Blunt Wisdom From the World’s Top Executive Coach (#221)

This book by Marshall Goldsmith focuses on helping successful individuals recognize and change the behavioral habits that are holding them back from achieving even greater success. Goldsmith identifies 20 common bad habits, such as speaking when angry or adding too much value, and provides a systematic approach to changing these behaviors. He emphasizes that it is not technical skills but behavioral changes that separate the great from the rest. The book offers practical advice on how to eliminate these dysfunctions and improve interpersonal relationships, which is crucial for advancing in one's career and personal life.

In 'The Earned Life,' Marshall Goldsmith offers a practical approach to achieving fulfillment and minimizing regret. The book emphasizes the importance of living in the present and aligning daily choices, risks, and efforts with a broader life purpose, regardless of the eventual outcome. Goldsmith provides various strategies, including the 'Every Breath Paradigm,' the 'Action, Ambition, and Aspiration' model, and the 'credibility matrix,' to help readers shed obstacles to fulfillment and avoid the trap of existential regret. The book is divided into two parts: 'Choosing Your Life' and 'Earning Your Life,' covering both the theory and practice of living an earned life.