Barking Up the Wrong Tree: The Surprising Science Behind Why Everything You Know About Success Is (Mostly) Wrong

by Eric Barker

To be great we must be different.

The same traits that make people a nightmare to deal with can also make them the people who change the world.

know thyself and pick the right pond. Identify your strengths and pick the right place to apply them.

they’re assertive about what they want, and they’re not afraid to let others know about what they’ve achieved.

why do jerks succeed

not only is reciprocity one of the key elements of being influential and winning favor with others but it’s also essential that you go first.

Studies show that your boss has a much larger affect on your happiness and success than the company at large.

What’s the best predictor of your child’s emotional well-being? It’s not great schools, hugs, or Pixar movies. Researchers at Emory University found that whether a kid knew their family history was the number-one indicator.

to make work fun, add challenges.

“What one thing can I do to make progress on important work tomorrow?”

Know your number-one priority. Then start quitting stuff that isn’t as important and see what happens. You’ll learn really fast if something really is more essential than you thought.

when we choose to quit pursuing unattainable goals, we’re happier, less stressed, and get sick less often.

Try things. Quit what fails. Then apply grit.

Spending 5 percent of your time trying new things, knowing you will quit most of them, can lead to great opportunities.

WOOP—wish, outcome, obstacle, plan—is applicable to most any of your goals, from career to relationships to exercise and weight loss.

If you’re not always giving and getting you’ll never be making all the progress you could.