Book Review: What Got You Here Won’t Get You There

The tagline of “What Got You Here Won’t Get You There” by Marshall Goldsmith is How Successful People Become Even More Successful.  Goldsmith asserts that successful people overlook their foibles and carry bad interpersonal habits with them as they ascend.  Invariably these bad habits become the obstacle to their next round of success.

Goldsmith describes 20 bad habits from Winning Too Much to Not Listening to Making Excuses.  At face value, these habits seem obvious and easily correctable but the book includes good anecdotal examples of otherwise top performers and how these habits can subtly interfere.  Goldsmith then offers a 7-step plan, including Feed Forward (the opposite of Feedback), which focuses on future change.

I was already a Goldsmith fan from his business magazine columns, and I can see why this book became one of his signature works.  It’s a breezy read, but comprehensive.  There will probably be 1-2 nuggets you can use immediately.  I particularly loved Is It Worth It — pausing before saying anything and asking if what you would say is worth it to say or just let it go.  I also loved how Goldsmith emphasized the interpersonal and how it’s the interpersonal skills that make or break you as you ascend in your career because the technical skills are often a given. 

I recommend “What Got You Here Won’t Get You There”, especially if you are at an inflection point and open to considering making a change.  It will help you identify potential areas of change.  It will also help you manage other people, up and down, as you’ll probably have more sympathy for other people’s struggles as you identify your own.

Filed under: book review, book review, Marshall Goldsmith, Success, What Got You Here Won't Get You There

Thanksgiving Gift To Our Blog Readers

Happy Thanksgiving!  In appreciation of your readership, we are hosting a free teleclass on Monday, Nov. 30, to Make 2010 Your Best Year Yet, including strategies and tips for setting and reaching your career and life goals:

EVENT:  SixFigureStart:  Make 2010 Your Best Year Yet

DATE & TIME: Monday, November 30th at 7:00pm Eastern

FORMAT: Simulcast! (Attend via Phone or Webcast — it’s your choice)

REGISTER HERE:  http://bit.ly/2aTmfq

Presenter:  Caroline Ceniza-Levine

Filed under: career coaching, Company news, life coaching, resource recommendation, free gift, free teleclass, goal setting, Success, thanksgiving

Build On Job Search Successes

One of my most popular workshops is Troubleshooting Your Job Search.  People probably relate to the notion of problems in the search and how to fix these. 

In general, we often hone in on what isn’t working, what could be better, what we don’t yet have.

However, an integral part of success in the job search is based on the opposite of troubleshooting – identifying and building on your job search wins.  See my tips on how to do this in my recent post for CNBC.com Executive Careers:

http://www.cnbc.com/id/32298439/site/14081545

Filed under: career coaching, resource recommendation, CNBC.com, Executive Careers, job search, Success, troubleshoot problems

Success Story: One Client’s Lessons From Her Journey To A New Job

The one thing that I learned while job searching is persistence. Always believe that there is something out there for you, because you will find it. Secondly, you can’t be afraid to interview at anywhere, even if it leads to nothing! I learned something at each interview about my responses and what interviewers were looking for.

The company that I took a job with, isn’t necessarily a new company, but they are rebuilding their company, however, I took a huge risk to leave my job in NYC. My lifestyle has drastically changed, I can sleep in past 6am, and be home no later than 6pm. My new job is 3.5 miles from my house! There are endless possibilities for me now, and I can’t wait to experience them all!

Thanks for everything!

Laboratory Institute of Merchandising, class of 2008, Fashion Industry

Filed under: career coaching, Company news, gen y, Generation Y, job search, new job, Success

Book Review: Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell

I am a big Malcolm Gladwell fan, and Outliers, while an enjoyable read, was my least favorite of his books so far.   Outliers has the same riveting storytelling style, and I loved the Ethnic Theory of Plane Crashes and The Trouble with Geniuses story of Christopher Langan.  But I was left with the somber feeling that success is a cosmic conflicting mix of random and pre-ordained, and either way, there isn’t much that could be done about it.

It was the opposite feeling I had reading a similar, success-themed book, Geoff Colvin’s Talent Is Overrated.  Talent didn’t have as breezy a style  but at least it had an uplifting point (success is hard work, actually REALLY hard work, 10,000 hours’ worth).   Colvin also actually had practical advice we could use — the importance of Deliberate Practice, for example.

Outliers has the fun stories and does remind us that hard work and talent play roles in success.  But it left me empty and unmotivated, probably not the effect I am going to want to pass onto my coaching clients. 

Read it for the interesting anecdotes and certainly if you’re a Gladwell fan, but seek your success tips elsewhere.

Filed under: book review, career coaching, Geoff Colvin, Malcolm Gladwell, motivation, Outliers, Success, Talent Is Overrated

Positive In, Positive Out

I cannot stress how important it is to surround yourself with positive people, at all times, but especially during the job search process. 

The search for a job is a process that requires you to be at the top of your game at every stage.  You must research the firms you are most interested in, you must craft an amazing resume, you must practice your interview skills, and your follow up skills, and more.

When a friend or family member has a bad attitude, or when they are negative or critical, they drain your energy which in turn hurts your chances of doing well. 

Tonight, my partner and I attended a silent auction held by a great organization called Savvy Ladies.  One of the speakers there was Kim Kiyosaki, author of Rich Woman, and married to Robert Kiyosaki, author of Rich Dad, Poor Dad. 

Kim is a positive force and speaks often about how  women must be proactive to build and maintain their wealth.  She writes about how women and men are different when it comes to money and investing.  Kim wants women to find the “Rich Woman in you … a woman rich in spirit, rich in life experience and rich in all ways financial.  To that Rich Woman”, Kim says “Let her soar!”.  Who would not want to be around this person?!  It was a cold rainy night but we wouldn’t have missed it for the world.

If you are in a job search, make sure you find time for energy boosters.  Being in the company of such people can only help you do well and ultimately succeed.  Keep your spirit up and your activity high and good things will come your way!

Filed under: book review, career coaching, life coaching, philosophy, energy, Investing, job search, Kim Kiyosaki, Positive attitude, Rich Dad Poor Dad, Rich Woman, Robert Kiyosaki, Savvy Ladies, Success

Institute of Success and Goal Achievement (I-Saga) Interview With Caroline Ceniza-Levine

Caroline’s interview with the Institute of Success and Goal Achievement about the 4 obstacles to success and the 4 solutions:

http://instantteleseminar.com/?eventid=2897904

Filed under: life coaching, achievement, goals, I-saga, Institute of Success and Goal Achievement, life coaching, Success