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Aspirations of Greatness: Mapping the Mid-Life Leaders Reconnection to Self and Soul

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Jim Warner and the heros in his book speak from experience as leaders and executives. I have been a CEO for over 12 years and felt Warner had a direct vision into my life. Aspirations of Greatness is not just a summary of mid-life challenges of executives, it provides principles and models on how to find meaning and happiness. This is not just theoretical, new age cure-alls but concrete, pragmatic ways that result in nothing short of a transformation of your life - this book changed the lens I use to see the world and moved me from a money-centered, insecure place to a self-accepting and service place from which I am a more effective leader, friend, father and husband. Leaders will relate to the stories and issues presented by not be shamed or frustrated by them. There is much more to life then making money and Warner walks you through the transformational steps to get there. You're life will never be the same.

Jim Warner's approach to this important, yet seldom discussed phase, in a leader's journey is both unique and extremely beneficial to those who have experienced the feeling of "hollowness" that often accompanies success and the attendant trappings of wealth, expectations and a separation from self. His message of moving "inward" prior to moving "onward" will be highly valuable to anyone experienceing or contemplating a difficult life transition.

This book deals with the contrasts, interactions, and conflicts between the career-oriented, externally focused parts of our lives, and the rest of our lives. The author uses as case studies several men and a woman who, after having achieved relatively high status in their work, found themselves unhappy and unfulfilled. In some cases, these people found they had pursued their work at the expense of other things important to them. In other cases, they were in job situations inconsistent with their heart's desire. Of course, career achievement does not in itself lead to happiness. The author's theme is that to achieve happiness, we each need to understand and embrace our own internal world of fears and beliefs, and ultimately to acknowledge ourselves as being in the hands of our ultimate Source (whether that be God or the Universe or something else is a personal preference). Armed with this understanding, we can make better choices in our lives, choices that are more likely to lead to happiness. The author presents several frameworks to help us understand our internal universe, for example he invites us to think of ourselves as being ruled by strong and weak versions of the Sovereign, Warrior, Magician, and Lover archetypes. He also presents an apt bus analogy: our conscious mind is the driver, interrupted by riders in the back representing various characters that inhabit our unconscious.

I was eager to read this book. Its elements make it the sort of book I'd expect to enjoy a lot. It deals with the quest for inner awareness, which has been a transforming, personal quest for me, and it addresses the mid-career "what next" question, something definitely on my mind. The ideas, the truths the author addresses are undeniably important ones. He even uses frameworks I know and like, and some new clever ones. And the author can certainly turn a phrase. I often stepped back to admire his facility with words, his clear and competent sentences. I found many of his sentences stand-alone gems; material for quotes or poster captions. However, for some reason, this book didn't click with me. Maybe it's because the truths seemed more pronouncements than insights; the characters hard to relate to; the judgements too pat. My reaction to such an eloquently written book surprises me. Perhaps the eloquence was not enough for me. Maybe I wanted more heart from the author, more links from the truths he reveals to his own personal reality.

As a work/family expert and author of several books on the topic, I've read many books on the pyschological issues facing entrepreneurs today. Frankly, many of them seem to regurgitate the obvious and what has already been said. "Balance work and family", or "when you die, you won't wish you'd spent more time at the office." I was impressed with the breadth and debth of this book, exploring concepts not previously written about, and for the CEO or psychologist who wishes to understand this issue in greater debth, the author does not disappoint. You can skim this book for a new take on the issue, or devote an entire Sunday to it and sink yourself into the book , probably feeling like the author spent hours interviewing you before he wrote it. By the end you'll be convinced that the author knows you, at a level deeper than even your spouse or closest friend. This book is not for someone who wants a quick fix and a few easy ideas that will make all of the deeper issues go away. Rather, this book is for those courageous ones who are ready to examine this issue on a whole new level. Bravo to the author for leading the expedition. I hope this book opens up new conversations on the topic all over America!

This is a must read for the late thirty to mid fifty year old individual who seemingly has it all, and yet is experiencing a sense of emptiness.

Based on the author's work with accomplished executives, Aspirations of Greatness has a message which is a bit contrarian in the self improvement area. Instead of a "rah-rah" here is what you have to do to have joy and happiness, the author talks about going downward and inward in order to experience the type of growth that can lead to meaningful, permanent life changes.

I highly recommend this book for the mid-life person who is asking: "Is this all there is?" There is so much more than what you may be experinecing and Aspirations of Greatness provides a great roadmap to achieving a sense of purpose and fulfillment.

The expression "no punches pulled" comes to mind here. Warner's personal life experience and what he has learned from working intensively with hundreds of other executives lives on every page. Another reviewer said something like you could read a page or two .... or immerse yourself in it .... and get value either way. That is also my experience. This is a profound look at mid life issues for "successful" people -- how we got what we got, the very real deeper issues we face and the way out. Very impressive.

This is the most insightful book I have EVER read. More importantly, it does not make you feel like you have personal flaws to be "fixed", but to be blessed, understood and turned into assets.

However, I would say this book sells itself short, as it is geared towards people who have already built their towers and found out they did it all wrong. I would challenge that this book is uniquely suited for the beginning entrepreneur in the early stages. I am a struggling entrepreneur and saw this book as a cautionary tale of those who pushed forward without first doing the soul searching. I am glad I am reading this now and not 20 years from now. If you are an entrepreneur like me, don't get hung up on "successful" people (at least in the worldly sense) being unhappy and saying "stop your whining... you have it all". You could become one of them.

www.bytesizesystems.com

If you are looking for what is deep inside your work soul - this book will help you start the path to uncovering it. Jim uses great case examples which helps the reader connect with actual people going through mid-life crisis change. I will say that this book is more for executive level individuals searching for how they ended up where they are and why... it's a good book if you wish to learn more about what keeps you doing that same thing every day - day in, day out and hating it...