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Big Potential: How Transforming the Pursuit of Success Raises Our Achievement, Happiness, and Well-Being
“With cutting-edge research, penetrating insights, and practical examples, Shawn Achor describes a new conception of ‘success,’ and in doing so, reveals exciting new strategies we can use to meet our highest potential.”—Gretchen Rubin, bestselling author of The Happiness Project
“A vibrant book on how to bring out the best in others—and how they can bring out the best in us.”—Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Think Again and host of the podcast WorkLife
In a world that thrives on competition and individual achievement, we’re measuring and pursuing potential incorrectly. Pursuing success in isolation—pushing others away as we push ourselves too hard—not only limits our potential but makes us more stressed and disconnected than ever.
Harvard-trained researcher Shawn Achor reveals a better approach. With exciting new research combining neuroscience and psychology with Big Data, Achor shows that our potential is not limited by what we alone can achieve. Instead, it is determined by how we complement, contribute to, and benefit from the abilities and achievements of people around us.
When we—as individuals, leaders, and parents—chase only individual achievement, we leave vast sources of potential untapped. But once we put “others” back into the equation, and work to make others better, we ignite a Virtuous Cycle of cascading successes that amplify our own.
The dramatic shifts in how we approach work today demand an equally dramatic shift in our approach to success. In Big Potential, Achor draws on cutting-edge original research as well as his work with nearly half of the Fortune 100 and with places like NASA, the NFL and the NBA, and offers a new path to thriving in the modern world.
“A vibrant book on how to bring out the best in others—and how they can bring out the best in us.”—Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Think Again and host of the podcast WorkLife
In a world that thrives on competition and individual achievement, we’re measuring and pursuing potential incorrectly. Pursuing success in isolation—pushing others away as we push ourselves too hard—not only limits our potential but makes us more stressed and disconnected than ever.
Harvard-trained researcher Shawn Achor reveals a better approach. With exciting new research combining neuroscience and psychology with Big Data, Achor shows that our potential is not limited by what we alone can achieve. Instead, it is determined by how we complement, contribute to, and benefit from the abilities and achievements of people around us.
When we—as individuals, leaders, and parents—chase only individual achievement, we leave vast sources of potential untapped. But once we put “others” back into the equation, and work to make others better, we ignite a Virtuous Cycle of cascading successes that amplify our own.
The dramatic shifts in how we approach work today demand an equally dramatic shift in our approach to success. In Big Potential, Achor draws on cutting-edge original research as well as his work with nearly half of the Fortune 100 and with places like NASA, the NFL and the NBA, and offers a new path to thriving in the modern world.
240 pages, Hardcover
Published January 30, 2018
612 people are currently reading
5586 people want to read
About the author
Shawn Achor
40 books786 followersShawn Achor is an American educator, author, and speaker known for his advocacy of positive psychology. He is best known for his research reversing the formula of success leading to happiness—his research shows that happiness in fact leads to success. Achor spent 12 years studying what makes people happy at Harvard University. He later authored The Happiness Advantage and founded the Institute of Positive Research and GoodThinkInc. His TEDx talk "The Happy Secret to Better Work" is one of the 20-most viewed TED talks.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 262 reviews
December 17, 2018
I won this book in a GR Giveaway in exchange for an honest review.
If one is unaware of the concepts within, this book is enlightening. It outlines the concepts of working together as a team, allowing each individual to be the best they can be....to lead, in their own expertise ("The key to real leadership is inspiriting others to be leaders”) and stating that a leader cannot shine without his/her team behind them.
If one is aware of these concepts, this is an easy read book that is laden with reminders of the importance of not forgetting to include your team in your successes, how to engage them in a positive manner and how to include them in planning & scope. Without the team, there would be no successes.
An easy, interesting read. Working together as a team is a concept I endorse. Having reminders such as in this book keeps one focussed.
If one is unaware of the concepts within, this book is enlightening. It outlines the concepts of working together as a team, allowing each individual to be the best they can be....to lead, in their own expertise ("The key to real leadership is inspiriting others to be leaders”) and stating that a leader cannot shine without his/her team behind them.
If one is aware of these concepts, this is an easy read book that is laden with reminders of the importance of not forgetting to include your team in your successes, how to engage them in a positive manner and how to include them in planning & scope. Without the team, there would be no successes.
An easy, interesting read. Working together as a team is a concept I endorse. Having reminders such as in this book keeps one focussed.
April 20, 2018
I couldn't finish this book. It felt like a giant corporate team building exercise, with no substance, all hype. I kept thinking that Shawn obviously has never worked in an office or he might not be so enthusiastic about recommending that everyone work together. I felt like an extremely privileged white male with little or no experience was "explaining" how he could make everyone more productive if they just did it his way. It may have been better if we had less quotes and more research. I was surprised that so many people rated this book so highly. There are many great books on doing great work, this is not one I would recommend.
March 9, 2018
The methods, strategies and research developed by top positive psychologist, presented in Big Potential, will be a tool that I wield again and again.
"The average age of being diagnosed with depression in 1978 was twenty-nine. In 2009, the average age was fourteen and a half. Over the past decade, depression rates for adults have doubled, as have hospitalization for attempted suicide for children as young as eight years old."
This statistic, found on page 22, is staggering, but even more frightening it is unsurprising. With the creation of social media, bullying has only increased. Lately, the news seems fraught with stories of violence, bullying and underage deaths which support the findings above. As a graduate of Harvard, Shawn Achor witnessed (and experienced) the depression that comes from no longer being the superstar students once were in high school. Not to mention the me, me, me, individualistic ideals breed in the traditional workplace. These feelings combined with the constant barrage of negative certainly play a strong role in the statistics cited above.
"The decades-long study in Framingham, Massachusetts, has revealed powerful findings about the relationship between social connections and our cardiovascular health. While the results of their research are far too wide-reaching and complex to fully address here, the main takeaway I had from that meeting was that they found having healthy individuals in our community or network actually increase the chances that we ourselves will be healthier." (p.40)
Literally put, having friends and meaningful social connections helps your physical health. Get off Facebook or Instagram, surround yourself with positively health conscious friends and in turn stimulate happiness, healthiness and prosperity (okay the prosperity is just assumed).
"Given how contagious negativity is, surrounding yourself with optimists is like giving yourself a flu shot against stress and apathy."
2017-2018 brought with it the most flu caused deaths in as long as I’ve been alive. For this reason, the quote above from page 73 stuck out to me. Aligned with the cardiovascular research, this point hammers home the importance in who you surround yourself with as it has a direct effect on your health. Shed the negative people like you hope to shed your winter weight, they aren’t good for you, so protect yourself and your health.
"The brilliant Amy Wrzesniewski, professor of organizational behavior at Yale University's School of Management, has dedicated much of her research to expanding meaning in our work. According to her research, people view their occupations in one of three ways: as a job, a career, or a calling. A job is merely something to endure in order to get a salary. A career is work that gives you prestige or position within society. A calling is work that you view as integral to your identity and meaning in life, an expression of who you are that gives you a feeling of fulfillment and meaning." (p. 109)
This was not my first time reading these specific descriptions surrounding our work as it relates to job, career and calling. When I first came across these three work descriptors (job, career and calling), I was working for a large company, in a dull workplace, with people that had been in their roles for many, many years. I asked them each how they would define their current position, given the definitions presented above, and EVERY SINGLE ONE said they viewed their work as just a job…that’s when I knew it may be time to start looking for a new job, and more positive surroundings.
Defining your work in one of these three categories requires some serious self-reflection. I was fortunate to realize quickly in my career that I needed to find something more than just a job. Spending much of your day in a role you defined as “merely something to endure in order to get a salary” was not only going to depress me, but cause strains on my marriage and personal relationships outside of work. Reflecting on the positions I’d had that didn’t feel like a job, no matter how menial or what my age was at the time of employment, allowed me to focus my career search more adequately.
"One of the most common mistakes I see people make, [is] with praise: giving such compliments as 'Your report was better than Jack's' or 'You're the smartest person in the room' or 'You were the best player out there on the field.' Why? Because what you are actually doing is comparing not praising. You are attempting to prop people up by kicking others down!" (p. 120)
This may be my biggest take away from this book. Having been a competitive athlete through the collegiate level I am extremely guilty of providing others with comparison praise. In banking, this type of praise is ingrained in us, our success is literally measured on how well EACH of us individually grew the overall loan or deposit balances and how well we compared via benchmarks to our competitors. It starts from the time we are born, but we are past due, the “at least you were better than that guy” mentality needs to be wiped away. Comparison praise plants the seed of self-doubt that feeds into our individualistic society.
“Dr. Seligman stated these wise words: ‘Action is not driven by the past, but pulled by the future.’” (p. 199)
Ultimately, the act of determining your future, whether it be by setting goals for yourself or the dreams of others, propels you, your energy and your motivation forward. In summation, readers must continue to strive for the goals they’ve set, using the positive techniques, strategies and insight given to them by Shawn Achor in Big Potential to pull them towards their bright, bright futures.
For the full review, please visit: http://fortheloveofthepageblog.wordpr...
*Disclaimer: a copy of this book was provided by Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review.
"The average age of being diagnosed with depression in 1978 was twenty-nine. In 2009, the average age was fourteen and a half. Over the past decade, depression rates for adults have doubled, as have hospitalization for attempted suicide for children as young as eight years old."
This statistic, found on page 22, is staggering, but even more frightening it is unsurprising. With the creation of social media, bullying has only increased. Lately, the news seems fraught with stories of violence, bullying and underage deaths which support the findings above. As a graduate of Harvard, Shawn Achor witnessed (and experienced) the depression that comes from no longer being the superstar students once were in high school. Not to mention the me, me, me, individualistic ideals breed in the traditional workplace. These feelings combined with the constant barrage of negative certainly play a strong role in the statistics cited above.
"The decades-long study in Framingham, Massachusetts, has revealed powerful findings about the relationship between social connections and our cardiovascular health. While the results of their research are far too wide-reaching and complex to fully address here, the main takeaway I had from that meeting was that they found having healthy individuals in our community or network actually increase the chances that we ourselves will be healthier." (p.40)
Literally put, having friends and meaningful social connections helps your physical health. Get off Facebook or Instagram, surround yourself with positively health conscious friends and in turn stimulate happiness, healthiness and prosperity (okay the prosperity is just assumed).
"Given how contagious negativity is, surrounding yourself with optimists is like giving yourself a flu shot against stress and apathy."
2017-2018 brought with it the most flu caused deaths in as long as I’ve been alive. For this reason, the quote above from page 73 stuck out to me. Aligned with the cardiovascular research, this point hammers home the importance in who you surround yourself with as it has a direct effect on your health. Shed the negative people like you hope to shed your winter weight, they aren’t good for you, so protect yourself and your health.
"The brilliant Amy Wrzesniewski, professor of organizational behavior at Yale University's School of Management, has dedicated much of her research to expanding meaning in our work. According to her research, people view their occupations in one of three ways: as a job, a career, or a calling. A job is merely something to endure in order to get a salary. A career is work that gives you prestige or position within society. A calling is work that you view as integral to your identity and meaning in life, an expression of who you are that gives you a feeling of fulfillment and meaning." (p. 109)
This was not my first time reading these specific descriptions surrounding our work as it relates to job, career and calling. When I first came across these three work descriptors (job, career and calling), I was working for a large company, in a dull workplace, with people that had been in their roles for many, many years. I asked them each how they would define their current position, given the definitions presented above, and EVERY SINGLE ONE said they viewed their work as just a job…that’s when I knew it may be time to start looking for a new job, and more positive surroundings.
Defining your work in one of these three categories requires some serious self-reflection. I was fortunate to realize quickly in my career that I needed to find something more than just a job. Spending much of your day in a role you defined as “merely something to endure in order to get a salary” was not only going to depress me, but cause strains on my marriage and personal relationships outside of work. Reflecting on the positions I’d had that didn’t feel like a job, no matter how menial or what my age was at the time of employment, allowed me to focus my career search more adequately.
