or when facing serious crises. Repetition can also be a bit of a drawback if it slows down the flow of the book.

Overall, the philosophy seems valuable, and I appreciate books that offer actionable strategies for growth. While I might not rush to read it immediately, it does sound like something worth exploring for a fresh perspective on overcoming challenges.