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Your Oxygen Mask First Workbook
This is the workbook for Kevin N. Lawrence's book Your Oxygen Mask First: 17 Habits to Help High Achievers Survive & Thrive in Leadership & Life Here's the hard truth about leadership: it either forces you to get stronger or it slowly destroys your life. There is no in-between. Kevin Lawrence has discovered seventeen habits that allow any leader to transcend the perils of success and keep achieving-habits that have already helped hundreds of CEOs and executives become stronger and more resilient. Obsessed with understanding why successful people crash and burn, Lawrence has studied and tested virtually every leadership theory known to humankind in his two decades as a business advisor. His straight-talk advice in Your Oxygen Mask First will surprise and propel even the most seasoned leaders as he cuts through the platitudes and jargon to share the best tools he has found to ensure your survival, no matter how high you fly.
112 pages, Paperback
Published March 9, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
December 27, 2021
Had to read this for work. Oh joy. But actually, it was good common-sense stuff that also applies to life away from work. Chapter 5: Lick Your Toads made it worth reading. That's taking care of those little tasks you hate; do them quickly and get them out of the way. Instead of putting them off and brooding about them. Lick those toads, people!
September 18, 2018
**Thank you to Lioncrest Publishing and GR giveaways for giving me the opportunity to read this book. Though this book was sent to me, all opinions are my own.**
This book is in essence a self-help to becoming a great leader in a business setting. The author very specifically references the tasks of a CEO and problems presented to him as he's coached various CEO's. Each chapter hands you a strong habit to form, how it can help short-term, how it can help long-term, an anecdote of his habit, and finally how to begin to implement it. The chapter ends in a workbook fashion, allowing the reader a chance to analyze how relevant the chapter is to them.
I loved how this book was structured. It is easily one of the most accessible of its kind that I've ever seen. I found it to be very motivational, and the prose never felt like it bogged me down. Obviously, I'm not a CEO of a company, and I'm not in the business...of business *Cringe*, but I still feel like a gained a lot from this book. There were points made that could really make anyone in any career more successful if practiced. Though I'm not in business, my career path itself is a leadership position of sorts, and I feel that this book will become more relevant the older I get.
A note on relevance:
This book has a lot of very specific habits and stories for the business leader. If that isn't you, some skimming is necessary. Some of the monetary figures mentioned were enough to make my head spin. The author at one point just casually suggests the reader travels the world. Obviously, the Average Joe reading this book isn't going to be able to do so. I sure can't. Understand that this book does contain ideas that won't apply to you.
Here's the bottom line. Yes, I gleaned some really great ideas and motivation from this book. No, I don't think I recommend it to the non-business readers. I think the points made are important, but I think you can find those ideas in a book that applies more directly to you. If you are in a leadership position/business, then I highly recommend this book!
This book is in essence a self-help to becoming a great leader in a business setting. The author very specifically references the tasks of a CEO and problems presented to him as he's coached various CEO's. Each chapter hands you a strong habit to form, how it can help short-term, how it can help long-term, an anecdote of his habit, and finally how to begin to implement it. The chapter ends in a workbook fashion, allowing the reader a chance to analyze how relevant the chapter is to them.
I loved how this book was structured. It is easily one of the most accessible of its kind that I've ever seen. I found it to be very motivational, and the prose never felt like it bogged me down. Obviously, I'm not a CEO of a company, and I'm not in the business...of business *Cringe*, but I still feel like a gained a lot from this book. There were points made that could really make anyone in any career more successful if practiced. Though I'm not in business, my career path itself is a leadership position of sorts, and I feel that this book will become more relevant the older I get.
A note on relevance:
This book has a lot of very specific habits and stories for the business leader. If that isn't you, some skimming is necessary. Some of the monetary figures mentioned were enough to make my head spin. The author at one point just casually suggests the reader travels the world. Obviously, the Average Joe reading this book isn't going to be able to do so. I sure can't. Understand that this book does contain ideas that won't apply to you.