"One of the most common mistakes I see people make, [is] with praise: giving such compliments as 'Your report was better than Jack's' or 'You're the smartest person in the room' or 'You were the best player out there on the field.' Why? Because what you are actually doing is comparing not praising. You are attempting to prop people up by kicking others down!" (p. 120)
This may be my biggest take away from this book. Having been a competitive athlete through the collegiate level I am extremely guilty of providing others with comparison praise. In banking, this type of praise is ingrained in us, our success is literally measured on how well EACH of us individually grew the overall loan or deposit balances and how well we compared via benchmarks to our competitors. It starts from the time we are born, but we are past due, the “at least you were better than that guy” mentality needs to be wiped away. Comparison praise plants the seed of self-doubt that feeds into our individualistic society.
“Dr. Seligman stated these wise words: ‘Action is not driven by the past, but pulled by the future.’” (p. 199)
Ultimately, the act of determining your future, whether it be by setting goals for yourself or the dreams of others, propels you, your energy and your motivation forward. In summation, readers must continue to strive for the goals they’ve set, using the positive techniques, strategies and insight given to them by Shawn Achor in Big Potential to pull them towards their bright, bright futures.
For the full review, please visit: http://fortheloveofthepageblog.wordpr...
*Disclaimer: a copy of this book was provided by Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review.
April 4, 2019
I had to stop reading this after the author compared human team interaction to breeding chickens and genuinely thought it was a good argument. I will have to miss out on 200 more pages of meaningless buzzwords, inappropriate metaphors, and self-aggrandizing anecdotes all repeating the same obvious message, which essentially boils to "teamwork is good."
June 12, 2018
We need to stop asking "How many points did you score?" and start asking "How did you help your team win?"
This is the premise of Shawn Achor's latest book, encouraging a shift from thinking about success as the achievement of an individual, to the support team that helped that individual reach full potential. The book is a nice collection of optimistic ideas to promote a positive attitude in the workplace (or any organization).
This is the premise of Shawn Achor's latest book, encouraging a shift from thinking about success as the achievement of an individual, to the support team that helped that individual reach full potential. The book is a nice collection of optimistic ideas to promote a positive attitude in the workplace (or any organization).
March 2, 2018
I've read this author's other book, The Happiness Advantage: The Seven Principles of Positive Psychology That Fuel Success and Performance at Work, and I really liked that one. It seemed so applicable. I liked this book too, but for some reason, it didn't seem as "real" to me. But I like this author. I like his honesty and I LOVE his positive approach to life and how to get the most from life. He seems like the guy next door and I also like the fact that he narrates his own audios. So, three stars because I am a fan of his message.
September 3, 2018
Shawn is an author who writes in such a way to provoke deep thoughts from the reader. In this book, he does not disappoint.
In this book, he shows how collaboration fosters innovation. He then provides steps on how readers can leverage the power of people around you to do and be more.
If you are looking for a book to help you learn how to work with others and collaborate effectively, this is one for your bookshelf.
In this book, he shows how collaboration fosters innovation. He then provides steps on how readers can leverage the power of people around you to do and be more.
If you are looking for a book to help you learn how to work with others and collaborate effectively, this is one for your bookshelf.
April 14, 2021
Unfortunately, this book missed the mark for me.
I'm a huge fan of Shawn Anchor, his research, and how we can incorporate positive psychology into our day-to-day lives. Unlike his other book, The Happiness Advantage (which was excellent) it was unclear what the key message of this book was. It seemed a little convoluted. I felt as though it was written for people managers who work at large corporations rather than the average Joe.
I'm a huge fan of Shawn Anchor, his research, and how we can incorporate positive psychology into our day-to-day lives. Unlike his other book, The Happiness Advantage (which was excellent) it was unclear what the key message of this book was. It seemed a little convoluted. I felt as though it was written for people managers who work at large corporations rather than the average Joe.
April 27, 2019
I loved this book. I was actually inspired by it. Attitude in life, is everything. "Just as being around negative, unmotivated people drains our energy and potential, surrounding ourselves with positive, engaged, motivated, and creative people causes our positivity, engagement, motivation and creativity to multiply." YES!!! So true!!!! I also loved “You are what you read. And science confirms this. Researchers from Dartmouth and Ohio State found that when you become engrossed with a book you may actually begin to not just identify with, but actually take on some of the traits and characteristics of, the main character. For example, if you read a book about someone with a strong social conscience, your likelihood of doing something socially conscientious rises.” Bingo!!!
October 18, 2020
Үндсэн гол санаа бол амжилт хүн бүхэнд хангалттай хүрэлцэхүйц бий үүнийг зөвхөн өөртөө хэрэгтэй зүйл мэтээр дайрах нь харалган болгохын дээр биднийг бусадтай хамтарч ажиллах саад болдог. Иймээс өөр өнцгөөс асуудлыг харж хамтдаа хөгжихөд чиглэх тал дээр хэрэгтэй зөвлөгөөнүүд оруулжээ.
February 17, 2022
I loved this book and the perspective shift from its all about me to how can I lift those around me which then lifts myself. It really changed my ideas about how to reach my own highest potential.
January 18, 2024
There are helpful points here, but overall this is just not a book for me.
November 2, 2019
Oh WOW. I LOVED this book. I have been reserving my 5-star ratings for books that really change my life and this was definitely one of them. I resonated on so many levels with this book.
I feel that I have always believed the ideas behind this book, but could never really put any backing to it and certainly no research. The research and example he has to back his claims are powerful and really aid in proving his points. I listened to this on audiobook and am going to now go buy the hard copy so I can have it to refer back to throughout my life. THIS is the kind of potential I want to inspire in my life.
I especially loved how authentic and open the author was with his struggle with depression. It was so hopeful for me to read that a HAPPINESS RESEARCHER struggled (or struggles?) with depression. His honesty and vulnerability about his story really helped me trust and respect his work and ideas.
This is a book that I will be referring back to over and over again as I go forward in my life.
I feel that I have always believed the ideas behind this book, but could never really put any backing to it and certainly no research. The research and example he has to back his claims are powerful and really aid in proving his points. I listened to this on audiobook and am going to now go buy the hard copy so I can have it to refer back to throughout my life. THIS is the kind of potential I want to inspire in my life.
