Fastlane or Unscripted? Which first?

[MJ DeMarco]

After a few months post release, it's clear that many folks are reading UNSCRIPTED first (and not even knowing TMF exists) and then finding the forum.

So my question is, for those of you who read UNSCRIPTED and TMF (BOTH) and feel one or both are recommendable, which book would you recommend is read FIRST?

But after finally finishing Unscripted, I have to say it is a much better book than Millionaire Fastlane.

I agree with this statement above which is why I recommend that UNS goes first, and it has a less objectionable title. Could be a recency bias on my part however.

Please vote and let me know, gracious!

 

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[JAJT]

and it has a less objectionable title.

I have to agree.

I'll tell someone that "this business book I know of changed my life" and their eyes will brighten up and they'll lean in interested but the second I say "it's call the Millionaire Fastlane" they immediately lose that spark of interest and look at me like I'm selling snake oil from the back of a white van marked "free candy".

One of the best books on business I've ever read and I still recommend it all the damn time but the title is a really effective non-starter for some folks who may otherwise have given it a chance. Which pains me to say, it really does.

 

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[AllenCrawley]

My vote is to read Unscripted first.

 

[G-Man]

I would say TMF for one reason: It had more of your origin story. This gave the book credibility, which then carried over into UnScripted.

Probably depends on the person. UnScripted is definitely broader.

 

[MJ DeMarco]

As I wrote in another thread, I think TMF shows you why you SHOULD be an entrepreneur. UNSCRIPTED shows you why you NEED to be an entrepreneur.

If you are struggling with the concepts of capitalism, free market, liberty, independence, being your own boss, being rich, accumulating wealth, personal responsibility, etc -- that is you voted for Bernie or Hillary -- then you may need to read Unscripted first.

Ha Ha, I didn't say that!

But before someone locks me into a political box, let me just say that my "views" on hot-button issues spread the left/right spectrum whereas it would frustrate a partisan because they violate all partisan boxes.

I'd go into detail, but I'd violate my own forum rules.

 

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[c_morris]

Unscripted stands alone and I agree that overall it is the better book. That said, I would recommend to anyone new that they read TMF 1st.

My opinion is that it's an easier read and covers all of the fundamental topics without confusing the reader. I LOVE Unscripted but, the 1st time through I personally found the graphics distracting and some of the new terminology a bit hard to grasp. I can only imagine it would be harder for someone not familiar with your work.

 

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[lowtek]

I read TMFL first, and it was an eye opener. Just enough mindset to get you started, and the CENTS framework encapsulates the essence of good business. It's also a much shorter read.

The probability of someone finishing TMFL is probably higher, and so I recommend it first - despite how great a book unscripted is.

 

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[c4n]

I finished TMF a while ago and am one third through Unscripted.

As a non-native speaker I find Unscripted more challenging than TMF, but it gives a way broader perspective. I recommend:

1. read TMF
2. get your hands dirty in business
   
3. read Unscripted while executing #2

 

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[TheSmokey1]

I may be in the minority in saying that I liked TMFL more. That may be because I had much more business experience by the time I read UNS, and so the first one felt more useful to me. If asked I would say TMFL first, but read them both (no matter the order).

 

[MarekvBeek]

To answer your question very briefly:

To my sister (Office drone) Unscripted.

To my cousin (Struggling entrepreneur) TMF.

 

[MJ DeMarco]

I'm wondering the same. If anyone could tell me what those books are about?

Living life on your terms through the power of a specific subset of business outlined in the Unscripted Entrepreneurial Framework.
Winning your freedom from life's bullshit.
Going from "f*ck this" to "f*ck you"

Here's over 4,500 (180+ pages) of explanations if you'd like to read them.
GOLD - I've Read The Millionaire Fastlane!

 

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[eagleye101]

Nothing to be proud of, but I've read each book more than once... I initially read TMF, then I read Unscripted. Then I listened to Unscripted in audio x3, then I read TMF again, then I listened to TMF (some may call this obsession ).

Anyway, in my opinion Unscripted stand alone. But I think TMF should be read first. In unscripted you're much more mature @MJ DeMarco. TMF seems a bit amateur while Unscripted is 100% professional. In TMF there are mismatches within audio and text. Unscripted has even a pdf attachment in the audiobook. But I'd say that TMF should be read first because it's the initial intro in the CENTS (then CENTS) business model. While in the Unscpripted, even if it stands alone, you speak "as if" everyone knows basic fastlane concepts. I.e. what is slowlane, sidewalk and fastlane? I am not sure I would understand these concepts 100% if I hadn't read TMF.

 

[MidwestLandlord]

Without my own bias getting in the way, and just judging off of people's reactions when I've given them away...

Unscripted first, based solely off the title and cover copy.

 

[Laughingman21]

I definitely think TMF is the book I would read first. I think it breaks down the problems that people are unknowingly facing with the sidewalk and slowlane and would do a better job of making someone move from these into the Fastlane.

