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8 Ways to Great: Peak Performance on the Job and in Your Life
Read Dr. Doug Hirschhorn's posts on the Penguin Blog.
Discover the success secrets of top performers who thrive in today's toughest frontline corporate jobs
Hard-hitting and pragmatic, Hirschhorn's no-nonsense advice has inspired thousands via his lectures, one-on-one coaching, and media appearances. But 8 Ways to Great goes beyond inspiration to provide the practical tools that anyone can use-no matter what their profession or personal goals-to break through self-defeating behaviors and deluded thinking to truly excel.
1. Let your true passion be your core motivation.
2. Develop self-awareness and use what you know about both your strengths and weaknesses.
3. Set goals and game plans-and learn to love this process, because it is all about the process.
4. Identify your competitive advantage-what sets you apart and what will turn the odds in your favor.
5. Develop inner confidence that keeps you from judging yourself based on other's standards and expectations.
6. Keep your cool-and don't let emotions dictate your decisions.
7. Take risks yet act intelligently with imperfect information.
8. Be accountable.
Discover the success secrets of top performers who thrive in today's toughest frontline corporate jobs
Hard-hitting and pragmatic, Hirschhorn's no-nonsense advice has inspired thousands via his lectures, one-on-one coaching, and media appearances. But 8 Ways to Great goes beyond inspiration to provide the practical tools that anyone can use-no matter what their profession or personal goals-to break through self-defeating behaviors and deluded thinking to truly excel.
1. Let your true passion be your core motivation.
2. Develop self-awareness and use what you know about both your strengths and weaknesses.
3. Set goals and game plans-and learn to love this process, because it is all about the process.
4. Identify your competitive advantage-what sets you apart and what will turn the odds in your favor.
5. Develop inner confidence that keeps you from judging yourself based on other's standards and expectations.
6. Keep your cool-and don't let emotions dictate your decisions.
7. Take risks yet act intelligently with imperfect information.
8. Be accountable.
128 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
8 people are currently reading
77 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
May 19, 2017
Part 3 - At a Glance
Principle 1: Determine your Why?
• Determine your core motivation. Once you know your why you do what you do. Why you want to do it better or why you want to do something else, you will know how to achieve your vision.
Principle 2: Get to know yourself
• Knowing your strengths and weaknesses. Allow you to concentrate on what you do best and not held back by your weaknesses.
• https://www.mbtionline.com/TaketheMBTI ($50)
• http://www.keirsey.com/sorter/registe... (free)
Principle 3: Learn to love the process
• In order to reach your goal or vision you need to have a plan with a series of short term goals whose achievement is within your control. Following these steps will become your process. The process is what keeps you focused on what you need to do in the here and now to move to the next level.
Principle 4: Sharpen your edge
• Determine and use what sets you apart from other people in your field to give you advantage. Finding out the much of the odds and protentional payoffs before you make decisions.
Principle 5: Be all that you can be
• Judge yourself only on your abilities. Always strive for your personal best. Don't be limited to comparing yourself to others and setting the bar at only being as good as the other guy.
Principle 6: Keep your cool.
• Its human to be scared. But it's not OK to act out of panic. Do what's needed in every situation even if your ego is telling you to do something different.
Principle 7: Get comfortable in being uncomfortable
• The most successful people know that there is never a perfect opportunity to make a decision. They will never have the perfect information. Be comfortable in making decisions without perfect information.
Principle 8: Make yourself accountable
• Be accountable to yourself, your goals and to others. Keep a journal.
Publisher: Penguin Random House Audio Publishing Group
Edition: Unabridged
Doug Hirschhorn - Author
Doug Hirschhorn - Narrator
MP3 audiobook
ISBN: 9781101433447
File size: 85017 KB
Release date: January 4, 2011
Duration: 02:56:55
Number of parts: 3
Principle 1: Determine your Why?