I especially loved how authentic and open the author was with his struggle with depression. It was so hopeful for me to read that a HAPPINESS RESEARCHER struggled (or struggles?) with depression. His honesty and vulnerability about his story really helped me trust and respect his work and ideas.
This is a book that I will be referring back to over and over again as I go forward in my life.
March 19, 2021
I agree with many of the lessons from this book, such as a growth mindset, the importance and value of teamwork, the benefits of sincere praise, and more. But I also had some big issues with the presentation. At times the writing gets overly filled with buzzwords and other popular business terminology. Many of the stories cited are anecdotal, and even those involving studies sometimes cherry pick how they look at the data. Many of the studies also use self-reported emotional levels or revenue levels as the basis for success, which while I don't necessarily have better suggestions seems incomplete. Most notably, the book feels only focused on white collar jobs. It's partly the effect of just having discussed On the Clock for book club, but basically every technique described in the book just does not apply when you're talking about many service industry, warehouse, call center, or other jobs where management is fully aware of how shitty of a work environment they are creating and high turnover is often seen as a positive.
December 30, 2018
*Please note I won a copy of this book via Goodreads Giveaways*
The concept in this book is what drew me in, and ultimately, kept me reading. This talks about how we should focus more on the interconnectedness of success, in business and in life. It outlines the fact that while some people may be the superstars, everyone around these superstars ultimately plays some role, big or small in their success.
One of the key points is one that I wholeheartedly agree with. Individual accomplishments aren't necessarily the greatest accomplishments. Nor should those star individuals be the only ones recongnized for their efforts. But, in our society where individualism is so prevalent, it can be hard to shift the collective mindset.
But, when you do, great things can happen. People whose efforts are recognized, in some small way, feel valued. This can lead to them being more engaged in the work that they do, or in just simple every day tasks, which can have a big effect on the people around them, leading to a sort of ripple effect of positivity.
This book also mentions a few very familiar things, like how we should disconnect from our technological devices, be more mindful, be present. If we're not, it leads to burnout, dissillusionment and disappointment.
While not all of the concepts reviewed in this book were new to me, they were presented in away that was engaging.
I have to admit though, at times I felt that this got really repetitive, which is why I put it down for such a big chunk of time.
The other thing that bothered me was some of the name dropping. I understand that this was to provide concrete examples of the concepts, but I felt the name dropping happened too often and was irritating.
The concept in this book is what drew me in, and ultimately, kept me reading. This talks about how we should focus more on the interconnectedness of success, in business and in life. It outlines the fact that while some people may be the superstars, everyone around these superstars ultimately plays some role, big or small in their success.
One of the key points is one that I wholeheartedly agree with. Individual accomplishments aren't necessarily the greatest accomplishments. Nor should those star individuals be the only ones recongnized for their efforts. But, in our society where individualism is so prevalent, it can be hard to shift the collective mindset.
But, when you do, great things can happen. People whose efforts are recognized, in some small way, feel valued. This can lead to them being more engaged in the work that they do, or in just simple every day tasks, which can have a big effect on the people around them, leading to a sort of ripple effect of positivity.
This book also mentions a few very familiar things, like how we should disconnect from our technological devices, be more mindful, be present. If we're not, it leads to burnout, dissillusionment and disappointment.
While not all of the concepts reviewed in this book were new to me, they were presented in away that was engaging.
I have to admit though, at times I felt that this got really repetitive, which is why I put it down for such a big chunk of time.
The other thing that bothered me was some of the name dropping. I understand that this was to provide concrete examples of the concepts, but I felt the name dropping happened too often and was irritating.
June 20, 2022
If you face a hill next to a person you consider a friend. Then that hill will look 10-20% less steep than if you faced it along. This works figuratively as well.
Social connection is the greatest predictor of grit, optimism and performance amongst teams.
With the right mindset, when you are around people who are creative and smart you become more creative and smart.
Questions to elevate the ceiling on your potential:
How am I impacting others with my life and energy?
How do I raise my potentiel by making others better?
Qualities to strive for: self-awareness, openness, compassion, presence, resilience and optimism
Positive peer pressure exist, and you should let it affect you
Cut the news from your feed. Individuals who watched just three minutes of negative news in the morning were 27 percent more likely to report their day as unhappy six to eight hours later. 😟
Everyone needs occasional moments of solitude. But true meaning success and happiness are impossible unless we are connected to others 🫶
Social connection is the greatest predictor of grit, optimism and performance amongst teams.
With the right mindset, when you are around people who are creative and smart you become more creative and smart.
Questions to elevate the ceiling on your potential:
How am I impacting others with my life and energy?
How do I raise my potentiel by making others better?
Qualities to strive for: self-awareness, openness, compassion, presence, resilience and optimism
Positive peer pressure exist, and you should let it affect you
Cut the news from your feed. Individuals who watched just three minutes of negative news in the morning were 27 percent more likely to report their day as unhappy six to eight hours later. 😟
Everyone needs occasional moments of solitude. But true meaning success and happiness are impossible unless we are connected to others 🫶
July 6, 2018
I'm a Shawn Achor fan (loved his previous book The Happiness Advantage & his TED Talks). He is smart, funny, and backs up his positive psychology with research and case histories. Some of his conclusions might sound like pop psych bumper stickers until you read the details that went into his research and you realize his stories are actually quite profound. E.g., Helping others literally makes you feel better. Watching negative news literally makes you sad. And here's one of my favorites: Taking ALL your vacation time increases your chances at getting a raise! This book has many profound moments - applicable for both career and home.
Bottom line is this: Don't view success as a lone competition. If you help others succeed then you will succeed. "Big potential isn't about trying to go faster alone. It's about working to become better together."
But bottom-lining a book like this doesn't do it justice. You could simply skim some of his main points and research results to have one - or two - or three - "aha!" moments. He even puts key points in bold text. Nice!
Bottom line is this: Don't view success as a lone competition. If you help others succeed then you will succeed. "Big potential isn't about trying to go faster alone. It's about working to become better together."
But bottom-lining a book like this doesn't do it justice. You could simply skim some of his main points and research results to have one - or two - or three - "aha!" moments. He even puts key points in bold text. Nice!
