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Great Leaders Live Like Drug Addicts: Drop the Mask, Practice Rigorous Authenticity, and Lead Like Your Life Depends on It
Leaders are tired, stressed, and unfulfilled because they are unwittingly trapped in a cycle of inauthenticity.
Inauthenticity is a career-breaking, soul-crushing addiction and it’s time for rehab. In our search to lead others, we have lost the ability to lead ourselves.
This “cycle of inauthenticity” drives leaders to:
* say “Yes” when they should say “No”
* focus on things they can’t control at the expense of things they can
* cover or hide their weaknesses
* avoid difficult conversations that could be beneficial
* hold back their unique perspectives for fear of rocking the boat
Author Michael Brody-Waite shares three simple principles that will allow leaders to break free from an addiction they may not even know they have: inauthenticity. These three principles not only literally saved his life from addiction, but they set him apart as a leader.
When Michael was homeless and addicted to drugs, he was told that if he didn’t master these principles, he would die at the age of 23:
* practice rigorous authenticity
* surrender the outcome
* do uncomfortable work
Armed with these principles and a new lease on life, Michael entered corporate America only to find a dynamic where professionals are conditioned to hide their authentic selves in order to succeed socially, professionally, and financially. This conditioning has infiltrated the way we all see ourselves, relate to our co-workers, friends, family, and how we conduct ourselves at work.
Drawing on his twelve-step recovery Michael unpacks how these three principles saved him from death as an addict and set him apart as a leader and entrepreneur. In Great Leaders Live Like Drug Addicts, he teaches how any leader can master his Authentic Leadership System in order to become more successful in work and life.
Join thousands of leaders who have learned his three principles, master his clear and simple system, and you, too, can become one of the dynamic, growing, and authentic leaders this world desperately needs.
Inauthenticity is a career-breaking, soul-crushing addiction and it’s time for rehab. In our search to lead others, we have lost the ability to lead ourselves.
This “cycle of inauthenticity” drives leaders to:
* say “Yes” when they should say “No”
* focus on things they can’t control at the expense of things they can
* cover or hide their weaknesses
* avoid difficult conversations that could be beneficial
* hold back their unique perspectives for fear of rocking the boat
Author Michael Brody-Waite shares three simple principles that will allow leaders to break free from an addiction they may not even know they have: inauthenticity. These three principles not only literally saved his life from addiction, but they set him apart as a leader.
When Michael was homeless and addicted to drugs, he was told that if he didn’t master these principles, he would die at the age of 23:
* practice rigorous authenticity
* surrender the outcome
* do uncomfortable work
Armed with these principles and a new lease on life, Michael entered corporate America only to find a dynamic where professionals are conditioned to hide their authentic selves in order to succeed socially, professionally, and financially. This conditioning has infiltrated the way we all see ourselves, relate to our co-workers, friends, family, and how we conduct ourselves at work.
Drawing on his twelve-step recovery Michael unpacks how these three principles saved him from death as an addict and set him apart as a leader and entrepreneur. In Great Leaders Live Like Drug Addicts, he teaches how any leader can master his Authentic Leadership System in order to become more successful in work and life.
Join thousands of leaders who have learned his three principles, master his clear and simple system, and you, too, can become one of the dynamic, growing, and authentic leaders this world desperately needs.
- GenresLeadershipBusiness
240 pages, Hardcover
Published May 5, 2020
32 people are currently reading
126 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
February 2, 2020
"What if you learned that to lead well, you’d need to act live a drug addict?" This question alone made me want to read this book. See, whenever anyone speaks of an Addict- the image that comes to mind is one of someone who's lost it all...yet here's a book that's asking me to think about leading but not like Robin Sharma's been telling me, not like any addict, but a drug addict? If there's anything that's crazy it's gotta be that.
So, I started reading Michael's story...and I had to sit back and admit that here was a human being talking about his journey, every single step even those where he felt like he was crawling towards something.
He shares 3 principles that he learned during treatment and goes on to share how he lives by them:
1.Practice rigorous authenticity
2.Surrender the outcome
3.Do uncomfortable work
I love the approach he's taken with this book. Just like addiction, Michael does not say that implementing these 3 principles work as a quick fix, rather it's something to do every day- even on the days when we don't feel like it.
There's a section in the book- that would appeal to most readers on getting the work done and it starts by learning about the Masks we wear...if anyone is patient and honest enough, I believe it's quite revealing about the struggles we face daily.
Towards the end, Michael asked something that I have never been asked directly but coming from Kenya- I've often asked of all the politicians and those in power who've stolen public funds or enriched themselves in public offices, he asks "What's your Enough?" and just like that I am re-evaluating my purpose and goals in life.
