Customer Reviews

Beyond the Summit: Setting and Surpassing Extraordinary Business Goals

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Todd Skinner has written a book that invites you to change how you think about challenges and obstacles. Especially pertinent were his specifics such as considering "measuring your progress from where you are to the summit" instead of where you began. There are several "aha" moments to be found in Beyond the Summit that do not ask you to understand a complex model of management or leadership, that are quite profound and immediately useful. Practical and inspirational.

I have no interest whatsoever in mountain climbing! Yet, I was fascinated with this "cliff hanger!" Most importantly, I had much to learn from it. The lessons I learned from Mr. Skinner's book about mountain climbing are equally relavant to obtaining any life goal, from raising good children to writing a book. Everyone can benefit from this read.

Is there a better metaphor for success in your endeavors than mountain climbing? So if you want the ultimate in success why not study the ultimate in mountain climbing. The lessons that Todd Skinner brings down from the summit are striking, challenging and forcefully introspective. Having read "Beyond the Summit" I found myself frequently putting the book down long enough to ask myself where I might find my personal 'first ascension.' An incredible book with a powerful story and life-changing lessons.

I'm one of the lucky people who have heard Todd Skinner present "Beyond the Summit." I wondered how his presentation would translate into written form. What I found when I read "Beyond the Summit," was an elegant, down to earth, kinda zen-like model on how to fully live a life - or conduct a business ascent. I found the philosophy inspiring and practical and the story as fascinating as the first time I heard it. This will be a book that I read at the beginning of each year to keep me on the right path.

Skinner offers an interesting twist to the standard "set goals" strategy for personal and business success. According to Skinner, it is better to establish outlandish goals and motivate yourself to achieve something above the common "10% above last years sales," approach.

Skinner's ideas are clearly presented and successfully motivate the reader to re-attempt the goal approach to superior performance. While I am weary of being told to set goals, I enjoyed testing his hypothesis that setting outlandish goals will generate brainstorming and subconcsious thinking that wil help you reach these new goals. Set a goal to read this book. If nothing else, you will be reminded that goals (as we are always told according to some ancient Yale study)can help you achieve new heights in your career or personal aspirations.

In brief, Todd's mountain climbing analogy to the achievement of business excellence is an easy read with powerful implications. Applied in business or personal circumstances will yield extraordinary results. This book is not about setting BHAG-type goals. It is about setting extremely high targets, building an awesome team based on potential (not past results), valuing a thought process not the volume knowledge, being flexible in adjusting the "ascent" based on what the "mountain" is telling us and above all understanding the dynamics of people and challenges. This is not one of those typical airport bookstore management-leadership books, this is a roadmap to organizational and personal success.

I love to read this book in the morning on my way to work, it frames my mind in a positive mood ready to face any challenges. Todd was truly an inspiring maverick!