“Creating a Life that Matters”
Authors: Jerry Porras, Stewart Emery, Mark Thompson
Wharton School Publishing
August 2006
HYPERLINK “http://www.successbuilttolast.com” www.successbuilttolast.com
Executive Summary: The authors attempt to answer this important question: What inspires long-term achievers to make the kind of choices to struggle and grow despite all odds to create success that lasts? Important note: success in this book is defined not as wealth, fame and power but as living a legacy, making a difference, creating lasting impact and engaged in a life of personal fulfillment.
They interviewed more than 100 successful people including; Warren Buffett, Bono, Michael Dell, Peter Drucker, Steve Forbes, Newt Gingrich, Rudy Guliani, Steve Jobs, Phil Knight, Nelson Mandela, John McCain, and Jack Welch just to name a few.
The book unpacks the lessons they learn from the 100+ interviews which include the 3 essential elements of Success Built to Last: Meaning, Thought-Styles and Action-Styles (thought, action, and meaning).
A few key themes; find what you are extremely passionate about and invest your life in it, do what you love and the money will follow, don’t be so consumed with what others think—take risks and follow your dreams, live a life fully engaged, invest a great deal of your time in choosing the right team and developing the leaders around you, audacious accountability (you own it—never blame others), don’t believe in words—only believe in behaviors, follow your natural-born passion and talent and you will be rewarded with long lasting success.
Favorite quotes from the book:
What story is worth your life?
Until you figure out what success means to you personally and to your organization, leadership is an almost pointless conversation. Peter Drucker
Loving what you do is a necessary condition for success.
Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. Helen Keller