This is the second Marcus Buckingham book I’ve read, the first being “Now, Discover Your Strengths”. Which is a great primer (but not necessary) for “The Truth About You”.
“The Truth About You” is a very unique experience for the learner (notice I didn’t say reader). You start out by watching a short video of Marcus Buckingham introducing you to the ideas of “The Truth About You” and beginning to explain the why’s you learn about in the book. While he is talking another video fades in and out: a story of a boy who’s realized he’s bored with the trombone and feel alive when he sneaks to play the timpani drum and the story that plays out till he gets to play them while not letting the team down to do it. You also get a Rememo pad that you use during you week as you do specific task to learn what strengths you and what weakens you.
I really loved “Now, Discover Your Strengths” and have a deep sense of understanding of who I am when it comes to strengths and weaknesses because of the short but packed brilliance of “The Truth About You”. The five chapters of the book really hit home some of the best knowledge you’ll find on how to leverage your strengths in the work place and find ways to make sure the things that weaken, drain or bore you are taken care of in ways your company and boss will notice in a positive way.
The Five Chapters:
-Performance is always the point
-Your strengths aren’t what you good at, and your weaknesses aren’t what your bad at
-When it comes to your job, the “What” always trumps the “Why” and the “Who”
-You’ll never find the perfect job
-You’ll never turn your weaknesses into strengths
Some great nuggets I really dig out of the book:
-There is an I in team. We’ve been told other wise but look at championship teams and you see guys and gals who play their position well and also help out in ways to make sure plays are executed well.
-Strengths are things that strengthen and invigorate you and weaknesses are things that weaken and drain you. (That makes so much sense.) He says that you can be good at something but it still drain and bore you.
-As you grow older you become more and more of who you already are.
-There are no perfect jobs, you have to build it.
-Everyone has weakness you just have to learn how to deal with them. (Chapter 5 does such a great job of explaining how and giving great examples from the likes of Shaquille O’Neal, Tiger Woods, David Beckham and Tom Brady).
I highly recommend “The Truth About You” as much as “Now, Discover Your Strengths” changed my thinking about the work I’ve been called to do and how that interacts with the way I was created, this book does a great job of honing down the ideas in firm and practical ways. Your never to old or to young to change your trajectory in the work force to work in a job that you love and cannot imagine doing anything else and this book can help you get there.
You can find in your local bookstores (small and large) or on Amazon.com.
DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: http://cmp.ly/2
