book review # 25 what got you here, won't get you there

Book review # 25 what got you here, won’t get you there

When my friend who bought me this book told me that “ this book change my life”, I knew at that instance that this is not an ordinary book and I was right.

It’s not my usual practice to read any books more than once but I read this book three times already and probably will going to read it again in the future. 

First of all, this book is written for a certain group of people i.e. those who has certain level of accomplishment in their professional life (however the context of this book can also be apply to improve personal life as well) but knows that something is holding them back of from become even more successful. 

The book presents us with simple yet profound concept. The 20 bad habits of successful people that keep them from excel further. When I go through this book, I realize that every high achievers, executives and entrepreneurs  I have met in my  entire adult life (my self included) has at least couple of these habits. 

Let’s look at one example from bad habit #7 i.e speaking when angry 

“a buddhist legend tells of a young farmer who was covered with sweat as he paddled his boat up the river. He was going upstream to deliver his produce to the village. He was in hurry. It was a hot day and he wanted to make his delivery and get home before dark. As he looked ahead, he spied another vessel, heading rapidly downstream towards his boat. This vessel seemed to be making every effort to hit him. He rowed furiously to get of the way, but it didn’t seem to help. 

He yelled over the vessel, “ Change direction, you idiot! You are going to hit me. The river is wide. Be careful!” His screaming was to no avail. The other vessel hit his boat with a sickening thud. He was enraged as he stood up and cried out to the other vessel, “ You moron! How could you manage to hit my boat in the middle of this wide river! What’s wrong with you?”

And he looked at the other vessel, he realized that there was no one in the other boat. He was screaming at an empty vessel that has broken free of its moorings and was going downstream with the current. 

The lesson is simple. There is never anyone in the other boat. When we are angry, we are screaming at an empty vessel. 

A sage would say that the person making us so angry cannot help who he is. Getting mad at him for being who he is make as much sense as getting mad at our desk for being a desk.” 

quite sharp isn’t? 

let’s try another one

“Being smart turn people on, announcing how smart you are (directly or indirectly) turn them off.”

simple yet powerful massage 

This book is similar to a mirror, when you read and think about yourself you will see that you have at least couple of these habits. I personally think that I have quite a lot and I determine to fix it as much as possible. 

As we advance through the ladder of our personal and professional life, we usually find out that outcome of our effort is no longer based on what we “do” but rather on what we “manage”

I strongly recommend this book for everyone who needs to “manage” someone. 

9.8/10

Cheers

Tab