Here's the bottom line. Yes, I gleaned some really great ideas and motivation from this book. No, I don't think I recommend it to the non-business readers. I think the points made are important, but I think you can find those ideas in a book that applies more directly to you. If you are in a leadership position/business, then I highly recommend this book!
December 19, 2020
I read this book as part of the Leadership Transformation Team effort at the company where I work. In a nutshell, the idea is that an executive picks a business book that is meaningful to him or her and leads a cohort of employees through several hours of discussions on the book. Of the different options available, this cohort was the most appealing to me both because the book promised actionable advice and because I admired the executive who chose it.
In the four Fridays that my cohort discussed the book, I grew to really appreciate it. The first half of the book seems to applicable to anyone who works in an intense environment. These chapters cover balance, happiness, and health, among other generally useful topics. The later chapters are more geared toward managers of people, covering giving feedback, setting expectations, and the like. Through our discussion, we gleaned some learnings from these chapters that could be applicable to individual contributors as well. The last chapter tied everything together with annual planning and quarterly planning activities.
Each chapter focuses on a particular habit and is structured in three parts. First, there is a page or two of narrative that explains the habit and its importance. Then there is a page or so of anecdote that describes how one of the author’s clients employed this habit. Finally come the section with the “Steps to Mastery,” or the exercises that talk the reader through how to technically employ this habit in his/her life.
The exercises in the book were my favorite part because they were really challenging and forced me to take a critical look at my thoughts, my actions, my feelings, and so forth. In doing the exercises, I realized that there are things - both little and big - that are in my power to change to have a more productive and fulfilling work life right now. That realization was well worth the time spent reading, thinking, and discussing.
In general, I recommend this book for anyone who is feeling blah about where they are with their work life. It requires some serious introspection to do right, but it is worth it.
In the four Fridays that my cohort discussed the book, I grew to really appreciate it. The first half of the book seems to applicable to anyone who works in an intense environment. These chapters cover balance, happiness, and health, among other generally useful topics. The later chapters are more geared toward managers of people, covering giving feedback, setting expectations, and the like. Through our discussion, we gleaned some learnings from these chapters that could be applicable to individual contributors as well. The last chapter tied everything together with annual planning and quarterly planning activities.
Each chapter focuses on a particular habit and is structured in three parts. First, there is a page or two of narrative that explains the habit and its importance. Then there is a page or so of anecdote that describes how one of the author’s clients employed this habit. Finally come the section with the “Steps to Mastery,” or the exercises that talk the reader through how to technically employ this habit in his/her life.
The exercises in the book were my favorite part because they were really challenging and forced me to take a critical look at my thoughts, my actions, my feelings, and so forth. In doing the exercises, I realized that there are things - both little and big - that are in my power to change to have a more productive and fulfilling work life right now. That realization was well worth the time spent reading, thinking, and discussing.
In general, I recommend this book for anyone who is feeling blah about where they are with their work life. It requires some serious introspection to do right, but it is worth it.
September 24, 2018
This book is to the point almost to its detriment.
I loved the chapter structure which allows one to read in order or out of order depending on his/her needs.
I liked the real life story peppered throughout.
However I felt like the exercises required way more help than just spending the time answering the questions i.e. one really need a management coach to help guide the thinking. So not quite an easy self-help book.
Some specifics were missing for me, randomly "surround yourself with the best people”, yes agreed but how is one to find 'who the best are' ? what defines ‘best’ anyway ?
Some felt basic for ‘high Achievers’ like the remarks on time management. Yes, mentally it made sense but how realistic for a CEO with a Board and stockholders to report to?
and ADHD as a manageable asset ? I surely can see that, but if one does not have it should he/she medicate to attain that working performance ?
The writer does its best to be helpful with very valuable tips, in a concise manner and I enjoyed the writing. Maybe one has to fail at management before fully appreciating all the ressource packed in this little book ? or one needs to read it twice ? or maybe only concentrate on what is relevant to oneself and drop the rest ?
I truly believe that a classroom format with QA coaching would be helpful here.
** Thank You very much GoodReads and Lioncrest for this giveaway. It was much appreciated.
I loved the chapter structure which allows one to read in order or out of order depending on his/her needs.
