Juliet's School of Possibilities

A Little Story About the Power of Priorities

By: Laura Vanderkam

Narrated by: Laura Vanderkam

Length: 2 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's summary

A charming, life-changing fable that will help you rethink your whole approach to time, priorities, and possibilities.

Riley Jenkins is in trouble. An ambitious, hardworking consultant in her late 20s, she's used to a lifetime of nearly perfect evaluations - until she gets a terrible performance review from her boss. How is that possible when Riley does everything her clients want - including answering emails 24/7 - faster than they expect it?

That's precisely the problem: She's spread too thin. Despite her insane hours and attention to detail, Riley can't produce the thoughtful work her clients expect. Now, she's been given 30 days to close a major deal, or she's out. Meanwhile, her personal life is also on the edge of disaster, with her boyfriend and close friends losing patience with her chronic unavailability.

The last thing Riley wants, at a stressful time like this, is to attend a women's leadership retreat with some of her colleagues. But she can't get out of her commitment: a weekend in New Jersey at some silly-sounding place called Juliet's School of Possibilities.

Yet before long, Riley is surprised to find herself intrigued by Juliet, the lifestyle maven who hosts the conference. How does a single mother of two run a successful business while acting as if she has all the time in the world? The answer may lie in one of Juliet's Zen-like comments: "Expectations are infinite. Time is finite. You are always choosing. Choose well."

By the end of this story, you'll join Riley in rethinking the balance between your present and your future, between the things you have to do and the things you want to do. Like Riley, you can free yourself from feeling overwhelmed and pursue your highest possibilities.

©2019 Laura Vanderkam (P)2019 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"Laura is my go-to expert for time management and Juliet's School of Possibilities is a delightful book. You can read it in a couple of short sittings, then go away with a lifetime of application." (Chris Guillebeau, author of Side Hustle and The $100 Startup)

"Thousands of books explain how we should set priorities, stay focused, and make time for what truly matters - but that advice, however sound, is all too easy to ignore. Laura Vanderkam takes a different approach. By harnessing the irresistible power of story-telling, she makes those aims vivid and compelling in an entirely new way, to show us how and why we can make room for possibilities." (Gretchen Rubin, author of The Four Tendencies and Better Than Before)

"Volumes have been written about abundance versus lack mentality, typically as they relate to money. But who among hasn’t lamented, 'I don’t have enough time!'? Ah, but you do - and Laura Vanderkam’s sweet-and-sage parable will show you exactly how to find it, use it wisely, and revel in it richly. Read Juliet’s School and you too will find yourself saying, “Oh, the possibilities!” (John David Mann, coauthor of The Go-Giver)

Great parable of time and priorities

I finished this book in 2 days, but could've finished it in a day. Her voice made it a little cringy to listen to, but once I got use to her voice, the book was great. I've listened to Laura's other works like 168 hours, which after listening to Juliet's School of Possibilities, I'll have to go back and listen to.
This book helped me pull together what I learned in 168 hours in a fun and memorable way!

Engaging book!!

loved it ..the narration is superb and this story format works to make sure that we don't forget the lessons!

The guide is excellent but...

The romance and the magic didn’t help.
But, yes, the principles behind are rock solid and ver well explained.
I am recommending it to my children but with apologies for the cheese part

wakes you up

As a productivity coach myself, I was still moved to a deeper awareness of an important truth about how we spend our time.

A Quick and inspiring listen

This fable was well worth the listen. Key take away; expectations are infinite time is finite.

Enjoyable story, valuable lesson

Laura Vanderkam had a refreshing take on time management, and this story is a refreshing way to deliver time management advice. Worth the time to listen!

Quick and introspective read.

This was something I bought because I like the authors other work. The book was short and I like the story. It did make me think.

Enthusiastic recommendation

This is a book that feels like the solution to all my problems, & I want to send it to everybody I love. Very clarifying & positive

great story with real lessons.

this book is well performed with great life lessons in time management and priorities. it is something that we all need to think about in our life.

Thought provoking. Loved the short story form.

Great narration. I was drawn in immediately. I could identity with the characters. Starting on my personal and professional vision now.