The Top 1%: Habits, Attitudes & Strategies for Exceptional Success

by Dan Strutzel

In the past several years, there has been a great deal of hyperbole disseminated by mass media about “The Top 1%.” Most of this press has been negative―casting the 1% as the villains, and the 99% as the victims. Most every major problem in our society, and in individuals inability to progress, has been blamed on this “elite” income class. Yet, the paradox is that the vast majority of people in America strive every day to become part of that 1%. Why is this? Because, most people intuitively understand that the picture of the 1% is largely incorrect at worst, or incomplete at the very least. So, is much of what we’ve been told about the 1% incorrect? Is there another reality about the 1% that has not been told by the media? And, should you and I aspire to be part of The Top 1%? The answers to these questions are an unqualified “YES.” In this compelling program, personal development expert and researcher Dan Strutzel, will give you a completely new―and ultimately inspiring view of this income class. And, best of all, he will outline the specific things you need to do to become a proud member of The Top 1%. Here are just a few of the ideas that you’ll • The most popular myths, and the “hidden truths” of The Top 1%. • Why “average is over” and striving for the Top 1 should be everyone’s goal---regardless of whether you ever reach that goal. • The 12 Qualities that The Top 1% have in common. • How to develop an “owner’s mentality,” not a “consumers mentality.” • Why you don’t “get” your dream job, you “create” it. • Why traditional goal setting concepts no longer make sense―and will not get you to the Top 1%. • Why you should focus on value and equity, and not on income. • Why the 1% and the 99% need each other to achieve the greatest level of success and happiness. After listening to this program, you’ll not only have a road map for joining The Top 1%, you’ll emerge more inspired and excited about your future and the future of our society.

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Audiobook, Finance

240 pages, Hardcover

First published May 24, 2016

Reviews

[Jay French · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m a big fan of the book “The Millionaire Next Door”. I found the mix of research into how millionaires live their lives and the analysis were quite interesting and had value in allowing me to understand the habits that I had that had historically been valuable in building wealth. Once you know, you can optimize. I took this book, “The Top 1%”, as being an update to “The Millionaire Next Door”. That was my expectation, and it was not correct. I believe that having a number in the title implied to me that this book would be about numbers, either statistics or research on very wealthy people. This couldn’t be farther from what this book is about.

“The Top 1% “ is more a motivational book than a research and analysis book. The author is a former executive with Nightingale-Conant, a personal development book publisher. The author took the interesting tact of evaluating many of the motivational books that have been popular over the years and pulling the key recommendations from these. These are books from Wayne Dyer, Tony Robbins, Zig Ziglar, and the like. He intersperses the stories from the books with his own life, including his meetings with a number of the authors whose books he pulls from. In the end, it is kind of a survey of the motivational book field with a bit of a focus on wealth creation. There are no numbers here, this is truly more of the “you need to build a network”-type of advice. While I didn’t get anything new here, as I’ve read enough of the source authors to know what they recommend, this is not a poorly written book and these are reasonable reminders of ways to get ahead in the world.

I did notice a glaring mistake in the early part of the book. The author, who also narrated the audiobook version that I listened to, said that Jack Welch was the former CEO of General Motors. No, Jack Welch, probably the most well known CEO of the 80s and 90s, was CEO of General Electric. When you see a very obvious mistake like this in a book, you question the editing. When you hear it in an audiobook read by the author, you question the author and his background. I think this shows the difference between working on motivational books and business books. The person focused on business books would probably not make that mistake. So if you are looking for a how-to guide backed by research, look elsewhere. If you are looking for a survey of motivational concepts based on other books, this fits the bill.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to the audio book and enjoyed the author's tips on habits to become more successful. Lots of good advice, some common sense and some good to reinforce identifying your priorities in life. Valuable life tips!

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some interesting food for thought in this book. Everything in the book used sound reasoning and was well explained. It wasn't a how to "get rich" book. Instead it focused more on outlook, attitude and behavior related things that successful people have and it explained how these things helped them get where they are.

