David L. Hancock

This book held my interest because I know David Hancock has achieved much and I wanted to read what he had to say in the area of Performance. I felt that he would have much advice to impart from his vantage point, and I was not disappointed. I learned quite a bit from picking the brains of successful and driven people.

Beware, the following will contain spoilers.

One of the biggest things I gained from this book was the concept of acknowledging and celebrating small wins. As a person who has a huge goal in mind, it often feels like I am falling short of my target and it can feel defeating. It feels like I'm going nowhere fast because there's only one destination. But with this new concept, I am reminded to set small goals and to celebrate them as they come, so the process is actually moving forward. This will propel me ahead and make it feel as if I am making great progress, which I probably am. Also, the authors reminded me that the journey is actually the goal, not the finished place. One must enjoy the journey of getting to where you want to go, because that is the most important thing.

I like how the authors, despite how driven they are, paint the picture of a whole and rich life in every area (health, wellness, freedom, happiness and etc). I expected this book to be all about performing and striving, which honestly would've felt a bit stressful to me. But they did not do that. Instead, they encouraged one to live healthy in every regard, valuing free time, family and leisurely time, claiming it's just as important. This was huge for me and I couldn't be onboard more.

Here are some other quotes from the book that I jotted down on my notepad:

-No matter how big or small, your next step could be the one that changes your life.

-I have failed so many times, failure grins in recognition when it sees me. (haha!)

-The way of the Performance-Driven Thinker generates several streams of income to support his life.

-One of the greatest rewards of being a Performance-Driven Thinker in the future will be the chance for people to recognize the pure nobility of work when it is pursued with joy rather than obligation.

-Now, Performance-Driven Thinkers are stepping back a few paces and seeing that work is not the entire picture. Other parts of that picture include: recreation, friends, family, faith, health, location, education, travel, and free time. Have I left anything out? Probably. It's a big and beautiful picture. These are the rewards of living. The rewards should not be reserved for your retirement, because Performance-Driven Thinkers never completely retire from work. They may cut back, but they're having too much of a blast to retire.

-Success can be achieved effortlessly. Within every desire lie the mechanics of its fulfillment, its accomplishment. Wishing can breathe life into them.

-To hit what you aim at, keep your attention on the present and orient yourself to the process, not to the outcome.

-Recognize that every time you delegate successfully, you are doubling your own effectiveness.

-The small wins theory stresses the point that very few achieve overnight success.

-The focus on progress in performance is leading this individual in the right direction.

-Embrace small victories!

-When life opposes you, you have to decide how badly you want it.

-The Performance-Driven Thinker is passionate about work. His enthusiasm for what he does is apparent to everyone who sees his work.… (mehr)