• Determine your core motivation. Once you know your why you do what you do. Why you want to do it better or why you want to do something else, you will know how to achieve your vision.
Principle 2: Get to know yourself
• Knowing your strengths and weaknesses. Allow you to concentrate on what you do best and not held back by your weaknesses.
• https://www.mbtionline.com/TaketheMBTI ($50)
• http://www.keirsey.com/sorter/registe... (free)
Principle 3: Learn to love the process
• In order to reach your goal or vision you need to have a plan with a series of short term goals whose achievement is within your control. Following these steps will become your process. The process is what keeps you focused on what you need to do in the here and now to move to the next level.
Principle 4: Sharpen your edge
• Determine and use what sets you apart from other people in your field to give you advantage. Finding out the much of the odds and protentional payoffs before you make decisions.
Principle 5: Be all that you can be
• Judge yourself only on your abilities. Always strive for your personal best. Don't be limited to comparing yourself to others and setting the bar at only being as good as the other guy.
Principle 6: Keep your cool.
• Its human to be scared. But it's not OK to act out of panic. Do what's needed in every situation even if your ego is telling you to do something different.
Principle 7: Get comfortable in being uncomfortable
• The most successful people know that there is never a perfect opportunity to make a decision. They will never have the perfect information. Be comfortable in making decisions without perfect information.
Principle 8: Make yourself accountable
• Be accountable to yourself, your goals and to others. Keep a journal.
Publisher: Penguin Random House Audio Publishing Group
Edition: Unabridged
Doug Hirschhorn - Author
Doug Hirschhorn - Narrator
MP3 audiobook
ISBN: 9781101433447
File size: 85017 KB
Release date: January 4, 2011
Duration: 02:56:55
Number of parts: 3
April 17, 2018
Overall a good and quick read. Although he acknowledges and apologizes for it in the beginning I didn't like that he used male pronouns only. The tips given were good, but I had heard some of them previously. I was still able to get something out of the book.
August 11, 2018
A very average book on how to be great.
May 3, 2023
This is the How To book for becoming the protagonist at the beginning of a Hallmark Movie who hasn't yet learned that, actually, spending all your energy on work and neglecting other aspects of life sucks.
There are good principles here for, as Master Urban used to say, planning your work and working your plan. In fact, most of this stuff, I already picked up by being raised a karateka.
The difference is, my sensei said these same things with more empathy and inspiration. The author is definitely an asshole, and even when the principle was right, I kept getting enraged by his attitude, caustic language, and offensive assumptions.
Also, he could have used they. There was a gender neutral option, it's existed as long as English has, and he didn’t even think to use it. Asshole.
There is also the fundamental assumption that what you are aiming to be great at *must* be your day job. How narrow minded.
So. If you are good at seeing the forest and can ignore the details that are potentially harmful, this book has some good info in it. Me? I won't be recommending it to anyone. I love my friends too much.
There are good principles here for, as Master Urban used to say, planning your work and working your plan. In fact, most of this stuff, I already picked up by being raised a karateka.
The difference is, my sensei said these same things with more empathy and inspiration. The author is definitely an asshole, and even when the principle was right, I kept getting enraged by his attitude, caustic language, and offensive assumptions.
Also, he could have used they. There was a gender neutral option, it's existed as long as English has, and he didn’t even think to use it. Asshole.
There is also the fundamental assumption that what you are aiming to be great at *must* be your day job. How narrow minded.
So. If you are good at seeing the forest and can ignore the details that are potentially harmful, this book has some good info in it. Me? I won't be recommending it to anyone. I love my friends too much.
February 18, 2018
These are great principles to use with whatever goals you have set. Principle #3 stands out to me: Principle #3 - Learn to love the process
Figure out a routine that works, and stick to it. The process will keep me focused on achieving my goals.
Figure out a routine that works, and stick to it. The process will keep me focused on achieving my goals.
