Nine Things Successful People Do Differently

By: Heidi Grant Halvorson

Narrated by: Shannon Parks

Decades of research on achievement suggests people at the top of their game tend to reach their goals because of what they do - not because of who they are. In this short, provocative, and useful HBR Single, motivational psychologist Heidi Grant Halvorson translates the psychological secrets of these winning human beings for your use. Halvorson expands on her immensely popular blog post to give more detail on each of her nine suggested actions - from getting specific about goals and aggressively monitoring your achievements to understanding the importance of having "grit."

By emphasizing what successful people do consistently and effectively, Halvorson provides the path to help you accomplish your goals, once and for all.

©2011 Heidi Grant Halvorson (P)2012 Gildan Media Corp

Not very useful

Is there anything you would change about this book?

The content

Any additional comments?

I was lead to get this book from the Hardvard bussiness Review podcast. However, I did not find anything else in the audiobook, besides the points already raised in the podcast. The tip about quantitatively defining goals was, for me, the most useful bit of wisdom derived from the book, and this can be stated in a few lines.

Narrator painful

Having hear Ms. Grant Halvorson on NPRs IdeaCast I was intrigued by her observations and presentation, she I thought had a calming and relaxed voice, and delivery. It was therefore a shock to listen to a flat, and painful narration of her work. I am going to try to get through the book for the content but the delivery is so distracting as to remove any enjoyment from the experience.

Straightforward and really good

really well done and super clear information. I really enjoyed it and would recommend it to others

Great reminders!

We all have coping strategies we’ve learned over the years. Heidi gathers these all up in one place, puts them into a useful structured presentation, and explains why they work, citing the research as well as the rationale. She covers the whole package, how to start, maintain effort, achieve and expand success, over a full range of possible objectives.

Heidi’s approach results in a practical, specific, useful blueprint for success. Moreover, it is brief enough to be consumed in one sitting. My recommendation is to have it, adopt it, use it as a “workbook” across a wide range of objectives and desires, and review it often.

Speaker Makes It Hard to Stay Awake

OK story and ideas, but hard to pay attention due to the person read the book. Very monotone, no energy, straight out boring.