Customer Reviews

The Other 90%: How to Unlock Your Vast Untapped Potential for Leadership and Life

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

If you only read and apply one book this year, I suggest that it be this one.

This book deserves more than five stars for being the most effective book I have seen for drawing on scientific evidence of how the mind and body work to point the way to optimum performance. The book benefits from having a few simple points to make, nicely connected to each other. The points are beautifully illuminated by personal stories in many cases that make the concepts easier to grasp and remember. Think of this book as the life planning and management equivalent of Live Right 4 Your Type.

"The next frontier is not only in front of you, it is inside of you." For many years, children were told that humans use only 10 percent of their brains. This factoid is often associated with a suggestion to shut off the television and read a book. Scientific studies have built on that kind of observation to estimate that humans now function at only one ten-thousandth of their potential. So we need to set our sights higher, and focus our attention in ways that will close that enormous gap.

Dr. Cooper points to four keystones, in this order: Trust, energy, farsightedness, and nerve.

Trust is built around the notion of focusing on being exceptional and encouraging that trait in others. Rather than just an exhortation, Dr. Cooper presents proven tools. For example, you can get out of the rut that your mind encourages by asking yourself questions every week. "What's the most exceptional thing you've done this week?" "What's the most exceptional thing you're going to do next week?" He also points out how a confluence of how your mind, heart, and gut respond provides better direction than any one alone, and he provides the scientific background for that observation. Psychologically, we also do better when we focus on accomplishment rather than competition. So the way we set our goals is important. Frankly, the section on trust cuts through the underbrush of theories about how to improve much better than any other book I have read. Everyone else who writes about self-help is just opinion and personal experience by comparison.

The energy keystone is all about taking timely action to pursue what you now perceive is possible. This section is useful and accurate but is much less original and compelling than the trust keystone.

The farsightedness keystone is very effective in making the fundamental point that unless you strive for big things, you will only achieve the little things you pursue. Here is the source of most of the missed potential in our lives. Often the biggest steps forward are the easiest. We simply don't think about taking them. I especially liked the encouragement to hope irrationally, as a way to trigger your mind to find opportunities and solutions that you would otherwise miss.

The final keystone is nerve, and it may be the second most important one. Almost everyone I know has some big dreams and ambitions. Few act on those dreams and ambitions because they lack the nerve. The processes described basically focus on creating habits of pushing the envelope and becoming more comfortable with that approach. It does this in a positive way. "Care as if everything depends on your caring" is the advice I liked the best. If you are pursuing something that is part of who you are, following that exhortation should not be hard. If you are not doing something you identify with so closely, you need to create a closer alignment among your identity, dreams, and activities.

After you have finished reading and planning how to apply what you have just learned in this book, may I suggest that you then assume that you can do ten times as much as what you just concluded you could? I suspect that many improved ideas will occur to you, when you take this leap. If that process works for you, do it again!

Assume you know how to do everything perfectly from experience or observations in another area, and you will usually find that you are right!!

One part of the book urges the reader to be truthful and avoid hypocrisy. I will take that advice and disagree with the positive reviews I have read.

This book lacks the focus necessary to impact most readers' lives in a significant way. If you benefit from books that contain scores of miscellaneous suggestions and tips, you might be the exception. After finishing the book, however, I felt as if I had read through a stack of one and two-page articles from Reader's Digest. Many of the tidbits were interesting. Taken together they provided little that I will remember or use.

Based on the very positive reviews I had read, I expected much more substance.

I liked this book because the author provided lots of practical "how to" methods that I could start implementing.

I also liked his stories. The author writes well. He also documents his points with out-of-the-way footnotes.

He bares his soul to the reader.

His most important point to me was the need to find out what we are good at doing. Build up our strengths and don't shore up our weaknesses.

I'd say this could have been a "4 PLUS" book, but I had to give it a "5" because of all the recommended actions that I was able to glean from the book. Although all of the stories were interesting, certain subjects in the last 1/2 of the book (those I thought I knew about) got a little tedious. But the interesting stories kept me reading through to the end.

Overall, I highly recommend this book.