I have to admit, I found some of Unscripted’s comments on the scripted life a bit harsh and potentially offensive to those people caught up in it. Often, the people there have taken that road because they’ve had no-one around them to tell them otherwise and they think they’re doing the right thing. To read a book that not only tells them they’re on the wrong path, but also makes them feel bad about it was a bit strong. I think some people may well have given up at that point, but with TMF it feels like it’s educating people against their mistakes in a less condescending tone. If someone from the slowlane reads TMF first, I think they’re more likely to stick with Unscripted as a follow up.

That said, I think both books are brilliant and offer the readers a huge amount of value. I’ve read TMF a number of times and will no doubt do the same with Unscripted.

 

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[inputchip]

The probability of someone finishing TMFL is probably higher, and so I recommend it first - despite how great a book unscripted is.

+1

TMF is like an appetizer, it has all the right ingredients of a meal, and it's enough to satisfy you for a little while, but eventually it just makes you hungry for more. Unscripted is the full meal deal.

 

[SquatchMan]

Millionaire Fastlane is a better intro book to entrepreneurship it just needs to come with a strong personal recommendation to get over the hesitancy about the title.

I preface my recommendations with: "I know the title might sound a little corny/scammy. BUT trust me it is the complete opposite. The author nukes MLM, Pyramid schemes, get rich easy, scams, etc. and basically explains how a successful business owner THINKS about business and their time. No exact steps either."

Honestly, I think people are much more inclined to buy it because I have to explain my reasoning. Everyone I've told about it loves it... no one is taking action, but that's fairly typical tbh. At least they got a new lens.

 

[garyjsmith]

It depends. I'm glad I read/listened to TMF first

BUT

when I recommend the books to someone, like @MarekvBeek, I gauge who they are. If they're a sidewalker and believe they can only make $12/hr, I send them Unscripted. If they're aspiring, I'll send TMF. You know the main reason? I want them to bite, and I'm afraid a sidewalker will see 'Millionaire' and be like "dur, yeah right, sure"

 

[lewj24]

I vote TMF first.

It changed the way I look at life. It was the missing piece to the puzzle that I was unable to solve myself. It was the truth that I was looking for that nobody had ever explained to me. I felt something was wrong subconsciously but couldn't put my finger on it. After searching tons of books (a mix of slowlane and fastlane) I finally stumbled upon TMF and it explained everything that I didn't even know I questioned. It gave me the answers I was looking for to the questions I couldn't come up with, but knew that I had once I read the answers.

One example was the compound interest 40 year gamble thing. College had taught me to invest for retirement. I fooled around with compound interest numbers in my calculator and figured out quickly that the bigger the investment the better the return. My inner logic told me to win that game I needed a big income. After asking people how to make a big income I was told it would take years and to be more realistic. I agreed with them, after all, everyone telling me this was smarter and more successful than I was. And all the professors had PhD's so i trusted them.

But it never felt right.

I forgot I even questioned the above slowlane retirement plan until TMF jogged my memory. TMF gave me the answers I had been looking for without me even knowing the questions.

TMF stereotyped the sidewalk, slowlane, and fastlane in such a way that really changes your perspective on money and how people use it. It explained the habits of the poor, mediocre, and rich. It talked about the process, which I had never heard explained before but is so vital. It talked about CENTS. It talked about time management. It talked about the choices we make every single day and how they impact your life.

Everything was explained in such a common sense way that it all clicked. It wasn't too complex but it wasn't fluff. It was the perfect mix of explanations backed up with logic and reasoning. It was almost like you didn't have to take notes. You just read it and knew. Unscripted has a bunch of weird words and jargon that you have to focus on and memorize.

I raved about TMF to my friends who asked me how I knew it wasn't all a lie. What proof did this author have to back up his claims, after all he could be lying like the rest of the slowlane authors that I bashed on. They had a point. What proof did I have? My answer: logic, common sense, the feeling of no longer not understanding what was wrong. The reason my friends questioned the book was because they didn't question life like I did. They never questioned college, careers, retirement, etc (like I did without realizing it) instead they questioned the book. That is why to them TMF doesn't make sense. TMF had the answers I was looking for and it changed my life.

Unscripted doesn't really answer my questions like TMF did. Unscripted is a more focused blueprint on how to do it. I feel like people should read TMF first to figure out the missing pieces to the puzzle like I did. The common sense answers to the questions we cannot explain. The things nobody teaches. That's the shit that convinced me. Unscripted just reinforced those beliefs afterwords.

Maybe it is because I found TMF before I found Unscripted. If it was reversed maybe I'd be singing a different tune...

But I doubt it.

I don't know when I'll be rich but TMF will always be my favorite book. I've never had something impact my life like that.

P.S. I gave a copy of TMF to my friend last year who was going the slowlane road. He completed his 4.0 MBA 4 months ago and had dreamed about becoming a millionaire CEO for a fortune 500 company since he was 13. He's the only friend of mine that actually read TMF after I praised it to everyone. He quit his straight out of college 50k a year job with benefits and is now starting a business with me. I don't think Unscripted has the same initial impact as TMF.