It also expressed the importance of being true to yourself, and emphasized that having money can be nice, but we need to examine our own unique situation to determine if money would truly make us happy. It also mentioned how that there's a cost to having "success" and money, like spending less time with your family, getting less sleep, having less time to eat healthy etc.

Overall a good book that helps the reader put their life in perspective and helps the reader draw their own conclusions about what they should do with their life based on their own unique situation.

[Thu Huong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cách nhanh nhất tiến tới thành công là thay thế thói quen xấu bằng thói quen tốt và cuốn này đưa ra 26 thói quen tích cực của nhóm 1% giàu nhất. Nghe thật kinh khủng. Ngỡ như xa vời thực sự!! Quá sức tham vọng!! Haha nhưng những người trong nhóm 1% đó không biết hay hiếm khi nghĩ mình là một thành viên của nhóm gọi là 1% nên ừm.. chắc ko đến nỗi quá khó. Nên tin là như vậy xD. Tác giả cũng chưa nhận mình là một trong nhóm giàu nhất nên có thể coi như cùng nhau học hỏi qua những điều ô thấy hiệu quả rút ra từ rất nhiều người thành công mà ô làm việc cùng. giàu ko có nghĩa là chỉ với nhiều tiền mà còn là hoàn thiện về phần con người. Hãy cứ tham vọng hướng đến mục tiêu bởi nếu ko đc giàu thì cũng tốt hơn :))))) nhiều thói quen tác giả đề cập mình chưa hiểu lắm. Nói chung dễ đọc :))))

[Jay Best · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dan worked for Nightingale Conant for decades. They are a mainly audio publishing house, who were really big in the 1940s to 1980s, and still publish some awesome success and self help niche books.

Zig Ziglar, Dale Carnegie etc

A lot of the solid, evergreen classic self help courses.

This has a very similar feel to those, in style and content, which is a good thing. It feels very similar, but not directly deriverative / stale.

I does feel a bit traditional compared to say Tim Ferris or other, newer audiobooks, but I did like it overall.

Smart, solid, classic and evergreen.

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading most chapters of the book, I have to say one thing upfront - becoming the top 1% shouldn't be the definition of success. Many principles and methods in this book make lots sense, they are fundamentals of self discipline and betterment. However there is no cookie cutter for being success. As long as you have a meaningful career, a happy loving family, and your spiritual pursuit has been fulfilled, you have a successful life.
Overall an enjoyable reading.

[Heli Künnapas · Rating 3 out of 5]

See raamat jäi minu jaoks kuidagi pinnapealseks ja konkreetseid juhiseid nagu väga polnudki.

Kogu lugu tundus olevat kirjutatud kuidagi kõrgemalt alla vaadates, kuigi autor ise kordas, et ta pole ise veel samuti seal 1% seas, millest räägib. Seega oli kuidagi soovmõtlemise moodi kirjatükk. Ei jätnud väga sügavat muljet.

[Tamara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nothing really new, but good advice that comes from similar books. Quick read though.

[Jamey Boelhower · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed that fact that Dan emphasized the importance of family and life outside of work. The book also provided me with some more books to read, which is always cool.

[K · Rating 5 out of 5]

really good read, if you like Brian Tracy, you'll enjoy this book.

[Beaver Buzz · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is simply plain common-sense boiled down into a relatively expensive book for what it is, I would give this one a skip as there is certainly better books to dedicate time to reading.

[Seemy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good summary of the habits, behaviour and thinking behind what it takes for the top producers in the world - giving good examples of what they do
In various aspects of life leaving clues as well as reminders what we should continue to do consider implementing.

To Our Continued Success!
Seemy
Waseem.tv/Blog

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[Sian Palmer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Incredible reframing of what the Top 1% means - I didn’t realise how I thought of that phrase until reading this book. The rest of it is pretty standard self-development stuff. Nothing groundbreaking past the first part. But gave it 3 stars because that first bit really blew my mind. Made me consider my own privilege in a whole new way.

[Margot Note]

"Fear means you're on the right track. No fear means you're not stretching enough" (63).