The Truth About You: Your Secret to Success by Marcus Buckingham

The Truth About Youby costina

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November 22, 2008: It is hard to write just about the book The Truth About You (without including the personal stories and conclusions you come across when going throught it), just as it is hard to call it a book. It is more like a workbook for the self. Starting from a twenty minutes film, the book continues to the choice of one?s path in life.
We all strive to get by in life, doing the shoulds that we should, even if sometimes this implies sacrificing what we like, what drives and inspires us, in favour of more immediate and practical results.
There are three truths to be regarded as the building blocks of one?s success in life. Although they may sound intriguing at first, I came to readily understand the reasoning behind them. I shall leave you the pleasure to discover and debate them.
Most of the (work)book is structured around five ideas presented as ?the best advice you?ll ever get?. The first piece of advice (Performance is always the point) I found the most useful, as it provides hands-on tools to answering the question about what we would like to do in life. I also found particularly attractive and intriguing the final piece of advice, about discovering and dealing with one?s weaknesses.
The book encloses a blocknotes, as well as special sections to be used just like a workbook, so that, when you are done going through it, there is a strong feeling of involvement, and one can hardly say he or she read a book, but rather made some decisions about their lives.

The Truth About You - Your Secret To Successby Mark_White

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November 17, 2008: At first glance Marcus Buckingham?s latest book, ?The Truth About You - Your Secret to Success?, looks to be a quick read at 110 pages. But for those who think of themselves as students of the personal growth genre, this book stands out for all the right reasons. First, when I say `book?, I actually mean more than just print on paper. The Truth About You comes with a 22 minute DVD and a ReMemo Pad, which along with the ideas captured in the book section make this a true toolkit for finding your strengths. There is a method to Buckingham?s genius. First, watch the video, which consists of a short story of young musician unhappy in his current situation. Secondly, read the book and do the quick exercises in each chapter. Lastly you?re given an assignment to record your likes and dislikes over the next two weeks. The author?s clever use of an audio-free movie along with his commentary, make what could easily be a distraction a well presented prelude to the book.

The premise of The Truth About You is based around the idea that if you focus on the tasks which you are naturally gifted and strongest in, you can design you life and job around those strengths. We all have areas were we excel, where we?re `in the zone?. This book helps you realize those strengths, and conversely weaknesses, so you can better map out your path to success. Don?t be fooled by the simple and casual tone of the writing, the underlying thread and theory is solid.

Along the way Mr. Buckingham breaks down a few business cliches including why there is no ?I? in team and why working on your weaknesses is futile. Overall a quick but very worthwhile read.

I Also Recommend: First, Break All The Rules, Now, Discover Your Strengths, Go Put Your Strengths to Work.