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Book Review

Maximum Success

Changing The 12 Behavior Patterns That Keep you From Getting Ahead

Doubleday - 2000 (325 pages in hardback)

Authors James Waldroop & Timothy Butler

ISBN 0-385-49849-7

Maximum Success is an interesting read and was written from a distinctive perspective. Many books on self-development or success are written from a “how to” perspective. Authors Waldroop & Butler, as trained Ph.D psychologists reverse this trend and frankly discuss destructive behavior patterns and why we fall into them. As directors of MBA career development at the Harvard Business School they have combined their career experiences to outline 12 career “Achilles heels”. Taken from the Greek mythical story of Homer’s Iliad, our Achilles heel is the behaviors that can hold us back or even result in career failure. Waldroop & Butler maintain that many “how to” principles are not applicable for all organizations at all times. However, people fail in the same ways and for the same reasons, and this is a subject of importance. Each behavior is clearly explained with many real-life examples to illustrate its main points.

Maximum Success is written in two parts. Part one is the discussion of 12 negative behaviors that are potentially destructive. For example pattern number one is entitled “Never Feeling Good Enough”. In this particular behavior the authors examine the “signs and symptoms” that indicate a person is feeling insecure and inferior. Like each of the patterns, they conclude the chapter with instruction on how to break the pattern. Waldroop & Butler believe, “Moreover, we find that many – if not most- people are amazingly unaware of the patterns they exhibit that are resulting in their failure.” Part one not only helps the reader to analyze their own potential flaws, but will also help the reader to better recognize and understand the Achilles heel of others. This knowledge will help the reader to work with others more effectively!

Part 2 of Maximum Success reveals four developmental issues that we must come to terms with or resolve to truly break our negative patterns of behavior. These are underlying psychological issues that contribute to the harmful patterns. These four primary issues are 1) Having a negatively distorted self-image. 2) Not being able to understand the world from other people’s perspectives. 3) Not having come to terms with authority. 4) Having the inability to use power comfortably, skillfully, and effectively. These are at the root of our individual behavior patterns and the authors connect them together as “cause and effect” with clarity and openness. The book concludes with a helpful “Checklist for change” and an appendix.

This is a serious book about self-examination and change. If read with an open mind, it can help you to see yourself and others in a new and unadulterated light. But more importantly it can teach you to become aware of the “warning bell” that alerts us to the need for change. It also offers powerful ways to initiate that change. My congratulations go to both Waldroop & Butler, for writing an informative yet non-technical book that opens the human soul in a way that is both insightful and beneficial.

weLEAD rating – highly recommended

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