February 28, 2020
A focus on principles that lead to good decision making based on trading. Weighing all risks can be similar to riding a stock through turbulent times. Helping you understand how to lead through adversity. A quick and decent read
June 13, 2017
How to get more out of it, if its your path to the light I suppose
August 23, 2018
best piece was the report daily progress.
January 6, 2020
This was a very informative read. I am a customer care rep and I can see myself implementing some of these tips into my job.
March 31, 2020
Good information. It inspired me and I will be following his advice.
February 18, 2025
There is nothing new out there. This is a good quick summary of what we should do. Giddy up.
June 5, 2019
This concise book looks at ways that you can work to be a peak performer. i liked that the author just said what needed to be said and did not use filler material such as examples. The chapters on Sharpening Your Edge and Getting Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable were the best ones for me.
January 5, 2016
Why Read: Here's something you may not know about me, I am not a fan of self-help books. My opinion is that they can be summarized into a series of concise bullet points that do not need to be embellished for hundreds of pages with detailed examples that are insultingly simple. However, when a plane ride is over 7 hours and watching TV seems like your retinas are burning, you too may consent to listening to a self-help book on United.
Review: When it comes to Self-Help books, I find myself at a bit of a loss. There aren't any characters, nor are there plot-points that I can normally follow and remark on the pace or structure of the book. With 8 Ways to Great, the problem is compounded because the structure of the book is a series of blog posts. Dr. Dough Hirschhorn certainly has some good points, but structure-wise, how does one comment on that?
I'm choosing to opt-out of the structure commenting and getting straight to the content. His suggestions are simple but seem to my eyes, effective: Follow your passion, develop self-awareness, set plans and goals, figure out your competitive advantage, develop confidence, keep cool, take intelligent risks and be accountable. While I may have just written them down in a sentence, Hirschhorn takes things a bit further. Drawing on his experience, he outlines how each of these bullet points are essential for developing peak performance in your job and your life. The process is useful and for a plane ride, it's interesting to follow along in his exercises.
Although the advice itself is very useful and the writing style pragmatic, I couldn't find myself drawn into the novel like other nonfiction books. Because it is a collection of blog posts, there isn't an overriding narrative - making it difficult to follow along, to some extent. This is also exhibition A of my bias towards self-help books.
If there's ever a book made for audio, however, it is this one. Instead of the (I'm imagining) monotonous writing on paper, the written word brings many of Hirschhorn's examples and ideas to life in a way that reading just wouldn't serve. Although I never felt per-say inspired, this self-help book was to the point and useful in its directness and tips content. Verdict: Read if you don't have anything else to read.
Rating: 3/5 Stars
Review: When it comes to Self-Help books, I find myself at a bit of a loss. There aren't any characters, nor are there plot-points that I can normally follow and remark on the pace or structure of the book. With 8 Ways to Great, the problem is compounded because the structure of the book is a series of blog posts. Dr. Dough Hirschhorn certainly has some good points, but structure-wise, how does one comment on that?
I'm choosing to opt-out of the structure commenting and getting straight to the content. His suggestions are simple but seem to my eyes, effective: Follow your passion, develop self-awareness, set plans and goals, figure out your competitive advantage, develop confidence, keep cool, take intelligent risks and be accountable. While I may have just written them down in a sentence, Hirschhorn takes things a bit further. Drawing on his experience, he outlines how each of these bullet points are essential for developing peak performance in your job and your life. The process is useful and for a plane ride, it's interesting to follow along in his exercises.
Although the advice itself is very useful and the writing style pragmatic, I couldn't find myself drawn into the novel like other nonfiction books. Because it is a collection of blog posts, there isn't an overriding narrative - making it difficult to follow along, to some extent. This is also exhibition A of my bias towards self-help books.
If there's ever a book made for audio, however, it is this one. Instead of the (I'm imagining) monotonous writing on paper, the written word brings many of Hirschhorn's examples and ideas to life in a way that reading just wouldn't serve. Although I never felt per-say inspired, this self-help book was to the point and useful in its directness and tips content. Verdict: Read if you don't have anything else to read.
