The Izzy Way Book Review
I picked up Contagious You because I’ve been thinking a lot about energy lately—like, the kind of energy that spreads whether you notice it or not. Honestly, I wasn’t expecting to get much out of it. But wow. Contagious isn’t a book about charisma or pep talks. It’s about presence. About how who you are, frazzled, calm, tense, excited—lands on the people around you. And it made me stop and really look at how I show up every day.
The first thing that hit me was the frameworks IEP (Intentional Energy Practice) and IIF (Intentional Influence Formula). IEP reminded me that showing up well isn’t something you’re born with. You can practice it. IIF goes a step further, helping you actually influence how situations unfold rather than react.
Then there’s the part that really hit me: the 7 P’s of personal burnout—Pressure, People, Perfectionism, Pace, Purpose, Place, and Power. I had a few “oh, that’s me” moments reading that section. It wasn’t scary or guilt-inducing; it was just clarifying. Suddenly, all the stress and tension I’d been ignoring had names. And the book doesn’t leave you hanging—it shows ways to notice them early, before burnout takes over.
The book made me pause and ask myself some key questions: How am I showing up today? Am I leading with intention or just reacting? Where am I carrying tension I don’t even notice? Even just thinking about those questions has started changing the way I move through my day, how I enter rooms, and how I respond to people. It’s small shifts, but they have a ripple effect.
The big takeaway for me: leadership isn’t just about decisions or skills. It’s about presence. About how your energy lands, every single day. And the best part – you can actually change it. You don’t have to be perfect; you have to be intentional.
5 Things I’m Actually Working on since reading Contagious You
1. Pausing for IEP
Even a minute before a meeting spent resetting posture, breathing, and focusing has a noticeable impact. I feel different, and apparently, others do too.
2. Using IIF instead of reacting
Before responding, I ask, What kind of influence do I want here? That tiny pause slows me down and makes conversations feel better.
3. Checking in on the 7 P’s
Pressure, People, Perfectionism, Pace, Purpose, Place, Power. I’m hoping to journal about them a bit each week. Just noticing which P is creeping in helps me step back before stress spirals.
4. Energy is leadership
I’ve started noticing the ripple effect of my own energy. Calm focus spreads. Tension spreads. It’s simple but powerful.
5. Small habits add up
A few minutes of reflection, a pause before a conversation, resetting energy, it’s not dramatic, but over time it compounds.
Contagious You isn’t about “getting people to like you” or tricks to look good. It’s about showing up as the kind of person people actually want to follow. If you care about your energy, presence, or avoiding burnout while still leading effectively, this book is worth reading.
Check out some of my other book reviews.
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