“The Full Tank Life” by Ben Tankard
c.2016, FaithWords / Hachette
$22.00 / $26.50 Canada
208 pages
At the end of the day, you’re out of gas.
There’s nothing left in your reserves, not a drop. You’re done, wondering if this is as far as you’ll ever go but somehow open to new suggestions. So read “The Full Tank Life” by Ben Tankard. It might just rev your engine again.
Imagine this: You’re driving down the highway on your way to somewhere important, when you glance at the gas gauge and oh, boy, it’s almost on “E.” That’s what your life may be like but Ben Tankard says you can boost your inner fuel with his “Full Tank Life” method. Since it’s easy to do, you can start now.
It’s all about D-E-S-T-I-N-Y, he says.
Begin by discovering your Dream. Get personal; this is your dream, not what someone else wants for you. Imagine it. Write it down. See yourself in it, then take steps to be in the right Environment to achieve that dream. Tell yourself every day that you’ll have what you want. Say it aloud and make it positive. That will help train your Subconscious to see your path as a decision, not a choice.
Learn to see Time in a different way. Don’t waste it, of course, but don’t rush to use it, either. Haste, impatience, not prioritizing, and a lack of attention to detail can make time slip out of your fingers faster than you might realize.
Try to keep Inspiration in your life. Find people who can support you, and put yourself in their company as much as possible. Find a mentor, and then be a mentor to someone else. Take advantage of Networks to maintain your outlook and to boost your business and personal life.
Finally, remember the most important part of the Full Tank Life: You! Always be genuine. Do your best with whatever you have at the moment. Work around any roadblock you might find. And above all, don’t listen to naysayers: if your tank is full, you can do this.
As faith-based business-slash-inspirational books go, “The Full Tank Life” is okay. Not sterling, not great, but not horrible, either; just okay.
Author, pastor, and “Renaissance man” Ben Tankard has a good premise here but, though his advice is solid, it’s similar to a lot of other books. He offers personal anecdotes to illustrate his points but those tales often seem to be elevated, which could smack of boasting. There’s a good amount of repetition here, too, and the lengthy Bible teachings sometimes feel like filler.
To the good, however, the information offered is rock-solid. The book is written in an easy step-by-step format (although Tankard says you don’t have to read it that way). And there are helpful worksheets included with each chapter, which allow readers to sort through their thoughts and ideas.
The audience for this book, I think, is in the reader with a totally blank slate, or in the businessperson who’s hit pause for just a minute. If you are neither, though, “The Full Tank Life” may only leave you empty.