Rating: 3/5 Stars
November 8, 2012
There is no Perfect Moment to do something just Do It!
Make yourself accountable. Make a contract for your self for your goal. Do it on your own or get a friend or family member to help you be accountable.
Example: If you don't do THIS YOUR GOAL OR PLAN than what will your consequences be that will be great enough to keep your GOAL in site. Me me it would be not being allowed to read. I love to read and not begin able to do that would be horrible.
Keep a Daily journal 15 if that is a fair price to pay to keep yourself in check and see how you are doing. Ask yourself these questions.
1. What did I do well today?
2. What did I do poorly today?
3. What will I do differently?
4. What was the lesson learned?
5. What is the game plan for tomorrow?
Great book. It talks a lot about stocks and money and percentages but its always brought back into perspective of daily life and how to make you a better you in your Job and life.
Make yourself accountable. Make a contract for your self for your goal. Do it on your own or get a friend or family member to help you be accountable.
Example: If you don't do THIS YOUR GOAL OR PLAN than what will your consequences be that will be great enough to keep your GOAL in site. Me me it would be not being allowed to read. I love to read and not begin able to do that would be horrible.
Keep a Daily journal 15 if that is a fair price to pay to keep yourself in check and see how you are doing. Ask yourself these questions.
1. What did I do well today?
2. What did I do poorly today?
3. What will I do differently?
4. What was the lesson learned?
5. What is the game plan for tomorrow?
Great book. It talks a lot about stocks and money and percentages but its always brought back into perspective of daily life and how to make you a better you in your Job and life.
January 29, 2013
I’ve read a lot of personal development books over the years, but this one had a very unique feel to it. Doctor Hirschhorn has a background in working with high level fund traders and in sports.
He uses a number of examples from the high stress environment of making deals and watching markets, as well as the experience of athletes honing themselves for top performance under high level of public scrutiny.
What does this mean for you? It means he can draw on all of this experience to derive 8 helpful ways to be your best. It won’t be groundbreaking, but the way he explains it (especially managing risks and expected returns) will help you analyze how to hone yourself from good to great.
He uses a number of examples from the high stress environment of making deals and watching markets, as well as the experience of athletes honing themselves for top performance under high level of public scrutiny.
What does this mean for you? It means he can draw on all of this experience to derive 8 helpful ways to be your best. It won’t be groundbreaking, but the way he explains it (especially managing risks and expected returns) will help you analyze how to hone yourself from good to great.
December 19, 2012
This book is one of the best I have read. It's not new stuff rather same thing presented in a manner which successfully reiterated the "success formula" in my mind and made me get started. I will definitely recommend this book.
June 18, 2013
I didn't really think it was about how to be great in your job and life, unless your job is a stock trader and your life is that of a millionaire. Nothing ground breaking, read the summary and you'll get the gist. Luckily it was short.
January 6, 2015
This was just ok. It was a very vanilla business motivation book. It sounded so similar to others. The catchy list-style name sets it apart. I imagine the author is an amazing business coach, came up with a very successful regiment and decided to publish the highlights.
October 31, 2010
Luckily, this was a very quick read. There was nothing new or particularly eye-opening, just good reminders.
December 20, 2011
I wrote down the exercises so I could work on them as part of my continuous improvement plan.
Read
November 2, 2012Audio
March 14, 2013
Uses tiger woods and Donald trump as examples of great? This book should be called 8 ways to be a great stock trader. He uses this industry a lot for examples, and wasn't helpful to me.
June 19, 2014
Mostly drivel. There was enough here for me to finish it, but only by a little and only because it was really short.
March 3, 2015
OK, some good advice.
February 11, 2016
I completed this as an audiobook. It took a few hours, plus I had it on 1.75x, but there were some interesting little tidbit then I'm going to enlist in my professional life
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews