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.
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.
Hubert Joly's "The Heart of Business" offers a compelling narrative of his leadership journey at Best Buy. The book details his transformation of the company from near bankruptcy to renewed success. Joly emphasizes the importance of human connection and employee engagement in driving business results. He shares practical strategies for building a strong organizational culture and fostering a sense of purpose among employees. The book serves as a valuable resource for leaders seeking to create a more human-centered approach to business.
In 'Quiet', Susan Cain presents a comprehensive argument that modern Western culture misunderstands and undervalues the traits and capabilities of introverted people. She charts the rise of the 'Extrovert Ideal' and explores how it permeates various aspects of society, including workplaces, schools, and social interactions. Cain draws on research from biology, psychology, neuroscience, and evolution to demonstrate that introversion is common, normal, and valuable. The book offers advice for introverts on functioning in an extrovert-dominated culture and advocates for changes to support and recognize the contributions of introverts. It also distinguishes between introversion, shyness, and anti-social behavior, and highlights the unique strengths of introverts, such as deep thinking, persistence, and excellent negotiation skills.
In this book, Angela Duckworth presents a compelling argument that success is driven more by grit, a fusion of relentless passion and perseverance, than by talent. She explains what grit is, how to identify and develop it, and how it can be grown through stages such as developing interests, consistent practice, finding a pro-social purpose, and cultivating optimism. The book is structured in three parts: explaining what grit is and why it matters, how to grow grit from the inside out, and how to grow grit from the outside in, targeting parents, coaches, teachers, and organizational leaders. Duckworth supports her arguments with personal stories, historical insights, and interviews with high achievers from various fields.
Safi Bahcall's "Loon Shots" explores the dynamics of innovation within organizations, examining why groundbreaking ideas often face resistance and how to foster environments where they can thrive. The book uses real-world examples from various industries to illustrate the challenges and opportunities in nurturing disruptive innovation. Bahcall introduces concepts like the "barbell structure" to highlight the tension between creative exploration and efficient execution. He emphasizes the importance of balancing risk-taking with responsible scaling, advocating for a system that supports both "artists" and "soldiers" within an organization. The book offers practical strategies for leaders to cultivate a culture of innovation and overcome the obstacles that stifle groundbreaking ideas.
About the Guest:
Marshall Goldsmith is the world-renowned leadership thinker and executive coach recognized as the only two-time Thinkers 50 #1 Leadership Thinker in the world. Over a celebrated career spanning decades, he has guided over 150 major CEOs and their management teams to reach new heights of effectiveness. Marshall has authored 56 books, including acclaimed titles such as "What Got You Here Won't Get You There," "Mojo," "Triggers," and "The Earned Life," selling over 3 million copies. He is currently pioneering MarshallGoldsmith AI, an initiative aimed at democratizing leadership learning through AI technology, a venture started even before the advent of ChatGPT.
Episode Summary:
Greg engages in a profound and insightful conversation with the world-renowned executive coach, Dr. Marshall Goldsmith. The dialogue navigates through themes of leadership, self-forgiveness, the pursuit of happiness, and embracing human imperfections. Marshall shares his journey from humble beginnings to becoming a leading figure in executive coaching, highlighting the importance of philosophical teachings from Buddhism in shaping his approach to life and coaching.
Key Takeaways:
Courage, Humility, and Discipline: Successful leaders require these three qualities to enact meaningful change in their behavior.
Daily Self-Assessment: Regularly asking oneself, "Did I do my best to…" can significantly improve personal and professional development.
Impact of AI on Leadership: Marshall Goldsmith AI aims to make leadership training accessible globally, leveraging the latest in AI technology.
Prioritizing Relationships: Improving team dynamics starts with individuals seeking betterment within themselves.
Managing Overcommitment: Leaders often fall into the trap of believing things will calm down in the future, which can hinder immediate action on what truly matters.
Notable Quotes:
“Winners love winning. My whole coaching is not fixing losers. I’m in the helping winners business.”
“If I have a coach, I’ve had someone call me on the phone almost every day for 27 years to try to help me.”
“I thought when I got older, worrying about my health would be less important...actually it's sort of more important.”
“Everyone I coach gets confidential feedback, picks important areas to improve, apologizes, and does rigorous follow-up.”
“If you get rid of the mistakes you made, you get rid of everything you learned from the mistakes.”
Resources:
MarshallGoldsmith AI
Books by Marshall Goldsmith:
"What Got You Here Won't Get You There"
"Triggers"
"The Earned Life"
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