P.P.S. MJ's voice in TMF Audible version is way better and impactful than the guy in Unscripted's Audible version. I refuse to listen to that. I can't do it.. another plus for TMF in my opinion.

 

[amp0193]

So my question is, for those of you who read UNSCRIPTED and TMF (BOTH) and feel one or both are recommendable, which book would you recommend is read FIRST?

TMF first. It is simpler, and easier to digest.

Unscripted got pretty heady and complicated with the charts and acronyms, and I'm not sure I would've stuck it out if I wasn't already a TMF disciple.

 

[Aaron T]

I read TMF first then listened to it a second time via Audible. It stuck. Unscripted stuck the first time.

1. Unscripted
2. TMF

But you won't make a mistake regardless of the order you read them if you absorb the contents.

 

[Player]

There is a saying that you don't realise what you have until it's gone..........well, in a simlar vain, you don't know what you've been missing until it arrives. This applies to Unscripted.

I read TMF some years back and recently read Unscripted. IMHO, Unscripted sets the scene for the "system" and the role of most people within it. Schools and the global education system in most formats exists to create tax payers. MJ raises the awareness that people are so drugged by their consumer focused lifestyle and 9-5 enslavery that they die at age 25 only to be buried at 75 and sleep walk through life. The wake up that comes in the form of a sledge hammer is a retrospective prelude to read TMF in my opinion.

For those not having read either...Unscripted first and TMF second. In reality it doesn't matter because these books need to be re-read at least once a year. Share them and the learnings they impart to those you care about.

 

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[Nily]

TMF is about logic and hard maths. Unscripted is all about the meta.

 

[CPisHere]

Unscripted covers the big concepts of Fastlane, and like I said - is a much better book. I would definitely recommend it first, with Millionaire Fastlane second to dive deeper into that portion.

 

[Invictus]

If you're going to read both? Start with TMF. It's easier and gives a good overall grasp.

If you could only read one? Unscripted. It's honestly a better book (although TMF is still fantastic), simply because there is so much. It may be the only business book anyone would ever need to read. It deals with everything.

But, that's its problem. It can be a bit scary and threatening because there's so much. If someone is new to entrepreneurship, it can overwhelm them.

 

[Nigel B]

I'm going to echo much of what has been said as individuals have identified some of what I experienced.\

Unscripted then TMF for these reasons:
1. Unscripted is better written, with better structure working towards a clear outcome.
2. Terminology change does not matter - it is only an issue if you already have context which a new reader does not.
3. The majority of people (even those who think they are entrepreneurs) are in fact living mainly Scripted lives and that emphasis is context for taking action
4. To get engaged with TMF you have to a) want to be an entrepreneur already, and b) get past the title - I understand why it was done, but Unscripted is a much more relatable and accurate context for the message (IMO)

Have you considered pulling out much of TMF, restructuring it into "MJ's Autobiography" - possibly with more detail in places, to allow a reader of Unscripted to catch up on MJ without the overlapping and sometimes confusing differences in terminology between the two? Would need to be done transparently - to avoid owners of TMF going "Oo another MJ book, better get that" ... then raging here and elsewhere.

 

[Kenny27]

I agree with what some of the guys above say, it depends on the person.

I gave my dad (lifelong employee) my copy of TMF but he wasn't keen to read it. I don't think it really spoke to him, and things were a bit awkward whenever we would talk about entrepreneurship. I gave him Unscripted as soon as I finished it, and that had a much greater impact on him. After finishing Unscripted he's gone back to TMF. He's still an employee, but now he actually engages in fastlane conversations with me.

Personally I think Unscripted is better for most people, TMF is great for those with an entrepreneurial spark.

 

[Supercar]

I read TMF first and Unscripted later, the way they came out. To me the first book says What to do, and the second explains How to do it. TMF is more factual. Unscripted is more philosophical. I was philosophically prepared for this content before I read it, so TMF sank in well. When Unscripted came out it was only a confirmation of what I already knew, but it was a very positive reinforcement, nevertheless.

If you are struggling with the concepts of capitalism, free market, liberty, independence, being your own boss, being rich, accumulating wealth, personal responsibility, etc -- that is you voted for Bernie or Hillary -- then you may need to read Unscripted first.

 

[Bon Appetit]

I have read TMF first and then Unscripted but if I have to do it again I would prefer to go with Unscripted first.

Unscripted starts by setting up the decor, understanding the society where you live and format your mindset. This introduction lead you to why you want to take the Fastlane. TMF is more focus on the entrepreneurial aspect.

 

[DeletedUser052]

Like @G-Man said, it depends on the person.

If you aren't sure why your biz is failing, read TMF.

If you aren't sure why your life isn't moving forward, read UNSCRIPTED.

 

[p0stscript]

For me TMF gave me the hunger, whilst UNSCRIPTED started to put meat on the bones, therefore I'd recommend that way. Though I'm sure, like me, once you've read one you'll search out the other, regardless of which is the first.

 

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