John Dunbar

For years psychologists indicated that we, as humans, only utilize approximately 10% of our full potential. From my studies in psychology, I have encountered recent statistics which indicate this figure is exaggerated and that we actually use far less than this 10% figure.

In "The Other 90%", the author uses four keystones as suggestions for reaching our full potential: trust, energy, farsightedness and nerve. To define trust he begins by combining the three areas of intelligence - brain, heart and gut, and examinimg this combination in decision making. Energy becomes a factor when we are faced with where and how to best put it to use. If we use our energy in a negative way, we will quickly drain our energy supply. Rather, we should focus on the important elements of our life and use our energy in a positive and constructive manner. Having farsightedness encourages us to reach for the stars and not sell ourselves short when it comes to our capabilities. If we constently set easy personal and career goals, we will not utilize our untapped potential no matter how many years we live. Most things in life do not come easy; they require hard work, commitment and perserverance. We should set realistic goals, but never settle for less than what we truly want to achieve. When there are no short and long-term goals in sight, we lose hope; hope is a critical element that keeps us motivated. Finally, there is nerve, and quite often we are afraid to pursue our hopes and dreams for fear of making mistakes or encountering failure. We learn from our mistakes, and we never fail until we cease trying. Everything in life, from personal relationships to a chosen career, is a risk. Life comes with no guarantees. It is important to realize and accept this fact and still find the nerve, strength and confidence to pursue those things in life which we believe will make us happy and allow us to become the best person we can possibly be. In this light, we truly utilize the other 90%+ of untapped potential to our best advantage.

The book has great concepts; however, there is a minor irritation. With so many stories presented, one can become sidetracked on inconsequential details, and critical messages can are often lost in a sea of words. Overall, it is still a book well worth reading.

I was fortunate enough to read an advance copy of this book (a galley) and have thus had time to consider and implement much of what I learned, and so I can assure you that this is not only an unusually engaging and insightful book, but one whose practical value just keeps paying off, over and over again. I've read quite a few books in the genre over the past few years and this is quite simply the best. As Ken Blanchard said of it: "A timeless and unforgettable message! Nothing else in the leadership field compares to the emotional intensity and practical value of this book." Do yourself a favor today and buy this book--you will not regret it.

Cooper's grandfather once observed, "We only use about 10 percent of our potential in the course of a lifetime." The young grandson was strongly urged to seek out what the grandfather referred to as "the other 90%." Cooper cites studies which suggest that "we only use not one-tenth but one ten-thousanth [italics] of our capabilities!"

This book was written to suggest how to locate and then develop the vast underdeveloped potential which all of us have. The material is organized within four sections, each of which is a "Keystone" of human fulfillment: Trust, Energy, Farsightedness, and Nerve. No brief commentary such as this can do full justice to the scope and depth of the "journey" of self-exploration which Cooper urges his reader to take. However, it may be helpful if I share these brief but representative excerpts. First, Cooper asserts that each of us has three separate but interdependent "brains", each of which he analyzes. "From a practical standpoint, reaching the peak of your true potential depends on developing and apply an energizing, authentic level of intelligence and bringing it to everything you do. For this to happen, you must combine the perceptions and impressions of the gut, heart, and mind." To conclude his book, Cooper shares a poem he wrote for his and others' children:

"...To lead by example,
Love as if you will live forever,
Work as if you have no need for money,
Dream as if no one can say no,
Have fun as if you never have to grow up,

Sing as if no one else is listening,
Care as if everything depends on your caring,
And raise a banner where a banner never flew."

With both precision and eloquence, Cooper offers a variety of strategies and tactics to establish and then strengthen the four "Keystones" and, in process he suggests how to fulfill at least much (if not all) of the potential of each of the three "brains" (gut, heart, and mind). It remains for each reader to absorb and digest all this in ways and to the extent she or he deems appropriate. Ultimately, each reader must embark on what is certain to be a difficult journey to personal fulfillment. In some respects, it is inevitably a solitary journey. But in other respects, it will be guided and informed by what Cooper has so generously shared in this book. Those who share my high opinion of The Other 90% are urged to check out David Whyte's The Heart Aroused and David H. Maister's Practice What You Preach.

