Chapter 1 – A Sense of Belonging. You have an innate need to belong. When you don’t belong, your physical and mental health diminishes and your opportunities for success reduce. When you feel like you belong, you are far more likely to succeed.
Question: Which groups do you feel you belong to? This could be formal groups you have actively joined (like a running or golf club), religious or cultural groups you feel part of, family groups, identity groups or career-based groups (Financial Officers, communication experts). Which one has made you most feel like you belong?
Chapter 2 – Developing Mastery. When you have mastered what matters and you own what you know, you have more confidence to go out and succeed in style.
Question: What is your super strength? Would other people recognise this in you too?
Chapter 3 – Autonomy. When you feel in control of your environment and are offered choices regarding what you do and a voice to state the way in which you would like to do it, you increase your efforts and have more motivation. Your wellbeing is enhanced and your performance improves as a result.
Question: What is one thing you could do to give those around you more autonomy?
Chapter 4 – A Powerful Purpose. A powerful purpose gives you a guiding philosophy that can ensure decisions are easier to make and helps you use your passion to accomplish the things that are important to you.
Question: Do you have a why? Have you started to look for yours? Who do you know who has a really powerful purpose?
Chapter 5 – Cultivated Confidence. Confidence is the most critical differentiator between success and failure, but it needs to be the right kind of confidence: the ‘I’ve prepared brilliantly, practised extensively and so, whatever happens, happens’ type. This is cultivated confidence.
Question: Which source of confidence do you draw upon the most: previous experience, brilliant preparation, external (others giving you confidence) or internal (knowing you have the skills and traits to handle things)?
Chapter 6 – Process-Driven. When you put process ahead of outcome, you can focus on the moment. This reduces stress, increases the number of successful strategies in your repertoire and allows you to perform at your best.
Question: Is there an area of your life where you feel struggle to focus on the process because the outcome just feels too important to risk?
Chapter 7 – Courage. To be successful, you need to leave your comfort zone and act bravely. Understanding your motivations and preparing for obstacles means that you can calibrate a courageous attitude.
Question: When have you shied away from courage? Is there a time you reflect on and wish you could have been braver?
Chapter 8 – Pragmatic Optimism. Pragmatic optimism is the pillar that helps you reflect on what has already happened in a way that expands your future opportunities by helping you approach them with a presumption of success.
Question: When has your optimism been a great strategy? When did you realise that going into the situation optimistically was going to work out?
Chapter 9 – Internal Insight. Internal insight helps you design a life that suits your core being, your social preferences, your emotional outlook, your motivations and your competencies. This self-awareness gives you the strongest possible foundation for success.
Question: Are you able to name one of your core values? If you had to do a stand-up comedy show about your life: what would you call it? Could you incorporate that value into your title?
Chapter 10 – Gratitude. Gratitude is the glue that holds together all the other pillars of success. Developing a grateful mindset requires only a few minutes a day, but gives benefits which last a lifetime.
Question: If you had to write a letter to thank someone for the part they played in where you are now in life, who would that person be? What would be the memory you shared with them in the letter?
Overall
Question: Which of the people featured as a ‘success story’ in the book would you most like to meet?
Question: How would you define success? Has this changed in the last 10 years?
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