THE ACHIEVEMENT HABIT

Tested methods for obtaining the life you really want.

Academic director of the Hasso Plattner Institute of Design (the d.school) at Stanford University, Roth pulls together years of experience in teaching students and professionals how to accomplish more out of life and presents those findings in a clear narrative. He incorporates thought-provoking questions into his analysis that allow readers to discover for themselves the answers to such queries as, “Who am I? What do I want? What is my purpose?” He also encourages readers to think about their family backgrounds and how the dominant role models in the formative years have influenced and affected them in adulthood. The questions are based on the feelings one has toward money, authority figures, hard work, personal fulfillment, school, and hobbies, among many others. The key emphasis throughout is that one must do things, not just try to do them. As Roth writes, “when you do, you are using power; when you try, you are using force. In life, if you want to get things done, it is much better to be powerful than to be forceful.” He backs up these statements with multiple examples of d.school students who have taken his advice and advanced their lives on numerous levels. By presenting situations that show how others have succeeded when using these tactics, Roth makes it easy for readers to follow suit. Each step is a logical progression from the previous one, so readers are advised to read the book straight through and not try to jump around searching for a quick solution. Sometimes, readers will go back and repeat a previous step in order to reach a more satisfying resolution. Ultimately, the result should be an improvement in one’s personal life and relationships.

Effective methods to help in the process of making positive changes in one’s life.