Thanks Netgalley for the eARC.
So, I started reading Michael's story...and I had to sit back and admit that here was a human being talking about his journey, every single step even those where he felt like he was crawling towards something.
He shares 3 principles that he learned during treatment and goes on to share how he lives by them:
1.Practice rigorous authenticity
2.Surrender the outcome
3.Do uncomfortable work
I love the approach he's taken with this book. Just like addiction, Michael does not say that implementing these 3 principles work as a quick fix, rather it's something to do every day- even on the days when we don't feel like it.
There's a section in the book- that would appeal to most readers on getting the work done and it starts by learning about the Masks we wear...if anyone is patient and honest enough, I believe it's quite revealing about the struggles we face daily.
Towards the end, Michael asked something that I have never been asked directly but coming from Kenya- I've often asked of all the politicians and those in power who've stolen public funds or enriched themselves in public offices, he asks "What's your Enough?" and just like that I am re-evaluating my purpose and goals in life.
Thanks Netgalley for the eARC.
February 10, 2020
Such a neat perspective!!
During treatment for drug addiction, Michael Brody-Waite learned three principles that became the difference between life and death: Practice rigorous authenticity, Surrender the outcome, and Do uncomfortable work.
The way he explains the similarities between that and leadership is quite phenomenal and challenges leaders everywhere to rip off the mask and lead ourselves first! I found it to be challenging and inspiring and as a leader in ministry, I was able to draw out many points that I believe would transform the way we lead. Job well done!!
During treatment for drug addiction, Michael Brody-Waite learned three principles that became the difference between life and death: Practice rigorous authenticity, Surrender the outcome, and Do uncomfortable work.
The way he explains the similarities between that and leadership is quite phenomenal and challenges leaders everywhere to rip off the mask and lead ourselves first! I found it to be challenging and inspiring and as a leader in ministry, I was able to draw out many points that I believe would transform the way we lead. Job well done!!
January 25, 2023
I didn't know what to expect, but in the end, this book blew my mind. The three principles that the author shares are challenging, to say the least, but they are also very inspiring. It made me think twice about the fact that people with addictive personalities could use that to improve productivity, I was not really sure about his theory at first, but by the end of the book, I was on board. I will also start practicing those principles in my life because I'm addicted to work in a way.
Thanks, Netgalley and the author for the ARC!
Thanks, Netgalley and the author for the ARC!
November 26, 2020
A cautionary tale. I supposedly was to receive a free book to read and a review. I did my part. However, when this book was sent to me in June of 2020, Jonathan Merkh of Tennessee he put a value on the book of $100 US$ when it should have been $10 US$. Because of this I ended up with a Bill of $47 CDN$. This book is selling in Canada for about $32 CDN$. This transaction was done through Krupp Kommunications.
This book’s full title is Great Leaders Live Like Drug Addicts: How to Lead Like Your Life Depends on It. Michael Brody-Waite has his own web site at here. You can join for free to get an assessment, but you currently need to pay $19 a month to get access to meetings and sponsorship.
I think that people who find a group of friends to socialize with, no matter the format are lucky. I feel lucky in that way as I do have a group of friends. I have known these people for 40 to 50 years depending on the person. We do have a group and we still get together. However, the problem with getting old, is that you lose friends. I think as you age it gets harder to make friends.
His anomalous group sounds very similar. They share experiences and times, good and bad, with their group. We are very much social animals and I think we all need a group of friends. We need friendship and support. I think this is often missing in our society. Michael Brody-Waite is lucky to have his own support group. I would image with a group like his there are always people leaving and others joining. He may not have the same problem with aging as other people with a group of friends.
He quotes from Helen Keller that “Alone with can do so little; together we can do so much”. He changes this to Alone we can’t do anything, but together we can do anything. If you do not like his idea of a mask-free group, then perhaps meetup.com would suit to find the right group for you. It sounds like it is his group at his AA meetings and his sponsor and his role as a sponsor that ultimately makes all the good things happen.
A few days ago, there was a twitter feed about a person losing their job and thinking that his coworkers were friends, but had only one person from his old work talk to him. I think a lot of people make the mistake that the people they work with are their friends. This is not true. If you do not do something besides working with people, they will not be friends. You have to do something, especially something one on one, with people for them to become friends. I have one good friend from work and we are friends as we often went out to lunch together.
Retirees have this problem also. They think that the people they worked with are friends, and with no further contact with co-workers, they are lonely. They miss work because they miss the social part of work. This is a big problem for a lot of people. Often retirees get another job or a part-time job so that they can again enjoy the social aspects of work. Michael Brody-Waite says that he worked with good people, but the depth of connection was just not there. I think he is perfectly correct on this.
