I have to think back to Jim Collins and his famous book "Good to Great" on techniques to improve your performance in order to find a book that shook the foundation of my management thinking as much as Jason Womack's book has done.
I am an avid reader of performance literature and have managed my own global agency StrawberryFrog in three continents, with talent from across the world for over 13 years. I have had the pleasure of working with many talented managers and this new book "Your Best Just Got Better" has opened my eyes. It has guided me to the new realities of productivity.
The truth is - as Jason points out - that working longer hours doesn't make up for a flawed approach to productivity and performance. I remember how impressed I was while working with a famous German automobile manufacturer. How this Stuttgart based company's workers spent less time in the company compared to car brands that I had done advertising for in the UK or France, but the Germans achieved extraordinary results. This stayed with me. What more than culture makes this possible. Jason answers this for me in his book. Thank you Jason for this.
He has done an excellent job of collecting information and dispersing it in an entertaining and educational way. Right from the start the idea of defining your ideal day captures you. I never have done this and it makes you stop and ask yourself: "Do you even know what that is or if you've ever had one? Profound and nicely challenging.
The book shows you how to work smarter, think bigger, and make more of yourself. What makes Jason's book useful is that you don't have to read pages and pages to figure out the point he's trying to get across. The part of the book I especially enjoyed was all about thinking bigger. I mean who wants to think smaller these days? Jason tells us "You've got to believe" and he's right. If you don't there is no one else. Jason tells us it's deeper than just positive thinking. And his crucial point about not spending time with those who limit your thinking hits home to me.
As an added bonus, Jason presents "required" exercises in each chapter -- a wonderful collection of Olympic athletic coaching examples that are relevant to the topics discussed. And while the book uses the world class sporting world as frequent examples, it is really for everyone, every business leader, every leader of an organization...big or small, new or old. Highly recommended reading.
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