October 5, 2024
“A rising tide raises all ships” is an idiom that is frequently used to describe events that have happened or as a hopeful excuse for scenarios outside of our control. The evidence is clear, but our strategies and actions are still typically based on a zero-sum game.
This book uses academic rigor and interesting examples to countermand our instincts and return us to empathy, teamwork, positivity, and trust. These qualities help take us from a Hobbesian “poor, solitary, nasty, brutish, and short” existence to unlock greater collective potential.
This is not some saccharine treatise on teamwork and unity, this is practical and proven strategies and tactics that are instantly applicable in our workplaces, teams, families, and friend groups.
I particularly appreciated his section on intentional gratitude, and my main critique is that it wasn’t enough. A chapter or even a book could be spent on those practices and benefits.
This book uses academic rigor and interesting examples to countermand our instincts and return us to empathy, teamwork, positivity, and trust. These qualities help take us from a Hobbesian “poor, solitary, nasty, brutish, and short” existence to unlock greater collective potential.
This is not some saccharine treatise on teamwork and unity, this is practical and proven strategies and tactics that are instantly applicable in our workplaces, teams, families, and friend groups.
I particularly appreciated his section on intentional gratitude, and my main critique is that it wasn’t enough. A chapter or even a book could be spent on those practices and benefits.
February 4, 2019
I have to say how surprisingly good this book was because there is not that much hype behind it. There is a lot of truth on the thesis of the book were our society pushes to achieve success as individuals but real success comes from collaboration. All the case studies prove the point that collaboration is the way to go and I need to make a conscious effort to work with others not only for my success but a success that has a real impact as a whole. I've heard the message of "your success will involve the help of others" and this book goes into great detail to prove that point. The real message is that we should be thinking to create the success that impacts not only yourself but more importantly others now and into the future.
February 26, 2018
All that's in me says, READ THIS BOOK. Shawn Achor has written an amazing work of nonfiction backed by research and carefully worded for major life transformation.
For the first time, we have a well-written book that allows each individual to shine like a star but to learn to do so as other bright stars shine around you.
In his words, to reach your big potential, you must do so in community. You can only go so far along and in your personal growth. Once you realize this truth, you find your path to big potential - teams of high level leadership. Stars shining bright in a universe of stars.
Learning your brightness combined with others shines far brighter and more attractive than anything you could ever do on your own. Again, READ THIS BOOK! You won't regret it. Trust me.
For the first time, we have a well-written book that allows each individual to shine like a star but to learn to do so as other bright stars shine around you.
In his words, to reach your big potential, you must do so in community. You can only go so far along and in your personal growth. Once you realize this truth, you find your path to big potential - teams of high level leadership. Stars shining bright in a universe of stars.
Learning your brightness combined with others shines far brighter and more attractive than anything you could ever do on your own. Again, READ THIS BOOK! You won't regret it. Trust me.
September 5, 2019
Loved this book. Love Shawn Achor. Found his Ted Talk and then all of his books from there. I skipped to the most recent one, but plan to read the rest. His research helps for work as well as home life. I am working to employ many of the techniques. I am by nature a happy person, and understanding some of the science behind that was very interesting. I also very much appreciated the chapter on defending against the dark arts. Incredibly helpful to protect your own happiness and mindset.
He read for the audible version of the book.
I have recommended this book many times over already.
He read for the audible version of the book.
I have recommended this book many times over already.
October 12, 2024
This book is an insightful and uplifting exploration of how redefining success can lead to greater happiness and personal fulfillment. Achor, known for his work on positive psychology, challenges the traditional notion of success as a result of external accomplishments, arguing instead that by focusing on cultivating positivity, resilience, and personal growth, we unlock a deeper sense of achievement and well-being.
He presents a compelling case for shifting the focus from a results-driven mindset to one that prioritizes meaning and joy in the process. With a blend of scientific research, practical strategies, and inspiring examples, Achor offers readers a fresh perspective on how to thrive in both personal and professional life by embracing a more holistic approach to success.
He presents a compelling case for shifting the focus from a results-driven mindset to one that prioritizes meaning and joy in the process. With a blend of scientific research, practical strategies, and inspiring examples, Achor offers readers a fresh perspective on how to thrive in both personal and professional life by embracing a more holistic approach to success.
April 16, 2022
Интересный взгляд на лидерство и то, как добиваться большего. Одновременно эффективный, и при этом более этичный, нежели общепринятая конкуренция за звание лучшего. Некоторые советы совершенно банальны и давно известны - вроде того что нужно окружать себя правильными людьми. Но есть и очень полезные вещи, которых не знал ранее - к примеру, как правильно хвалить (мы обычно делаем это не правильно), или несколько конкретных стратегий снижения стресса. Многовато воды, как частенько в американских книгах такого рода, но с большего - полезно.
Read
December 4, 2025This is the corporate manager's "so what" of The Happiness Advantage. I'm a manager and so I see direct use in this, but it's definitely not something I would recommend to everyone in the way I do with his first book.
If you're looking for actionable tips for applying positive psychology in your organization this book has it.
If you're looking for actionable tips for applying positive psychology in your organization this book has it.
February 22, 2022
Great book, expands on ideas ideas from Happiness Advantage and helps us see how we can expand happiness and flourishing to others (our families, organizations, and communities).
It is definitely worth a read…
It is definitely worth a read…
January 8, 2023
3.93 stars.
It was a good book, but very little new info here.
It was a good book, but very little new info here.
January 8, 2018
In this book, Shawn takes the latest research on happiness and potential and gives us the formula to make great improvements in our lives WITH the help of others. With evidence revealing that relationships are the "secret sauce" of living a long and happy life, Shawn gives us a step by step guide as to how we can also ALL achieve more with the help of one another. As he did with his other books, Shawn masterfully weaves the latest evidence with personal anecdotes and experiences that bring the research to life. His style makes it easy to quickly devour the book and look for opportunities to put his strategies into practice.
