Reviews

Book Review: Options Not Obligations by Marc Warnke

Written by Cindy Bidar at SparkPlug CEO

“This is a how to think book, not a how to book.”

Marc Warnke’s new book, “ONO: Options not Obligations” is more than just a how to think book, though. It’s an inspirational guide for everyone who wants more independence and fewer obligations in his or her life.

Marc starts out by explaining that most of us live a life of obligations. We have a mortgage to pay and car payments to make, so we get up every day and go to work, and we continue this behavior day after day and year after year without ever realizing there is a different way to live, one without obligations, where you have the option to do what you like with your time instead of the obligation of
going to work.

You might think that a life of options is only available to those lucky few who were born into wealth and don’t have to work for a living, but in “Options not Obligations” Marc gives concrete examples of how everyone can reach a place of options by just making a few simple changes in her life and rearranging her priorities.

He suggests building an “ONO account” and gives some examples of how putting just a small amount of money in an ONO account every month will result in a great deal of wealth through the power of compound interest.

Marc further suggests the way to true wealth is not by selfishly looking out for only our own interests, but by developing a philanthropic attitude in business. By helping others be successful and build wealth, we are often in a better position to build our own.

As you read through the book, you will find “Opportunities for reflections” where the author asks you to think about a particular idea he’s presented. I encourage you to do these exercises. This is a worthwhile book without them, but by sitting down and really thinking through the questions asked of you, you will gain much more than you would by simply reading passively.

“Options not Obligations” is a great place to start for anyone looking to improve her life and financial situation. It is not a step by step guide to making money, but it is a guide to living a better life.

Options, Not Obligations: Being a “Family First Entrepreneur”

Written by Meryl Evans at Web Worker Daily

Most business books on the market cover the gamut of how to make more money, gain fame, grow, get work done, and manage people. But few talk about business from the perspective of “family first” like Marc Warnke’s book “ONO, Options Not Obligations.” Many web workers love what they do, especially those who work virtually, because it allows them to spend more time with their families or live fulfilling lives outside of their careers.

Warnke says that Wal-Mart and Sam’s Warehouse Club Founder Sam Walton’s last words were, “I blew it.” How could one of the richest people in the world think this? According to the author, Walton wasn’t reflecting on his massive wealth and business successes, but rather on missing family time.

“ONO, Options Not Obligations” explores changing your mindset to live with an options-oriented outlook rather than just an overwhelming obligation to become a rich entrepreneur and provider. Living as a “family first entrepreneur” requires a commitment to overarching change while working past the fear of not having enough money to live the kind of life you want. Warnke, a recovering alcoholic who has dyslexia, shares everything about himself to show how it’s possible to live an ONO life.

Warnke covers all the bases, including working with finances, figuring out wants vs. needs and managing time. The last part of the book goes into acting on your new thinking process. It’s easy to go back to key parts of the book later on, since every chapter ends with a bulleted list of key points covered.

You don’t have to be a parent to benefit from the book. If you have dreams of traveling, working fewer hours, or spending more time on a hobby, you can apply ONO thinking to enjoy the things you love and put an emphasis on what matters to you. Warnke inspires, enlightens, educates, and gives practical assignments to help anyone ready and willing to live the ONO life.

Another Recommended Book: ONO: Options Not Obligations

Written by Shel Horowitz at FrugalMarketing.com

Another Recommended Book: ONO: Options Not Obligations: Enrich Your Personal Life by Rethinking Your Financial Life by Marc Warnke (Morgan James, 2009)

In his first book, Warnke lays out a compelling case for succeeding, staying within your means, and being a “family first entrepreneur” who understands that quality time with kids and high ethical standards are more important than the million-dollar deal. However, he’s had a few of those deals as well.

Warnke encourages business people to think strategically, using what he calls the “Scrabble model.” Just as an experienced Scrabble player knows how to place tiles for maximum points, so the savvy business person looks at any possibility in terms of how well it fits in with the entrepreneur’s strategy: how much time it needs, how big the potential reward might be, how much energy it will take, and at what level of risk.

On ethics, he encourages readers to make sure that “all of your actions fall within the parameters of the highest moral and ethical standards. When profitability gets in the way of ethics, it is only a matter of time before a business blows up and goes under. If you keep your moral and ethical standards high, you’ll attract a long list of people waiting to do business with you because they know they can count on your integrity. That simple fact is worth a fortune.”

Warnke had to come to this realization the hard way, though. He’s not ashamed to admit that in his early years, he tried to put himself first at the expense of others, and also struggled with alcoholism. But when he changed his ways, he changed them permanently, and bettered himself in the process. These days, he understands that a give/give relationship works best, and that we should all “be the customer you want to have.”