Your Own Worst Enemy: Breaking the Habit of Adult Underachievement

In the more than twenty-five years since its publication, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People has become an international phenomenon with more than twenty-five million copies sold. Tens of millions of people in business, government, and schools have dramatically improved their lives and organizations by applying the principles of Stephen R. Covey’s classic book.

The world, however, is a vastly changed place. Being effective as individuals and organizations is no longer merely an option—it’s a requirement for survival. But in order to thrive, innovate, excel, and lead in what Covey calls the “New Knowledge Worker Age,” we must build on and move beyond effectiveness. In this era of human history, our call is for greatness—holistic fulfillment, passionate execution, and significant contribution.

Accessing the higher levels of human genius in today’s new reality requires a change in thinking: a new mindset and a new skill-set—in short, a new habit. The crucial challenge of our world today is this: to find our voice and inspire others to find theirs. It is what Covey calls the 8th Habit. The 8th Habit is the answer to the soul’s yearning for greatness, the organization’s imperative for significance and superior results, and humanity’s search for its “voice.”

Covey’s books have transformed the way we think about ourselves, our purpose in life, our organizations, and about humankind. Just as The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People helped us focus on effectiveness, The 8th Habit shows us the way to greatness.

The world is full of problems and conflicts. So why can we not solve them? According to Edward de Bono, current thinking cannot solve world problems because current thinking is itself the problem. And this is getting worse: we are so accustomed to readily available information online that we search immediately for the answers rather than thinking about them. Our minds function like trying to drive a car using only one wheel. There’s nothing wrong with that one wheel—conventional thinking—but we could all get a lot further if we used all four. De Bono examines why we think the way we do from a historical perspective and uses some of his famous thinking techniques combined with new ideas to show us how to change the way we think. If we strengthen our ability and raise our thinking level, other areas of our life—both personal and business success—will improve. De Bono is the master of the original big “concept” book and his enticement to us to use our minds as constructively as possible should appeal to a whole new generation of fans.

Inspiring readers all over the globe to reimagine their future, this revised and updated edition of What I Wish I Knew When I Was 20 features new material to complement the classic text.

Major life transitions such as leaving the protected environment of school or starting a new career can be daunting. It is scary to face a wall of choices, knowing that no one is going to tell us if we make the right decision. There is no clearly delineated path or recipe for success. Even figuring out how and where to start can be a challenge.

As head of the Stanford Technology Ventures Program, Tina Seelig’s job is to guide her students as they make the difficult transition from the academic environment to the professional world—providing tangible skills and insights that will last a lifetime. Seelig is a wildly popular and award-winning teacher and in What I Wish I Knew When I Was 20 she shares with us what she offers her students –provocative stories, inspiring advice, and a big dose of humility and humor.

These pages are filled with captivating examples, from the classroom to the boardroom, of individuals defying expectations, challenging assumptions, and achieving unprecedented success. Seelig throws out the old rules and provides a new model for reaching our potential.  We discover how to have a healthy disregard for the impossible; how to recover from failure; and how most problems are remarkable opportunities in disguise.

Before Rhonda Byrnes delivered the blockbuster bestseller The Secret, Dr. Robert Anthony was delivering the principles of Total Self-Confidence. Here Dr. Anthony, bestselling author of Think Big, reveals the secrets he has taught in seminars and workshops that have changed thousands of lives. Executives, star athletes, and celebrities know how total self-confidence can make one soar, and anyone can learn how to achieve it in their daily lives. The Ultimate Secrets of Total Self-Confidence features advice on:

– Tapping into creative imagination
– Clearing the mind of fear, worry, and guilt
– The best ways to communicate, and the art of small talk
– The simplest ways to get a perspective and set goals
– The joys and benefits of being different

Now revised by the author, this is the book for advancement in career, family, love life, finances, and mental and physical health