I'm a huge Shawn Achor fan. His TED talk inspired me to learn more about positive psychology and the science of happiness. Summer 2016 I was fortunate enough to hear him speak and meet him at a book signing. After, I felt compelled to go back to grad school for a certificate in positive psychology (completed Dec 2017). Read all his books, watch his talks, and listen to his interviews. Everything he says is based on research and experience. His life's work is dedicated to improving the wellbeing of others. His sister (Amy Blankson) and wife (Michelle Gielan) are also fantastic writers, speakers, and researchers. I recommend checking out the entire dynamic family!
I'm a huge Shawn Achor fan. His TED talk inspired me to learn more about positive psychology and the science of happiness. Summer 2016 I was fortunate enough to hear him speak and meet him at a book signing. After, I felt compelled to go back to grad school for a certificate in positive psychology (completed Dec 2017). Read all his books, watch his talks, and listen to his interviews. Everything he says is based on research and experience. His life's work is dedicated to improving the wellbeing of others. His sister (Amy Blankson) and wife (Michelle Gielan) are also fantastic writers, speakers, and researchers. I recommend checking out the entire dynamic family!
July 18, 2022
This book inspired me every time I picked it up and has made me happier and feeling more positive about leadership and helping everyone around me rise up and succeed.
July 13, 2022
SUMMARY:
Reader warning: turn away if you are seeking an academic collection of statistics. Rather, this is a collection of stories and ideas aimed to help people rise to a higher level of both excellence and happiness. Many of these ideas are not original, but their organization is.
NOTES:
SMALL Potential - is limited to the success you can achieve alone.
BIG Potential - is about leveraging others' potential; it's the success you can achieve only in a Virtuous Cycle with others.
The book offers an acronym to remember the SEEDS of Big Potential:
SURROUND yourself with positive influencers.
EXPAND your power by helping others lead from every seat.
ENHANCE your resource by becoming a “Prism of Praise”.
DEFEND the system against negative attacks.
SUSTAIN the gains by feeling the “virtuous cycle”.
Virtuous Cycle - The opposite of a vicious cycle where people tear each other down. A virtuous cycle is a positive feedback loop that makes others better thereby producing more resources, energy, and experiences, which in turn, makes you better. Repeat cycle. Making others better enables you to take your success to the next level.
Story about Star Wars original script: The most iconic line in Star Wars is "may the force be with you." Howeve, George Lucas's original script read, "may the force OF OTHERS be with you." This is a powerful example illustrating of from where/whom we draw our power.
Story about synergy: Male lightning bugs lighting up go from 3% female response rate when alone to 82% response rate when done in unison. So even though they are competing for female attention, it's better for everyone if they all work together. For humans, by working together we increase opportunities for everyone.
Fable of All-star Chickens: When researchers took the most prolific egg-laying chickens and kept breading them and compared them to average ones, over time, the prolific ones killed each other off, while the average ones continued to produce at a strong rate. Moral: All-stars die alone. Example: Thomas Edison probably didn't invent a single thing by himself.
It's challenging to turn off the competitive mindset ingrained within us. We spend the first 22 years of our lives being judged and praised for our individual attributes when for the rest of our lives our success is almost entirely interconnected with that of others.
Achor's research shows that business success is not about survival of the fittest, but the survival of the best fit. You don't have to be the smartest, you have to be the best fit for the team. E.g., New England Patriots Coach Belichick often says he's not looking for the best (all-star) players, but the best team.
Google's Project Aristotle looked for the "perfect performer" and found it didn't matter how smart you are. What mattered was, a) awareness of social connections and b) equal talk time and feeling safe to share ideas (psychological safety).
The "I saved a life" program at a hospital empowered employees by doing things like having receptionists remind people to have mammograms whenever they called in and were overdue. Approximately 400 of the 1000 instances when cancer was discovered during mammograms were the direct result of receptionists' invitations. There is power in connecting a team to a single vision.
People who treat their work just as a job trudge through their day. But those who see it as a calling will be happier and more successful. Callings can be felt at every level. Janitors who see how they contribute or baggers who greet you with a smile are doing the same work as "trudgers," but with better vision and resulting attitudes.
The greatest competitive advantage in the modern economy is a positive and engaged brain.
Praise is a renewable resource. The more you give, the more you are likely to receive. Additionally, the more you praise others, the more likely they will be to praise even more people creating a virtuous cycle.
People with boring jobs don't feel stressed because they're apathetic. So, you just have to figure out why there is a meaning for you and then channel it into positive energy. Helping others overcome stress is part of what motivates the military (if one person fails, everyone fails) and athletes (reward assists). If leaders can frame things as a challenge instead of stress, it has been shown to reduce negative health effects and increase productivity.
Study about the power visualization: Experiment with 2 groups. One worked out regularly for 3 months and averaged 30% muscle growth. The second group only visualized working out, but they still increase an average of 13% muscle growth.
Achor referenced Brené Brown's phrase, "dress-rehearsing tragedy" from Dare to Lead, which is an attempt to soothe the risk we are all taking in being alive. For people who feel deeply, they may think this helps them prepare for big emotions and not be paralyzed by them in the moment.
Social connection is the greatest predictor of grit, optimism, and performance amongst teams.
PERSONAL TAKEAWAYS:
When motivating people, I need to create clear, concise images for people about their behavior, not just empty platitudes like, "The future is bright." Instead paint a picture of success: "this is what we're going to do, and this is how our customers will react, and this is specifically how it will impact you."
Questions I can ask myself to elevate the ceiling on my potential (from "small potential" to "big potential"):
- How am I impacting others with my life and energy?
- How do I raise my potential by making others better?
Big Potential qualities to strive for: self-awareness, openness, compassion, presence, resilience, and optimism.
Cut the news from your feed. Individuals who watched just three minutes of negative news in the morning were 27% more likely to report their day as unhappy six to eight hours later. It's like taking a poison pill every morning, filling you with a toxic mood.
Personality traits and mood are contagious. Think about how one happy or grumpy person changes the atmosphere in the room. Likewise, daredevils, antagonistic, etc. When stressed, instead of complaining first thing to someone, take a breath and tell them how happy you are to speak with them.
A study showed that when standing in the presence of a friend, hills will look 10-20% less steep than if you faced them alone. And yet, when we are stressed we often isolate ourselves. Think about that. This works figuratively as well. I definitely need occasional moments of solitude. But true meaning, success and happiness are impossible unless we are connected to others.
Celebrate strengths instead of focusing on weaknesses. Especially during reviews. When an employee is praised 4x per quarter, they are 94% less likely to leave their job. If hiring a new employee costs $40k, each instance of praise (no matter how small) is essentially worth $10k.
Connecting with high-potential people dramatically increases your likelihood of high-potential outcomes. To me, this means that more important than what company I work for is who I surround myself with.
QUOTES:
"We need to stop asking "How many points did you score?" and start asking "How did you help your team win?"
"Big Potential = individual attributes X (positive influences - negative influences)"
“Success is not just about how creative or smart or driven you are, but how well you are able to connect with, contribute to and benefit from the ecosystem of people around you.”
“Just as happiness is contagious, every dimension of human potential – performance, intelligence, creativity, leadership ability, and health – is influenced by those around us. So when we help others become better, we reach new levels of potential, as well. Rather than fighting over the pie, we can expand the pie instead.”
"Action is not driven by the past, but pulled by the future." —Richard Seligman
“The key to real leadership is inspiriting others to be leaders.”
REVIEW:
5 stars! I was highly motivated by this book. It spawned new ideas for me on what I can do to elevate my own career and relationships, which are tied to my personal happiness. My appreciation of this work was undoubtedly favorably biased by my love of Achor's 2010 seminal work, The Happiness Advantage. I plan to reread this book over the years to review insights and surely discover new ones.
Reader warning: turn away if you are seeking an academic collection of statistics. Rather, this is a collection of stories and ideas aimed to help people rise to a higher level of both excellence and happiness. Many of these ideas are not original, but their organization is.
NOTES:
SMALL Potential - is limited to the success you can achieve alone.
BIG Potential - is about leveraging others' potential; it's the success you can achieve only in a Virtuous Cycle with others.
The book offers an acronym to remember the SEEDS of Big Potential:
SURROUND yourself with positive influencers.
EXPAND your power by helping others lead from every seat.
ENHANCE your resource by becoming a “Prism of Praise”.
DEFEND the system against negative attacks.
SUSTAIN the gains by feeling the “virtuous cycle”.
Virtuous Cycle - The opposite of a vicious cycle where people tear each other down. A virtuous cycle is a positive feedback loop that makes others better thereby producing more resources, energy, and experiences, which in turn, makes you better. Repeat cycle. Making others better enables you to take your success to the next level.
Story about Star Wars original script: The most iconic line in Star Wars is "may the force be with you." Howeve, George Lucas's original script read, "may the force OF OTHERS be with you." This is a powerful example illustrating of from where/whom we draw our power.
Story about synergy: Male lightning bugs lighting up go from 3% female response rate when alone to 82% response rate when done in unison. So even though they are competing for female attention, it's better for everyone if they all work together. For humans, by working together we increase opportunities for everyone.
Fable of All-star Chickens: When researchers took the most prolific egg-laying chickens and kept breading them and compared them to average ones, over time, the prolific ones killed each other off, while the average ones continued to produce at a strong rate. Moral: All-stars die alone. Example: Thomas Edison probably didn't invent a single thing by himself.
It's challenging to turn off the competitive mindset ingrained within us. We spend the first 22 years of our lives being judged and praised for our individual attributes when for the rest of our lives our success is almost entirely interconnected with that of others.
Achor's research shows that business success is not about survival of the fittest, but the survival of the best fit. You don't have to be the smartest, you have to be the best fit for the team. E.g., New England Patriots Coach Belichick often says he's not looking for the best (all-star) players, but the best team.
Google's Project Aristotle looked for the "perfect performer" and found it didn't matter how smart you are. What mattered was, a) awareness of social connections and b) equal talk time and feeling safe to share ideas (psychological safety).
The "I saved a life" program at a hospital empowered employees by doing things like having receptionists remind people to have mammograms whenever they called in and were overdue. Approximately 400 of the 1000 instances when cancer was discovered during mammograms were the direct result of receptionists' invitations. There is power in connecting a team to a single vision.
People who treat their work just as a job trudge through their day. But those who see it as a calling will be happier and more successful. Callings can be felt at every level. Janitors who see how they contribute or baggers who greet you with a smile are doing the same work as "trudgers," but with better vision and resulting attitudes.
The greatest competitive advantage in the modern economy is a positive and engaged brain.
Praise is a renewable resource. The more you give, the more you are likely to receive. Additionally, the more you praise others, the more likely they will be to praise even more people creating a virtuous cycle.
People with boring jobs don't feel stressed because they're apathetic. So, you just have to figure out why there is a meaning for you and then channel it into positive energy. Helping others overcome stress is part of what motivates the military (if one person fails, everyone fails) and athletes (reward assists). If leaders can frame things as a challenge instead of stress, it has been shown to reduce negative health effects and increase productivity.
Study about the power visualization: Experiment with 2 groups. One worked out regularly for 3 months and averaged 30% muscle growth. The second group only visualized working out, but they still increase an average of 13% muscle growth.
Achor referenced Brené Brown's phrase, "dress-rehearsing tragedy" from Dare to Lead, which is an attempt to soothe the risk we are all taking in being alive. For people who feel deeply, they may think this helps them prepare for big emotions and not be paralyzed by them in the moment.
Social connection is the greatest predictor of grit, optimism, and performance amongst teams.
PERSONAL TAKEAWAYS:
When motivating people, I need to create clear, concise images for people about their behavior, not just empty platitudes like, "The future is bright." Instead paint a picture of success: "this is what we're going to do, and this is how our customers will react, and this is specifically how it will impact you."
Questions I can ask myself to elevate the ceiling on my potential (from "small potential" to "big potential"):
- How am I impacting others with my life and energy?
- How do I raise my potential by making others better?
Big Potential qualities to strive for: self-awareness, openness, compassion, presence, resilience, and optimism.
Cut the news from your feed. Individuals who watched just three minutes of negative news in the morning were 27% more likely to report their day as unhappy six to eight hours later. It's like taking a poison pill every morning, filling you with a toxic mood.