I did not do the action plan of his. I am retired. However, he is very right talking about the fact that you cannot control anyone else, you only can control how you act and react. Also, the idea of doing something everyday matters. This is important in getting anything done. It counts what you do each day. These two things can be applied to any situation you have to deal with or project you have to do. In any situation you have to deal with, you have to know what you can and what you cannot control. You need also to learn what works and what does not work, so that you can handle future situations better.
Jerry Doby does a review of this book on The Hype Magazine. Tori Utley on Fobes reviews Michael Brody-Waite’s Ted Talk. D. A. Romo on Discovery Grey talks does a review of the Ted Talk.
Go here to hear his Ted Talk. This is on Michael Brody-Waite’s own site. I love Ted talks. They are short, but informative. The script of the Ted Talk is on Singju Post. Michael Brody-Waite also has his own Facebook pages here and here. In a short video, Michael Brody-Waite talks about the principles of this book.
This book’s full title is Great Leaders Live Like Drug Addicts: How to Lead Like Your Life Depends on It. Michael Brody-Waite has his own web site at here. You can join for free to get an assessment, but you currently need to pay $19 a month to get access to meetings and sponsorship.
I think that people who find a group of friends to socialize with, no matter the format are lucky. I feel lucky in that way as I do have a group of friends. I have known these people for 40 to 50 years depending on the person. We do have a group and we still get together. However, the problem with getting old, is that you lose friends. I think as you age it gets harder to make friends.
His anomalous group sounds very similar. They share experiences and times, good and bad, with their group. We are very much social animals and I think we all need a group of friends. We need friendship and support. I think this is often missing in our society. Michael Brody-Waite is lucky to have his own support group. I would image with a group like his there are always people leaving and others joining. He may not have the same problem with aging as other people with a group of friends.
He quotes from Helen Keller that “Alone with can do so little; together we can do so much”. He changes this to Alone we can’t do anything, but together we can do anything. If you do not like his idea of a mask-free group, then perhaps meetup.com would suit to find the right group for you. It sounds like it is his group at his AA meetings and his sponsor and his role as a sponsor that ultimately makes all the good things happen.
A few days ago, there was a twitter feed about a person losing their job and thinking that his coworkers were friends, but had only one person from his old work talk to him. I think a lot of people make the mistake that the people they work with are their friends. This is not true. If you do not do something besides working with people, they will not be friends. You have to do something, especially something one on one, with people for them to become friends. I have one good friend from work and we are friends as we often went out to lunch together.
Retirees have this problem also. They think that the people they worked with are friends, and with no further contact with co-workers, they are lonely. They miss work because they miss the social part of work. This is a big problem for a lot of people. Often retirees get another job or a part-time job so that they can again enjoy the social aspects of work. Michael Brody-Waite says that he worked with good people, but the depth of connection was just not there. I think he is perfectly correct on this.
I did not do the action plan of his. I am retired. However, he is very right talking about the fact that you cannot control anyone else, you only can control how you act and react. Also, the idea of doing something everyday matters. This is important in getting anything done. It counts what you do each day. These two things can be applied to any situation you have to deal with or project you have to do. In any situation you have to deal with, you have to know what you can and what you cannot control. You need also to learn what works and what does not work, so that you can handle future situations better.
Jerry Doby does a review of this book on The Hype Magazine. Tori Utley on Fobes reviews Michael Brody-Waite’s Ted Talk. D. A. Romo on Discovery Grey talks does a review of the Ted Talk.
Go here to hear his Ted Talk. This is on Michael Brody-Waite’s own site. I love Ted talks. They are short, but informative. The script of the Ted Talk is on Singju Post. Michael Brody-Waite also has his own Facebook pages here and here. In a short video, Michael Brody-Waite talks about the principles of this book.
December 14, 2020
Helpful tips, interesting perspective, good story. If you're familiar with living life authentically, this information isn't revolutionary. Author is a white man and therefore these recomendations are probably best fit for individuals with a certain level of privilege.
April 14, 2022
Great read. Perfect timing.
Reading this after the COVID pandemic is even more applicable to the corporate world. We need to build mask free workplaces to save people from burnout and self destruction.
Reading this after the COVID pandemic is even more applicable to the corporate world. We need to build mask free workplaces to save people from burnout and self destruction.
October 17, 2024
The book could’ve been a lot better if summarized. Highly repetitive.That said, the principles are definitely life changing.
March 15, 2020
Very interesting concepts and story: when we remove the masks, weaknesses become strength and darkness becomes light. This is something I work on all my life. Bring a straightforward person who is constantly pushed to find grey area. Life without a mask is much easier however too many people are wearing them that it is times hard to survive an out society without one.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews