Peak Performers: The New Heroes of American Business

Every industry has people who climb to the top. These successful professionals fill the top ten percent and reap all the rewards and glory why others just occupy the middle and the bottom. What is it that makes these folks successful where others are not. And beyond that top ten percent, what is it that makes the even more rare performer achieve the top one percent. Dr. Charles Garfield's research of what makes "the new heroes of American Business" is a book that makes you think about success. We all want success, but it does not happen by accident. Garfield tells us that peak performers are not born, they are made. This is encouraging to all of us who want to accomplish more within our careers. If you are interested in success....read this book.

I bought this book along with Dr. Garfield's first book Peak Performance after I read him in the Wall Street Journal. Since I was just starting a sales career at the time, I was eager to learn any trick or techniques that would help me. I found it fascinating to learn of the toll booth attendant who was high energy and classified by Garfield as a "Peak Performer." Here was a guy having a ball and preparing for a career and then tells Dr. Garfield that he will share his secrets if Dr. Garfield takes him out to dinner at a place called Ernies, one of the highest of the high class restaurants in the Bay area and $100 a plate (this was in 1985!) Dr. Garfield offers many similiar examples of "Peak Performers" in various fields of endeavor; athletes, business people, science and more.I highly recommend Peak Performers to anyone who wants to be the best they can be.

The book that outlines six aspects of peak performance: 1. A mission that motivates you 2. Real results in real time 3. Self management through self-mastery 4. Be a team builder and member 5. Course Correction and last, 6. Change management. He defines each one well and provides techniques such as visualization which aid in achieving each dimension of being a peak performer. The writing is very straightforward and logical, and avoids the hyperbole and slickness of many other self-improvement books, that are long on rah-rah advice but short on actual how-to steps for each critical dimension.

I can not really articulate the logic and a reassurance this book gave me, with direction, honesty and fierce tactics, Peak Performers paves the road for success. If you are stuck in a job or career that is not right for you than this is the book for you.