Following Through: A Revolutionary New Model For Finishing Whatever You Start [Paperback]

Pete Greider M.Ed. (Author), Steve Levinson Ph.D. (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1588321797 | ISBN-13: 978-1588321794 | Publication Date: May 5, 2007

Shines a spotlight into the black hole in inner space where good intentions disappear! It reveals the startling reasons why being serious about making life-improving changes don't keep your good intentions from fizzling out long before the job is done: It shows why the human mind just isn't hard-wired for follow through, and what you can do about it. Instead of leaving you discouraged, FOLLOWING THROUGH teaches you exciting new ways of understanding and treating your own good intentions. It shows you what it really takes to work around the mind's faulty wiring and begin following through in virtually every area of your life. WARNING: this fine book was recently updated but copies of the first edition are still in circulation. Please don't settle for outdated versions!

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Creative and practical solutions for important everyday problems . . . revealed with wit, wisdom, and warmth." (John Tyler, Ph.D., CEO, Human Resources Consultants)

"Empowering. Had an immediate impact on my work as a consultant. Gives me a powerful new set of tools for helping my clients get maximum benefit from our work together." (Chuck Phillips, Senior Consultant, Reddy-Phillips Consultants)

"A 'must read' for anyone who's fighting the good fight to lose weight, quit smoking, or improve performance in any way." -- C. Wayne Mitchell, President, Productive Presentations, Inc.

"Following Through will empower you to do more with your life than you ever thought possible." -- Joan Brock, Author, More Than Meets the Eye

"If you have a dream in your heart and this book in your hand, start reading. Each page of this book will take you one step closer to having your dream come true. I guarantee it." -- Rob Gilbert, Ph.D., Editor, Bits & Pieces Magazine

"It's the one book that's been missing from the self-help bookshelf. And it may be the last self-help book you'll ever need." -- Peter Vandermark, Associate Professor of Journalism, Boston University

"Provides the critical missing link between setting a personal goal and actually achieving it." -- Mark Larson, President, Digi-Key Corporation

"Provides the tools you need to truly become the captain of your own ship." -- Ben Benjamin, Ph.D. Author, Listen to Your Pain

"Provocative and ought to be read and considered by anyone serious about continuing self-improvement." -- Dan S. Kennedy, President, The Pscho-Cybernetics Foundation, Inc.

"Talk about practical advice! No motivational mumbo-jumbo here. Cuts right to the bottom line on how to be successful." -- Richard E. McAllaster, President, McAllaster & Associates

"The quintessential book about how to get it done." -- Brian Early, Executive Director of Development, Northwestern Mutual Life, Chicago, Illinois

"Truly a pioneering work . . . filled with fascinating insights and ingenious solutions to a problem that frustrates us all." -- Ronald Young, M.D. --This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

About the Author

Steve Levinson, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist with more than three decades of experience. He is also an inventor, teacher and consultant who combines his talents as a psychologist and innovator with a passion for helping individuals and organizations follow through. Pete Greider, M.Ed. is a consultant who helps athletes and business people overcome obstacles to peak performance. His clients have included the Orlando Magic, Northwestern Mutual Life, State Farm Insurance, and General Electric. A popular keynote speaker, his credits include Exxon and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Product Details

• Paperback: 210 pages
• Publisher: Unlimited Publishing LLC (May 5, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1588321797
• ISBN-13: 978-1588321794
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #109,837 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A solid book, but not magic, November 21, 1998

By 

Edward J. McInerney (San Jose, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Following Through: a Revolutionary New Model For Finishing Whatever You Start (Mass Market Paperback)

If you are pretty good at following through already, then you are probably using many of the suggestions in this book without realizing it. If you have follow through problems, then this is probably a useful investment. The authors do a very good job of communicating their message clearly with many examples. I would say the book could be summarized by two messages: (1) Each of us has a conflict between our short term desires and long term goals. We would prefer to eat that donut now and yet we worry about the heart attack we might get in 20 years. (2) To resolve these conflicts and achieve our goals, we need to alter our environment (in creative ways) so our desires and goals are aligned. The first message is important because it provides a useful way to understand our failings without piling on a lot of regrets. The second message provides the tools to achieve our goals.

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Tools for Follow-Through, October 17, 2001

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Following Through: a Revolutionary New Model For Finishing Whatever You Start (Mass Market Paperback)

I like this easy self-help book. It's light and cheerful, but does have a number of tools to outwit the "PGS" -- our primitive guidance system that wants us to stop and grease whatever wheel is squeaking right this moment, rather than continue working toward our goals.

The authors come closer than usual to explaining the psychological mechanisms that actually help us keep on keeping on: instead of simply saying "Do It Now" like an older anti-procrastination book does, they point out that it makes sense to do it right now, this minute, because now is the moment we have the energy of motivation: like a check written in disappearing ink, that energy of motivation won't last and can't be recaptured later. We think we can get the feeling back, but we can't. Use it or lose it.

Another tactic is actually the issue of "Flow" -- the fact that getting into the flow of an activity is often rewarding by itself: one does for the joy of doing. The authors encourage you to let this Flow State happen in the same way an old housekeeping book I read decades ago did --- you should give yourself lots of permission to stop, leave, only do the pleasant parts, the easy parts....but pretty soon the basement is a lot cleaner or the bills are all done after all, because the activity takes on a life of its own. You start to want to keep working. Don't fight this feeling; it's a winner.

There are several other tactics to outwit the part of your mind that knows very well what to do, but not how to make it happen. I recommend this book.

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Last Self-Help Book You'll ever need?, February 1, 2001

By 

Stan Schultz (Round Lake Beach, IL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Following Through: a Revolutionary New Model For Finishing Whatever You Start (Mass Market Paperback)

One of the reviewers who wrote a blurb for this book used the phrase that I borrowed for the title of this review. It could very well be the last self-help book you'll ever need, with one essential proviso: you must USE the suggestions in the book rather than just read them!

I noticed one of the... reviewers of this book has gotten his desk cleaned off as a result of following the suggestions in the book, and declared that it would stay clear too. This impressed me when I read it because I just finished the book, thought it was wonderful and really helpful, but my desk is a mess. The difference? Obviously, I have not yet put into practice the suggestions made in this book.

I have not a shadow of a doubt that I could clear my desk and a great deal more when I do put into action some of these wonderful ideas. As a hard core procrastinator, I warn you, don't read this book unless you want to suddenly be out of excuses for changing some nasty old habits. It is a real put-your-money-where-your-mouth-is type of book, and if it doesn't challenge you, you're not paying attention.

One example right in the beginning of the book is about some well-off gentleman who had a weakness for restaurant food. He wanted to lose weight and stop eating in restaurants so he told all his friends if anyone saw him in a restaurant he would buy them a car (or some such expensive gift). Talk about putting your money where your mouth is!

The authors explain that the pablum so often found in self-help books and spouted by motivational speakers that appeals to your rational brain just doesn't work when trying to change a well ingrained bad habit. One must enlist the aid of the more primitive parts of the brain, and they show you how to do this.

It is a terrific book, I am challenged. Excuse me, I've got to clear off my desk.