I’d estimate that I first benefited from Nicholas Bate’s teaching in around 1995 when I attended one of his training courses. I was struck by how different the course was from typical corporate training. For example, Nicholas was the first trainer I’d met that focused on improving you as an individual in order that your work may benefit – rather than on specific work related skills that are still the more typical focus. Both are of course required but the former will also help you find the right work as well as do your work right.
I discovered only recently that Nicholas was an author – quite prolific as it turns out with 18 or more titles! ‘Being the Best’ was my first, the first of many I’m sure. This one fits in to a category that I call ‘10 minutes a day’ books.
It’s quite literally an A-Z, each letter of the alphabet associated with a word and a few pages of description – A is Attention, B is Belief, C is Compass, … N is Niche… V is Vision etc. Where each section is easy to read and full of the most profoundly sensible suggestions and advice.
You shouldn’t underestimate the the highly accessible format. On that training course back in 1995 the attendees walked away with a compass – a reminder of what I think is the most important lesson in the book. I’m not sure I realised quite how fundamentally important, thank goodness for ‘Being the Best – The A-Z of Personal Success’ for reminding me!
Format: Book, 200 pages
Author: Nicholas Bate
Incidentally, Nicholas has a great blog you should check out on the Business of Life + Life of Business
-Mark
p.s. ‘work’ here is meant in the broadest sense whether it’s as the owner/manager of a business, part-time charity work, a job, running a household, whatever… everyone should enjoy their work. If you don’t, change something - your approach, your attitude, your work… If you’re not doing your ideal work, you’re probably holding a space that is someone else's ideal.