Lifestorming: Creating Meaning and Achievement in Your Career and Life

Revamp your life to grow, evolve, and become who you want to be

"In our culture, we are bombarded by messages that essentially say, ′Change! Improve! Get better!′ . Given how overwhelming these messages are, it′s tempting to simply shut them out. Who can possibly follow all that advice? But we still give it half an ear because we know, deep down, that we could change for the better, if only we knew how."
FROM THE INTRODUCTION

Lifestorming is your life–changing handbook for transforming your life and becoming the person you want to be! Written by two acclaimed authors and noted executive coaches, this book draws on the lifetime experience and insight of Marshall Goldsmith and Alan Weiss. They show you how to reorder your life and take a giant leap toward achieving your most cherished goals. Admittedly, change is not easy but with Lifestorming in hand you will discover the tools needed to shed your old baggage and get rid of stagnating behaviors to allow yourself to grow in ways you never thought possible.

Lifestorming helps you to get going today on a path that will build your lasting legacy. Get on board and discover the continuing series of positive actions that will not only help you, but also provide a lasting guide for people to use along their own journeys. Lifestorming is about taking on life and enjoying it immensely by contributing to it enormously.

Introduction ix
Chapter 1 Setting Our Own Aspirations 1
How We Can Become Programmed 1
An Evolutionary Journey 4
Applying the Right Criteria 8
The Impossible Dream 10
Life s Detours 13
Chapter 2 The Importance of New Friends 17
Why Old Friends and Old Habits Tend to Stick
Together 17
Breaking Out of the Good Enough Trap 19
The Best Relationships Grow with Us 20
Watertight Doors 22
Letting Go to Reach Out 25
Why We Halt the Journey 28
Frankie Valle and the Four Seasons 32
Chapter 3 Behavioral Metamorphosis 35
Making Deliberate Change 35
Ugly Caterpillars and Uglier Butterflies 40
Metabehavior 43
Aspiration–Appropriate Behavior 48
vi Contents
Chapter 4 Believe It or Not 55
Breaking into the Belief Vault 55
Challenging and Evaluating Your Belief System 60
The Creation of Attitudes for Growth 65
Beliefs Manifest in Behavior 68
Chapter 5 The Importance and Evolution of Character 73
Character s Composition 73
Character Test 77
Ethical and Moral Behavior 80
A Slow, Steady March 82
The Meaning of Presence 86
Consistency in Turbulent Times 90
Assuming Formal and Informal Leadership 93
Self–Assessment 98
Chapter 6 Critical Abandonment (Knowing When to Hold and When to Fold) 103
The Dynamics of Keeping and of Changing 103
Adjustments and Accommodations 111
GPS and Roadside Assistance 115
Staying the Course 118
Chapter 7 The New You 123
Overcoming Fear 124
Banishing Guilt 128
Ending Shame 131
Maintaining High Self–Worth 133
Gaining and Sustaining Leverage 134
Chapter 8 Sustaining the Journey 141
Growth through Generosity 141
Evolution through Exploration 146
New Dimensions of Relationships 151
Legacy 155

Alan Weiss is an acclaimed consultant, speaker, and author. His consulting firm, Summit Consulting Group, Inc., has attracted clients that include more than 500 leading organizations. He has published more than 500 articles and 60 books, including the bestselling Million Dollar Consulting.

Marshall Goldsmith is an executive coach and business educator. His mission is to help successful leaders achieve positive, lasting change in behavior; for themselves, their people, and their teams. He is the author or coauthor of Triggers, What Got You Here Won′t Get You There, and Mojo, among others.