Personality traits and mood are contagious. Think about how one happy or grumpy person changes the atmosphere in the room. Likewise, daredevils, antagonistic, etc. When stressed, instead of complaining first thing to someone, take a breath and tell them how happy you are to speak with them.
A study showed that when standing in the presence of a friend, hills will look 10-20% less steep than if you faced them alone. And yet, when we are stressed we often isolate ourselves. Think about that. This works figuratively as well. I definitely need occasional moments of solitude. But true meaning, success and happiness are impossible unless we are connected to others.
Celebrate strengths instead of focusing on weaknesses. Especially during reviews. When an employee is praised 4x per quarter, they are 94% less likely to leave their job. If hiring a new employee costs $40k, each instance of praise (no matter how small) is essentially worth $10k.
Connecting with high-potential people dramatically increases your likelihood of high-potential outcomes. To me, this means that more important than what company I work for is who I surround myself with.
QUOTES:
"We need to stop asking "How many points did you score?" and start asking "How did you help your team win?"
"Big Potential = individual attributes X (positive influences - negative influences)"
“Success is not just about how creative or smart or driven you are, but how well you are able to connect with, contribute to and benefit from the ecosystem of people around you.”
“Just as happiness is contagious, every dimension of human potential – performance, intelligence, creativity, leadership ability, and health – is influenced by those around us. So when we help others become better, we reach new levels of potential, as well. Rather than fighting over the pie, we can expand the pie instead.”
"Action is not driven by the past, but pulled by the future." —Richard Seligman
“The key to real leadership is inspiriting others to be leaders.”
REVIEW:
5 stars! I was highly motivated by this book. It spawned new ideas for me on what I can do to elevate my own career and relationships, which are tied to my personal happiness. My appreciation of this work was undoubtedly favorably biased by my love of Achor's 2010 seminal work, The Happiness Advantage. I plan to reread this book over the years to review insights and surely discover new ones.
January 18, 2021
HIGHLIGHTS:
1. Be a superstar in a constellation of superstars. Average individual team members can possess collective intelligence, leading to higher success rates vs. individual geniuses. When you work to help make others more successful, you in turn take the invisible cap off your own success. Protégé Effect: We learn better when we teach others rather than study simply for the sake of individual knowledge.
2. True leadership is about caring enough to find solutions to problems, instead of continually shifting the blame. Truly forward-thinking leaders recognize that letting their employees slow down is one of the best strategies for creating a productive workforce.
3. Celebrate others and celebrate our own wins. Celebrations are the ultimate motivating force, because they not only highlight a high moment in our life, they simultaneously ARE a high moment in and of themselves. Reinforces a more empowered self-image and helps them see a vivid image of themselves.
4. Renewable Resource is the power to multiply when we tap into the potential of people around us.
5. You can be a superstar; you just can’t be a superstar alone. The key to real leadership is inspiring others to be leaders. Surround yourself with a stronger system.
6. Virtuous Cycle: the upward spiral of potential, with each success, you garner more resources, which allow you to achieve greater success.
7. The more diverse your ecosystem, the stronger and more resilient it is. Pillars, Bridges, Extenders. We need to limit our exposure to “collaborative overload” by not trying to be everything to everyone, and being strategic about who we form connections with.
8. Trying to carry all the leadership responsibility alone is the quickest path to burnout. You simply cannot meet those demands unless you EXPAND responsibility and the work of leadership to everyone who has a stake in the mission. For power to expand it needs to be recognized, desired, and reinforced.
9. Big Potential praise shines on the support system that made the high performance possible. Collective wins should get collective praise. The more specific you are, the more authentic the praise will feel and the more likely people will be to bounce it back to others. Turns other people into praise providers. Praise is a renewable resource, don’t compare.
10. Whatever seat we sit in, we have the power to create change worth celebrating. The more we celebrate, the more we enrich our lives with meaning.
Simple Actions: Build a Moat around daily routine: no media before breakfast/coffee, no media after lying in bed. Meeting Detox: objectively assess the value of each of the meetings before they added it back into their workday diet.
1. Be a superstar in a constellation of superstars. Average individual team members can possess collective intelligence, leading to higher success rates vs. individual geniuses. When you work to help make others more successful, you in turn take the invisible cap off your own success. Protégé Effect: We learn better when we teach others rather than study simply for the sake of individual knowledge.
2. True leadership is about caring enough to find solutions to problems, instead of continually shifting the blame. Truly forward-thinking leaders recognize that letting their employees slow down is one of the best strategies for creating a productive workforce.
3. Celebrate others and celebrate our own wins. Celebrations are the ultimate motivating force, because they not only highlight a high moment in our life, they simultaneously ARE a high moment in and of themselves. Reinforces a more empowered self-image and helps them see a vivid image of themselves.
4. Renewable Resource is the power to multiply when we tap into the potential of people around us.
5. You can be a superstar; you just can’t be a superstar alone. The key to real leadership is inspiring others to be leaders. Surround yourself with a stronger system.
6. Virtuous Cycle: the upward spiral of potential, with each success, you garner more resources, which allow you to achieve greater success.
7. The more diverse your ecosystem, the stronger and more resilient it is. Pillars, Bridges, Extenders. We need to limit our exposure to “collaborative overload” by not trying to be everything to everyone, and being strategic about who we form connections with.
8. Trying to carry all the leadership responsibility alone is the quickest path to burnout. You simply cannot meet those demands unless you EXPAND responsibility and the work of leadership to everyone who has a stake in the mission. For power to expand it needs to be recognized, desired, and reinforced.
9. Big Potential praise shines on the support system that made the high performance possible. Collective wins should get collective praise. The more specific you are, the more authentic the praise will feel and the more likely people will be to bounce it back to others. Turns other people into praise providers. Praise is a renewable resource, don’t compare.
10. Whatever seat we sit in, we have the power to create change worth celebrating. The more we celebrate, the more we enrich our lives with meaning.
Simple Actions: Build a Moat around daily routine: no media before breakfast/coffee, no media after lying in bed. Meeting Detox: objectively assess the value of each of the meetings before they added it back into their workday diet.
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