I liked the real life story peppered throughout.
However I felt like the exercises required way more help than just spending the time answering the questions i.e. one really need a management coach to help guide the thinking. So not quite an easy self-help book.
Some specifics were missing for me, randomly "surround yourself with the best people”, yes agreed but how is one to find 'who the best are' ? what defines ‘best’ anyway ?
Some felt basic for ‘high Achievers’ like the remarks on time management. Yes, mentally it made sense but how realistic for a CEO with a Board and stockholders to report to?
and ADHD as a manageable asset ? I surely can see that, but if one does not have it should he/she medicate to attain that working performance ?
The writer does its best to be helpful with very valuable tips, in a concise manner and I enjoyed the writing. Maybe one has to fail at management before fully appreciating all the ressource packed in this little book ? or one needs to read it twice ? or maybe only concentrate on what is relevant to oneself and drop the rest ?
I truly believe that a classroom format with QA coaching would be helpful here.
** Thank You very much GoodReads and Lioncrest for this giveaway. It was much appreciated.
January 8, 2021
Felt like this book was largely an advertisement for the author’s business coaching services. The author seems to have lifted the idea for each chapter from other well known self-improvement and productivity books. If you’re a prolific reader within the genre, you’ll immediately identify the works from which this writer has, to put it politely, borrowed.
He’s gone so far as to take Brian Tracy’s “Eat that frog” philosophy, changed the word frog to toad, and present it as if it were an original idea. There’s a bit of decent content in the book, but none of it is original. At all.
There’s also some content that might leave you scratching your head. On the subject of shopping (not sure why personal shopping is a topic covered in a very brief book on “leadership”) the author offers this pearl of wisdom: “I created a personal rule, I only make a purchase if my gut clearly says: heck yea!” Brilliant. You’re probably safe to miss anything by this “author” and “business guru”.
He’s gone so far as to take Brian Tracy’s “Eat that frog” philosophy, changed the word frog to toad, and present it as if it were an original idea. There’s a bit of decent content in the book, but none of it is original. At all.
There’s also some content that might leave you scratching your head. On the subject of shopping (not sure why personal shopping is a topic covered in a very brief book on “leadership”) the author offers this pearl of wisdom: “I created a personal rule, I only make a purchase if my gut clearly says: heck yea!” Brilliant. You’re probably safe to miss anything by this “author” and “business guru”.
June 14, 2020
Your Oxygen Mask First is a good prescriptive written book by its audience. It is the manual we all should have been given on first entering the workforce. It is full of stuff we all seek to make sense of and learn from trial and error. Thats fine and good way to have a lasting learning, except the workplace is much more dynamic and moving fast and we just don't have that much times once was the case, to learn from a slow process of osmosis.
Today I use the book as the structure I train and facilitate young mangers destined to leadership roles in companies. It is full of practical advice and tools to use broken into 17 stand alone habits to be adopted.
Today I use the book as the structure I train and facilitate young mangers destined to leadership roles in companies. It is full of practical advice and tools to use broken into 17 stand alone habits to be adopted.
January 29, 2018
Don’t just read this book. Do it!
So many leadership books are written that focus on growing your business or taking care of your employees. Kevin has written an amazing book that focuses on taking care of yourself first.
It’s full of incredibly helpful tools you can use based on whatever life or your business throws at you. This is not a book you read once. It’s one you’ll keep coming back to as you journey through life and business.
As a business coach, I will absolutely use this for myself and my clients.
So many leadership books are written that focus on growing your business or taking care of your employees. Kevin has written an amazing book that focuses on taking care of yourself first.
It’s full of incredibly helpful tools you can use based on whatever life or your business throws at you. This is not a book you read once. It’s one you’ll keep coming back to as you journey through life and business.
As a business coach, I will absolutely use this for myself and my clients.
December 13, 2018
I have no doubt the author has merits in what he does. The book provides exercises to do, but honestly not much guidance in supporting them. There's a reason this mental work doesn't get done, and it's as if the author totally ignores that fact. It gives it a very Type A approach - which is ironic, since he writes a lot about how a lot of life's challenges comes from being a type A.
Maybe I'm not in the target demographic. Maybe there's just better books to read around living a holistic fulfilling life.
Maybe I'm not in the target demographic. Maybe there's just better books to read around living a holistic fulfilling life.
April 24, 2019
Falls a little flat
This has all the makings of a great book, but it fell flat for me. The anecdotes felt a little fabricated and the “fill in the blanks” workbook style didn’t seem to fit. I found myself skimming more than reading in many places. On the positive side, it has many sound principles and will likely be a powerful read for the right person or someone in the right situation.
This has all the makings of a great book, but it fell flat for me. The anecdotes felt a little fabricated and the “fill in the blanks” workbook style didn’t seem to fit. I found myself skimming more than reading in many places. On the positive side, it has many sound principles and will likely be a powerful read for the right person or someone in the right situation.
February 10, 2019
Excellent, PRACTICAL, leadership book!
I loved everything about this book - from the stories to the checklists - but my favorite thing was the way every chapter included an exercise that allowed the reader to put the advice immediately into practice. Read it on my Kindle app and now ordering a paperback version so I can read it again AND write in it :)
I loved everything about this book - from the stories to the checklists - but my favorite thing was the way every chapter included an exercise that allowed the reader to put the advice immediately into practice. Read it on my Kindle app and now ordering a paperback version so I can read it again AND write in it :)
January 31, 2021
I read this for a set of trainings at work. There’s nothing revolutionary in the book. Each ‘chapter’ is short and consists of choppy sentences or stories without giving any major insight. I did like the focus on exercises and reflections. I think that is missing from a lot of leadership books and does make it easier to implement changes.
February 13, 2024
Love the premise of this book as habits for high achievers. It was relatable and easy to get through. But kind of basic. Not anything really new or groundbreaking.
Def recommend the actual book instead of audio as there are a lot of exercises to complete.
Prepare for good quotes, simple strategies, and freedom to be free from perfect balance.
Def recommend the actual book instead of audio as there are a lot of exercises to complete.
Prepare for good quotes, simple strategies, and freedom to be free from perfect balance.
August 19, 2018
Good points
I received this kindle book in a giveaway. To be honest, I skimmed through parts of it because it wasn’t relevant to me. Though I feel like, even the parts I skimmed over, this book would be beneficial to someone in a leadership position.
I received this kindle book in a giveaway. To be honest, I skimmed through parts of it because it wasn’t relevant to me. Though I feel like, even the parts I skimmed over, this book would be beneficial to someone in a leadership position.
August 19, 2018
Terrific Tips
These 17 habits can help us thrive in our leaderships roles in all aspects of our lives. Easy to read with practical examples and tools, this book is a good addition to your business book library.
These 17 habits can help us thrive in our leaderships roles in all aspects of our lives. Easy to read with practical examples and tools, this book is a good addition to your business book library.
June 6, 2019
Really useful and full of exercises. I'm going to have to go through this one a second time to actually DO the exercises as I think they will be helpful prompts to helping me get my shit together.
July 13, 2019
Fantastic! I will refer to this book again and again. I’m glad I got the Kindle version so I can review my highlighted notes any time. This is information I needed exactly when I needed it.
October 8, 2019
Had to read this for work.
December 8, 2019
Great guide to looking at and defining what work-life balance really is for you and how to manage it successfully.
January 31, 2021
Great book for CEO's or business leaders. The book focuses on business and life planning and how NOT to burn out.
Read
July 14, 202215 dollars
April 25, 2018
Brilliant and short (to the point).
Initially starting this book I got the impression that this may be another management book. Kevin does his best to dispel that and in his punchy book gets to the point and delivers actionable points and strategies for anyone in the business world or anyone looking to improve their lives.
Initially starting this book I got the impression that this may be another management book. Kevin does his best to dispel that and in his punchy book gets to the point and delivers actionable points and strategies for anyone in the business world or anyone looking to improve their lives.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews