Yes, Please by Amy Poehler.
In one of the earliest posts on the blog, I wrote about Confidence and Women I Wish I Was. Top of my inspiring women list was Amy Poehler. Many readers agreed and like me had also read Poehler’s recent memoir ‘Yes , Please’. Before reading this book, I admired her as a ballsy, confident, successful actress, comedian and writer. Her sitcom ‘Parks and Recreation’ portrays a nerdy, ambitious woman who puts female friendship before romantic liaisons, or ‘Ovaries before Brovaries‘.
I read ‘Yes , Please’ last summer, and picked it up again last week when I was having some confidence wobbles and wondering as to the focus and purpose behind the blog. What’s the point? was the regular, feeble refrain I could hear in the back of my mind. I picked up the Poehler for inspiration and was reminded.
Poehler has a refreshing dose of healthy self-esteem and she believes that successful people do things before they are ready and advises people to ‘do’ outside their comfort zone,
“Don’t quiet your voice because you’re worried it isn’t perfect.”
So, inspired, I carry on.
A kick up the arse.
It’s worth pointing out that Poehler acknowledges her position of privilege as a , ‘blonde white lady in America’. She is aware that she has been and is lucky in the opportunities available to her because of this privilege. She is very much an advocate of taking control and responsibility for your life. It’s not a self-help book, but there are many moments of Pinterest worthy inspirational quotes. If you need a kick up the arse, pick it up.
On taking control:
On getting older:
Good for her! Not for Me.
The stand out piece of advice for me in this book, which is part auto-biography, part random musings from a successful woman in her forties, is the motto, ‘Good for Her ! Not for me.’ Poehler advises that we repeat this to ourselves over and over – my choice might not be your choice , that’s fine, ‘Good for her! Not for me.’ Women are regularly pitted against each other, often by the media, but also amongst ourselves. Poehler says,
“We torture ourselves and we torture each other, and all of it leads to a lot of women on women crime.”
None of us win, in this scenario. There is not some holy grail of womanhood we can achieve if only we can find the perfect balance of everything demanded of us. Good for her! Not for me.
And so, in the spirit of doing and moving outside your comfort zone, themotherhub is launching a line of T-shirts, the first design being Poehler’s motto for life. T-shirts will be available to purchase soon, but to be in with a chance of winning one head over to my Twitter or Instagram feed. (*update Competition now closed but head to Shop for purchase)
I love AP. This is one to add to the kindle! #DreamTeam
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Definitely worth a read !
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I love this! I knew the “good for her” quote already, but what I hadn’t heard was the one about doing things before you are ready. That’s really interesting, as I feel as though I spend my life waiting for the “right time” to do things sometimes. Perhaps I need to stop! #dreamteam
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Do it !
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Poehler’s words are so meaningful and to the point, hard hitting- great for the slogan on your shirts- good luck with this venture! #BloggerClubUK
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I too am a big fan of AP and I am a big fan of the quote. Such a fab and inspiring idea for a venture :- ) #bloggerclubuk
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I love Amy Poehler. I haven’t read her book but now I think I’m going to check it out. Sounds like such great advice.
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I hadn’t heard that quote before, but I love it. I’m off to hunt down her book now! x #BloggerClubUK
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Great ! Enjoy
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Best of luck with the t-shirt line! #BrilliantBlogPosts
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Love this – thanks for introducing me to AP! I hadn’t heard of her before.
Love those quotes, I must try and remember those nuggets of wisdom…
And GO YOU on your T-shirt line, amazing.
xxx
#brilliantblogposts
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I needed to read this post today. Thanks for this. #brillblogposts
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Well done for having the guts to go out and launch your own t-shirt…Amy would be proud! I’ve been reading a great book called “How to be a bad ass” which is all about not doubting your awesomeness. I think we all need a little pep talk now and again. Great post, I’ll give it a share. Tor xx #brillblogposts
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Thanks for that – I’ve been in a comfort zone for a million years so have to try something new at this stage. Thanks for the supportive comment – they are greatly needed !
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just returning from #Brilliantblogposts and shared on twitter 🙂
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I saw – thanks so much ! Appreciate the Twitter love
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I agree with this so wholeheartedly. I was really interested in her point about: successful people do things before they are ready. That is true. I love your review of points she makes in her book. It certainly sounds like a good, thought-provoking read. Thank you for sharing it. Good luck with the fab t shirts 🙂 Alison x #brilliantblogposts
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This book sounds right up my street, I know of AP but not that familiar with her stuff- will go suss out the book now. All for positive female vibes!!! 🙂 #brillblogposts
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Yay for the wimmin ! Thanks for reading
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This is a brilliant venture, very exciting for you and can’t wait to hear more! I saw your post on IG and am a bit fan of AP and the quote too, such a great message to us all. Thanks for linking to #dreamteam xx
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Thanks ! You’ve got to give things a go , right ?
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Just popping back again to say still love this! Hope your venture goes really well and I think you have to go for it if the idea strikes 🙂 Thanks so much for linking up at #KCACOLS. Hope you come back again next Sunday xx
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Thanks – I’m going to do my best anyway !
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Ah I’d seen you in that shirt and wondered what it meant and now I know! Best wishes with your new venture 😀 #KCACOLS
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I hadn’t heard of AP or the quote, but I will definitely track it down! Love the t-shirt! #KCACOLS
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Give her a read – she’s great !
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So glad everything went well, I cant believe you are half way already! You’re so patient not finding out, we found out with all five, I just couldn’t stand the wait!! Love the photo of the girls holding the scan, whether this baby is another girl or a little boy, they are going to be so loved aren’t they? #KCACOLS
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Eek sorry just posted wrong comment above, no idea how that happened!!
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What a briiliant idea 🙂 I love that quote, women need to stop seeing each other as the enemy! Imagine if we did…look out men you won’t know what’s hit you! Good luck and let me know where I can can get one! #KCACOLS
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Thanks ! I hope to have them ready for purchase on the blog in a week or so
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Just what I love to read, some good ol’ positive thinking. I haven’t heard of this book before and it sounds like a solid read. I am going to check it out. Love the T Shirt btw. Thank you for linking up to the #DreamTeam
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Definitely worth a read for a bit of motivation without being preachy
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This is a great quote. And it is so right. Just because something isn’t good for us, doesn’t mean it won’t work for someone else and we shouldn’t judge them for it x
#KCACOLS
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I don’t really know much about Amy but she seems to be a voice of reason in a world obsessing about not being someone else…Good luck in your venture! #KCACOLS
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I’m reading this book right now and like you, absolutely loving it. Did you read Bossypants by Tina Fey? That was another good one and well worth a read. #KCACOLS
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I love YES PLEASE – I was just nodding along the whole time -like she is SOOOOO right about everything in that book! Parks and Rec is hilarious! This is a great idea, I love your positive attitude – GOOD FOR YOU x
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[…] to just cogitating on it whilst walking Piglet around in the pushchair, as is my usual custom, was Good for Her! Not for me, where she talks about the great Amy Poehler and some of her brilliant quotes. One that got me […]
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Bloody love this. Every woman needs to read this post. Thanks for linking up to #Brilliantblogposts x
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Thank you ! Really appreciate your support 😆
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She’s really funny. Hadn’t read her book though – it sounds like it has a lot of wisdom. #StayClassyMama
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Ah what a great idea! Love the t shirt and all of the Poelher quotes. This definitely sounds like a book I can get behind, going to Amazon this right now. : ) Thanks for the advice and sharing with #StayClassyMama! Did I say I love the t shirts?!?!
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I need to read that book! #stayclassymama
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Thank you for sharing. I had not heard of AP before. But I’m about to get to know! SOme quotes are so powerful. #KCACOLS
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great comments, particularly the one about unteaching ourselves what we have been taught to be. Pen x #KCACOLS
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Love the quotes, definitely words to live by. Must check out her book. Totally agree that, as women, we need to support each other instead of competing with each other (unless you’re in the Olympics but even there we saw athletes help each other out which was so wonderful). #ablogginggoodtime
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Such a positive and inspirational piece. I’ve been having a blogfidence crisis too and this was just what I needed to read! The stand out quote for me was don’t quiet your voice because you’re worried it isn’t perfect! Thank you for linking this fab post up to #ablogginggoodtime 🎉
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just returning from #bloggerclubUK hope the sales are going well! 🙂
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Love this and yes simple but very powerful #bloggerclubuk
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hit return above comment was from…
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Love this post – fab, strong and just the kind of message we need to remind ourselves of every day. #bloggerclubuk
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Never heard of this woman but her book sounds amazing, definitely need to give it a read. Love the t-shirt by the way, what a fab motto xx #BloggerClubUK
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Looks like a great inspirational read. We could all do with a confidence boost every now and again #ablogginggoodtime
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[…] I think we all start for the same reasons – to give ourselves a voice, to write, to have an identity outside of employee/mother. Whatever size our readership , most of us are probably reaching far more people than we ever thought we would. So I’m not at all despondent about my premature decline. I’m simply not putting in the effort to ‘promote’ my blog like I was in the beginning. I’m also not posting as frequently – mainly because I don’t have as much free time as I did when I started the blog, for a number of reasons. I was starting to stress about it too. I don’t know about you , but I don’t need something else to stress about. After being unsure for a while about where I wanted my blog to go, I’ve realised , at least, that getting huge numbers isn’t my short term goal. ( NB it goes without saying if you are making a living from your blog, or even some additional income, that is amazing and impressive – Good For Her, Not For Me) […]
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[…] of encouraging these behaviours and thought processes in our children. (I’m reminded of Amy Poehler, “It takes years as a woman to unlearn what you have been taught to be sorry for.” […]
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[…] you to do something you really want to do but it makes your stomach churn with fear – say, Yes Please and do it […]
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