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What Got You Here Won't Get You There: How Successful People Become Even More Successful
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 6, 2025
Concise and to the point.
Yes this is a professional leadership book but a lot, if not all, of what is in here can also be applied to your “real” life. There is a general theme about pushing to be self-aware, about recognizing we don’t live in a vacuum. And we all suffer from at least one (though likely more multiple) of the ~20 habits noted.
It’s worth a read if for no other reason to try to check your blind spots.
Yes this is a professional leadership book but a lot, if not all, of what is in here can also be applied to your “real” life. There is a general theme about pushing to be self-aware, about recognizing we don’t live in a vacuum. And we all suffer from at least one (though likely more multiple) of the ~20 habits noted.
It’s worth a read if for no other reason to try to check your blind spots.
January 3, 2026
A good leadership books that dives into how to fix your behavior that is affecting not only the workplace, but your home life as well. I was moreso expecting this to be about how companies changed how they did business to "get from here to there", instead of it being behavioral based. Still, I enjoyed it and it had some eye opening segments that I can utilize in my career.
April 6, 2026
This isn’t a bad book, and it’s hard not to recommend if you want insight into leadership expectations. But it does have its challenges.
First, what’s working. This book lands squarely in increasing self-awareness of who we are and how we lead, and then committing to change.
Often we fail to look introspectively at what we need to change or work on as leaders. We hire people like us. Expect others to conform or perform given our success as a mandate. As such the premise of this book leans on starting new roles, or leaders reaching an inflection point in their careers, especially corporate ones where there was an external catalyst — most likely one required by their current org.
Of course, not everything is driven by an HR checkbox for insensitive and unruly managers. Starting a new role, for example, often provides the right catalyst for considering what blind spots you may have as well.
Despite best efforts I found that many of the lessons have aged more like milk than wine. That’s forgivable given the age of the book — but what felt most jarring was a general lack of evidence beyond simply the author’s expertise. Combined with the shelf life of some key positions not holding up, the book will fall flat for younger professionals and those not following a traditional corporate path.
In the end, I couldn’t get past needing to simply trust that the author’s experience holds. Which ironically, means Goldsmith most often seems to suffer from many of the same challenges his book aims to correct in others, unless his experience uniquely absolves him from bias.
Spoiler: it does not.
First, what’s working. This book lands squarely in increasing self-awareness of who we are and how we lead, and then committing to change.
Often we fail to look introspectively at what we need to change or work on as leaders. We hire people like us. Expect others to conform or perform given our success as a mandate. As such the premise of this book leans on starting new roles, or leaders reaching an inflection point in their careers, especially corporate ones where there was an external catalyst — most likely one required by their current org.
Of course, not everything is driven by an HR checkbox for insensitive and unruly managers. Starting a new role, for example, often provides the right catalyst for considering what blind spots you may have as well.
Despite best efforts I found that many of the lessons have aged more like milk than wine. That’s forgivable given the age of the book — but what felt most jarring was a general lack of evidence beyond simply the author’s expertise. Combined with the shelf life of some key positions not holding up, the book will fall flat for younger professionals and those not following a traditional corporate path.
In the end, I couldn’t get past needing to simply trust that the author’s experience holds. Which ironically, means Goldsmith most often seems to suffer from many of the same challenges his book aims to correct in others, unless his experience uniquely absolves him from bias.
Spoiler: it does not.
March 9, 2025
This is a leadership book focusing on a different direct of leadership than any other that I’ve come across: annoying behaviors! The basic premise is that once you reach a certain point in your career, lack of skill is not what’s holding you back, but rather your annoying behaviors that get in the way of healthy relationships (at work and home). It includes a list of 21 annoying behaviors that you might be guilty of, and suggests a feedback process to identify what you really need to work on, and to improve.
Great read. I’ve been more aware of, and trying to address, a couple behaviors I know cause problems for me. I highly recommend this book!
Great read. I’ve been more aware of, and trying to address, a couple behaviors I know cause problems for me. I highly recommend this book!
May 12, 2025
Great book for anyone who feels stuck.
I was feeling that I was not growing anymore after getting a senior role. I had a hunch that I am annoying my team at times but never could pinpoint why. This book presents the problems at a human level for leaders, connects them to stories, and provides you with possible ways to fix them, but also letting you know that no everything needs fixing. Highly recommend the book for anyone who feels stuck in their current role.
I was feeling that I was not growing anymore after getting a senior role. I had a hunch that I am annoying my team at times but never could pinpoint why. This book presents the problems at a human level for leaders, connects them to stories, and provides you with possible ways to fix them, but also letting you know that no everything needs fixing. Highly recommend the book for anyone who feels stuck in their current role.
November 11, 2025
Hackneyed list of 50 things we all need to change
This is unfortunately a very disappointing book. I regret downloading a copy. It is poorly structured and really just a laundry list of 50 things everyone needs to do differently rather than a true career strategy book. Politically correct and “well no kidding “ obvious wisdom.
This is unfortunately a very disappointing book. I regret downloading a copy. It is poorly structured and really just a laundry list of 50 things everyone needs to do differently rather than a true career strategy book. Politically correct and “well no kidding “ obvious wisdom.
July 21, 2025
Helpful information and insights for leading.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews