What's Stopping You?: Why Smart People Don't Always Reach Their Potential, and How You Can

The Principles Come First

My first reading of this made me hesitate, I have to admit. I was absorbed in a book focused on making me more effective and was instead getting a lecture on ethics and morality. It felt too holy for me, too sanctimonious. Many of the most effective people I have ever met were scoundrels: immorally and unethically pursuing their self-interest with no care for the external consequences (a lack of concern that I secretly admired, so wrapped up was I in what other people thought of me). Certainly, they were not “principles centred”. In fact, many were so eaten up with ambition they were deeply unprincipled, although I recognize now that this may have been due to their inner frustrations and insecurities.

But then the penny ...