How to be Brilliant, Michael Heppel
My copy of this book was given to me as a prize. Interestingly, I had the choice of prizes, the book or a bottle of whiskey. As the giver of the prize was an HR professional, and as I have learnt from experience never to trust anyone from HR*. I knew the choice was some elaborate psychology test in itself. Do I choose Pleasure (Whiskey) or Personal Development (Book)? Should I be promoted or canned?
I chose the book to throw them off the scent and also unknown to the HR professional I love whiskey, and the alternative choice of prize was a very small bottle,… and it was not a good make at all.
The reason I explain my inauspicious introduction to the book is because it is actually very easy to be put of by the book’s front cover (silver and very shiney) and its title. “How to be Brilliant Change your ways in 90 Days! ” a title I would have put in the same league as “The Five minute MBA” or “How to be a Millionaire in 6 months with this Sure Fire Sales Technique!” type of books. It was a miracle I ever opened the book.
However, against my better judgement I opened the book and started to read on one wet holiday weekend. It was a revelation. This was over 5 years ago and it made me sit up and take notice. First surprise was Michael Heppel is in fact English+ rather than one of those self-confident American types. Second surprise is how motivating and personable his writing is, you cannot help engaging with the warmth and energy of his writing.
The book really is a wake up call, if you are not satisfied with your lot then its up to you to change it, take charge. Don’t settle for mediocre go for a brilliant life. This in itself is a great message. As it is up to you then there is nothing really stopping you making the change.
Michael, has really got to the nub of effective goal setting with the approach described here. So much of goal setting in our corporations is dull, and demotivating here is an alternative approach that will get you thinking and acting differently. Yes you can say a lot of his approach is about getting your mind in the right place, but he knows what it is like to struggle and to grapple with your own self doubt. The section on rock busting which deals with all the things that are stopping you making a change for the better I have personally found very helpful.
It is an essential book, and hopefully you will find it motivational. The book provides very practical techniques to use to get you in the right frame of mind to get you started on improving your life, work and relationships.
I recommend this as good companion to the Achieving Focus Goal Setting Course.
NB
* I have met many lovelly and excellent people who work in HR departments, it is the Catch 22 of the HR function in the modern organisation that unfortunately makes it difficult for them to operate with consistency. Too often they are focussed on documenting poor performance rather than nuturing exceptional performance.
+ The English seem a bit more reticent over talking about our achievements and are usually very modest.
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