InThe Earned Life, Marshall Goldsmith challenges your unproductive attachment to outcomes and reveals the key to living unbound by regret, by helping you connect to something greater than the isolated and fleeting achievements of careerism:
If you are tired of feeling that you are only as great as your last achievement, or if you are saddled with regret for opportunities lost, this book will start you on a fresh journey to living the life you know you were meant to live.
As an executive educator and coach, I help people understand how our beliefs and the environments we operate in can trigger negative behaviors. Through simple and practical advice, I help people achieve and sustain positive behavioral change.
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In the midst of life's inevitable twists and turns, there are moments that force us to pause and reflect on the path we're traveling. The passing of a friend marked such a moment for me, serving as a poignant reminder of life's fragility. It was during this time of introspection that a close friend (thank you, Tunde Ogungbesan ) and I found ourselves on a journey of self-discovery and contemplation, with a book as our guiding light - "The Earned Life" by Marshall Goldsmith.
Our journey began shortly after we visited a mutual friend who was terminally ill. As we sat together, discussing the intricate tapestry of life and the myriad experiences it offers, our conversation naturally gravitated towards the world of books. It's often said that books have the power to shape our perspectives, offer solace, and inspire change, and that day, we experienced the profound truth of those words.
Later that evening, my friend shared "The Earned Life" with me. While many of the book's ideas weren't entirely foreign to me, it proved to be a compelling and thought-provoking read. Marshall Goldsmith challenges our deeply ingrained attachment to specific outcomes, a trait that often leads to unproductive behaviours and regret. His wisdom transcends the pages, urging readers to live life unburdened by the shackles of past choices and instead, focus on the present moment and the path ahead.
"The Earned Life" is a compelling narrative that encourages us to reevaluate our priorities, embrace change, and pursue a life that is truly earned, not just lived. Goldsmith's insights are not just inspirational, but they also serve as practical guidance for anyone seeking to make positive changes in their life. As I immersed myself in the book's pages, it was evident that this was more than just another self-help book; it was a transformative experience waiting to unfold.
As the festive break approaches, I eagerly anticipate revisiting "The Earned Life." This time, I intend to delve even deeper into its wisdom and let its message guide me as I embark on a journey of self-improvement and self-discovery. I believe this book has the power to touch the lives of many, offering valuable insights to those who seek a more meaningful and purposeful existence.
In conclusion, "The Earned Life" by Marshall Goldsmith is not just a book; it is a catalyst for change, a source of inspiration, and a reminder that life's most profound lessons can often be found in unexpected places. I encourage all of you, my LinkedIn network, to consider picking up this book and allowing its wisdom to resonate with you as it has with me. It might just be the nudge you need to start living the earned life you deserve.
Recapturing that sense of fulfillment cannot be accomplished by wallowing in memories of who we were and what we accomplished. It can be earned only by the person we are in the present moment. It can only be earned again, and again, in subsequent moments when we become someone new.
I say this without exaggerating so take my word for it; I've interviewed nearly 140 global thought leaders and this was one of the most enlightening and impactful conversations I've ever had on the show.
I urge you to listen to the full episode to get many more insights, tips, life advice and wisdom from this world-renowned business legend. Here are eight highlights and some lessons that stood out for me.
The Love in Action Podcast inspires leaders to reimagine the conditions necessary for creating human-centered and humane workplaces to help human beings flourish. Episodes are published every Thursday and can be heard on your favorite podcast platform. If you like what you hear, be sure to leave us a review!
Hubert Joly, former chairman and CEO of Best Buy, author of The Heart of Business: Leadership Principles for the Next Era of Capitalism. Ken Blanchard, luminary author, speaker, and business consultant, and someone who is respected for his lifetime of groundbreaking research and thought leadership that has influenced the day-to-day management and leadership of people and companies throughout the world. Stephen M.R. Covey, the New York Times and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author of The Speed of Trust, which has been translated into 22 languages and has sold over 2 million copies worldwide.
Marcel Schwantes is a global leadership expert, speaker, executive coach, author, podcast host, and syndicated columnist. He develops emerging leaders through his signature virtual course, "From Boss to Leader." His work has been featured in Inc., Business Insider, Fast Company, The New York Daily News, CNBC, Forbes, and others. He speaks to audiences about the human side of work, and how cultures of care, connection, and belonging outperform the competition.
Janice Lintz is on a mission to make the world equally accessible to those with hearing loss. While her list of achievements is impressive, she knows that she will never be able to reach every single company and organization. That does not mean she will not spend every day trying to move the needle. It is her aspiration.
This refers to what we want to achieve. Once again, this idea is time-bound, ending when we achieve our measurable goal. When you reach your ambition, you are enveloped with a feeling of happiness, which is fleeting and ends shortly after you achieve your goal.
This describes what we want to become. There is no clear finish line; it cannot be measured, and you can never actually achieve it, but you will work diligently and with great focus to make a dent in doing so. The aspiration is an expression of your higher purpose.
Take Janice Lintz. She wants to make every site throughout the world accessible to those with hearing loss (aspiration). She finds a location such as a museum, subway station, or pharmacy and formulates a plan to add induction loops into that location (ambition). She then repeatedly reaches out to their leadership, reviews the Americans with Disabilities Act, and teaches them how to make their location hearing accessible (action). Finally, she holds their hands step by step until the project is completed.
When she finally achieved hearing access in the NYC taxis, baseball stadiums, and the National Parks, she was excited, and her enthusiasm was contagious, but the celebration was short-lived. By the next morning, she was back at her desk working on the next project. She had checked off an ambition but still had a bigger aspiration.
Like success, with aspirations, you are never indeed done. You have never earned enough and feel there is always more you can do. It is about time we started living our own lives in place of the ones someone else dictated for us. The secret to finding fulfillment, according to Goldsmith, comes from connecting with and aspiring to something bigger than ourselves. Learning to let go of regret, anger, and mistakes will help lead to an earned life of fulfillment.
At the height of his career at the age of 50, Arthur Brooks embarked on a seven-year journey to discover how to transform his future from one of disappointment over waning abilities into an opportunity for progress. From Strength to Strength is the result, a practical roadmap for the rest of your life. Drawing on social science, philosophy, biography, theology, and eastern wisdom, as well as dozens of interviews with everyday men and women, Brooks shows us that true life success is well within our reach.
When Elon Musk was a kid in South Africa, he was regularly beaten by bullies. One day a group pushed him down some concrete steps and kicked him until his face was a swollen ball of flesh. He was in the hospital for a week. But the physical scars were minor compared to the emotional ones inflicted by his father, an engineer, rogue, and charismatic fantasist.
Leadership expert Sally Helgesen and best-selling leadership coach Marshall Goldsmith have trained thousands of high achievers - men and women - to reach even greater heights. Again and again, they see that women face specific and different road blocks from men as they advance in the workplace. In fact, the very habits that helped women early in their careers can hinder them as they move up. Simply put, what got you here won't get you there...and you might not even realize your blind spots until it's too late.
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