This book gets your attention! What I enjoyed most about this book is the authentic heart to heart stories that stand out about doing what matters most in your life. It inspires and gives you a direct action plan to help you excel in all you do. For techniques for better health and fitness to discovering your own unique expression in life. Its helped align and clarify my values, natural talents and strengths in a direction best suited for me. Roberts writing is clear and direct and delivers a crystal clear message on becoming more of who you are. His message shines like a spotlight to help guide one in this journey of life. Thanks Robert for a clear view.

Robert Cooper has done it again! I've read everything he's written and this is his best work to date. Also, I've read the editorial reviews and customer reviews. The critics need to wake up. His new book is a masterpiece! The art of writing is in the simplicity of the message. Cooper's message is straight forward but critic's beware it's not cutsy or easy. It comes with an understanding you need to bring your work clothes and apply practical, commonsense approaches with clear goals to achieve balance and personal excellence in your life! Also, storytelling is an age old timeless approach that seems to blow past the intellectual mindset. I loved the book, I've been in business for 25 years plus and most of the leaderwship training out there is fluffy, pie in the sky theory. Robert Cooper's strength is in clear cut approaches with specific techniques that work in real everyday life. Take a look at the back of his book. His references are heads and shoulders above anything on the market today and they are accurately stated if you take the time to check them out. Quite simply put,if you read only one book this year on leadership and your untapped potential, this is the best book written on the subject. It is simple that's it's strength, the stories and anecdotes are excellent. His tips and tools for implementing his suggestions are balanced and extremely helpful. What's more if this guy comes to town to speak clear your calendar and buckle up for the most beneficial 1 day presentation and factfilled days of your life. Robert Cooper is one in a million: authentic, practical, well-spoken, and a national treasure. I am thankful for everything he shares, why?, because it works in my personal and professional life. Buy this book and enjoy!

Several years ago I attended one of Robert Cooper's seminars and for the next six, very emotional, hours Dr. Cooper inspired me to wake the sleeping giant within. The Other 90%, was immediately placed on my must read list. Cooper's title and premise is based on his grandfather's adage that asserts "we use only about 10% of our potential in the course of a lifetime."

Dr. Cooper shares numerous inspiring stories, and practical new tools for taking your life to the next level. Cooper's theorem in reaching the other 90% is built around Four Keystones:

1) Trust
2) Energy
3) Farsightedness
4) Nerve

- Trust is centered on building and maintaining exceptional relationships. This keystone provides one with a support system designed to maintain high levels of thought, energy and emotional stability, all essential foundational attributes.

- The energy keystone is pointed toward "increasing your calm effectiveness under pressure." Practical exercises and pauses ensure that our minds, hearts, and guts are working in concert.

- Farsightedness is the keystone I believe to be of utmost importance to business leaders everywhere. Einstein asserted, "Imagination is more important than knowledge." Well, if this is true, then farsightedness, or having the ability (imagination) to dream of great things, is what we should all strive for.

- The fourth and final keystone: nerve. Let's face it, this emotional attribute holds many great individuals at bay. Nerve or the ability to muster courage at a moment's notice is one of the great barriers to greatness. Do you have dreams, ambitions, desires that you've failed to act upon? Why?

In closing, once you've finished reading THE OTHER 90%, you will have a better idea of the tools needed to tap into your untapped potential. If nothing else, read the section on Farsightedness; it is well worth the price of the book.

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Michael Davis - Editor, Byvation

I've been on a bit of an "improve myself" kick over the past few months, which made me hopeful that Dr. Cooper's book would give me some insights about how I can become a better husband/father/lawyer/employer/friend. Dr. Cooper offers some very nice stories about himself and his grandfather, all of which lead to a conclusion that each of us has the ability to improve ourselves and our interactions with others through an ongoing effort to look for mutually serving solutions that are consistent with our own ideals. While Dr. Cooper writes well and presents a very admirable premise that would help most people feel more fulfilled, I didn't find anything that has not already been covered by others and gained few insights that I could readily use to solve daily problems. I have few major qualms with Dr. Cooper's book, but cannot wholeheartedly endorse it as an investment in productivity.