Customer Reviews

Strategic Acceleration: Succeed at the Speed of Life

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The book starts out with a very bold statement, "It will forever change the way you think about getting results and will increase your effectiveness in all you do". This certainly sets a high bar.

It starts with clarity. Without clarity you will resist strategic change. Reminds me a bit old fashioned goal setting. It also talks about perception being a reality even if it is not the truth.

The author goes on to explain how to develop clarity which is very easy to say but much harder to do. From that clarity it talks about setting the vision. A clear vision is critical to successful effectiveness. Interesting enough it goes back to understanding the why of clarity which is a point that I would have thought would have come before the vision. I do know however understanding the why makes the vision much more powerful.

It talks about focus which is the opposite of distraction. (Sort of the myth of multitasking)

It talks about production before perfection. More people fail from lack of action than from doing things that are not perfect. Excellent propensity of action he is proposing.

The most valuable part of the book came in the exercises that were in the appendix. Of course the challenge with exercises is you have to be willing to put in the work and do the exercises in order to get the value from the book. On the other hand, why not if you are interested in making a change.

I think the book is appropriate in turbulent times when the need to change is greater than ever before.

I would recommend the book and think it is a good read; however, I am not sure if it lives up to the expectation that it tries to set of being life changing unless you have never read a personal development book before.

Strategic Acceleration arrived yesterday from amazon and I couldn't put it down. As I read each chapter, it became apparent that little things I was doing were impeding my ability to focus and get things done in the most effective manner. Jeary's exercises and practical advice will be most beneficial in the future.

'Strategic Acceleration: Succeed at the Speed of Life',
by Tony Jeary

Having the title of 'Strategic Acceleration' in a book certainly catches one's eyeballs, especially in today's era of information anxiety.

In my case, I was really intrigued as I could co-relate it immediately to Newton's Laws, which brought me back to my secondary school days when I had to grappled with my Physics lessons.

Today, Newton's Laws with their virtually unlimited applications are an essential part of our daily lives, physically as well as emotionally.

As a matter of fact, Newton was right: "Objects at rest tend to remain at rest".

In short , we must always get started, in order to make our lives better. Once we do, then the other part of Newton's Laws - "Objects in motion tend to remain in motion" - begin to work for us.

In a nut shell, as I see, Newton's Laws boil down to understanding inertia, momentum or acceleration, & forces of change.

Once we break down the bonds of negative thought patterns, & habitual routines along with destructive self-limiting beliefs, we can move forward, gaining forward momentum, so to speak.

Forward momentum is the creation of congruency & synergy between our personal & professional lives, in the pursuit of our fondest dreams.

So, the great news for all of us is that life coach & strategist Tony Jeary, the brilliant author [he has been described as a "gifted encourager" who facilitates positive outcomes for others in his role as a strategic collaborator] of 'Strategic Acceleration' has distilled his more than twenty years of studying distinctions that characterise top-performing high-achievers into a proven methodology to help us achieve what we want, when we want it.

More importantly, to help us create personal breakthroughs.

In driving our forward momentum, the author's methodology is systematically anchored on three critical personal change initiatives, as a tripod, which in totality captures the essence of 'Strategic Acceleration':

1) Clarity: you must be clear about your vision & what you really want;

2) Focus: you must pay attention to high leverage activities that you move you forward;

3) Execution: you must execute by elevating your ability to persuade & influence others;

The entire book describes the three change initiatives in elaborate detail, via eight superbly written chapters:

Chapter 1: The Speed of Life & What You Believe;

Chapter 2: The Pulling Power of clarity - Vision;

Chapter 3: Understanding the Why Produces Clarity;

Chapter 4: Focus is the Opposite of Distraction;

Chapter 5: Finding Focus & Producing Real Results;

Chapter 6: Persuasion Matters;

Chapter 7: Production Before Perfection;

Chapter 8: The Persuasive Influence of Strategic Response;

What really stands out when compared with other personal development books are the carefully crafted hands-on exercises, over 60 pages, to help you create your clarity, focus & execution blueprints. These are worth the price of the book alone.

Also, I love the four questions that must be asked:

- what do I need to do more of?

- what do I need to do less of?

- what do I need to start doing?

- what do I need to stop doing?

More critically, the execution part of the methodology - standing on the tripod of 'Persuasion', 'Production' & 'Presence' - is extensively illustrated in the book, especially with regard to the concepts of exceeding expectations & completing tasks &/or projects in reduced time frames.

This is often a feature not found in most personal development books.

To paraphrase the author:

"The expectations we exceed today become the seed for new opportunities in the future."

"You can think your way into bad action, but you can act your way into right thinking".

For me, these two statements frame the author's point of contention beautifully.

Reading the book is a breeze, because at the end of each chapter, there is a crisp chapter summary, coupled with 'Very Important Points' to take away.

This is not just a book to be read, but an action-packed field guide, to create superior results in your life!

If you want a preliminary or initial feel of the content tapestry of 'Strategic Acceleration', or to know your 'Strategic IQ', take the free assessment at his corporate website.

To conclude my review, I like to say this:

At equilibrium, acceleration is zero. Acceleration is directly linked to your forward momentum, which is sustainable by your clarity, focus & execution.

This book, which I have enjoyed very much, will surpass your expectations!

[Reviewed by Lee Say Keng, Knowledge Adventurer & Technology Explorer, Optimum Performance Technologies, September 2009]

This book is a very good read. Filled with examples, definitions and specific action-plans.
It relates to most areas of business, personal life and attitudes.
I recommend it to anybody who feels like they want more but don't know how to start...
well worth your time and money.

Tony Jeary is masterful with his ability to guide readers with a plan of action to succeed truly with accelerated results. His planning exercises are thought provoking and meaningful. I have clarified goals with actions that make sense and are task specific to what I want to achieve! Excellent book!Strategic Acceleration: Succeed at the Speed of Life

I just finished Tony's book and I liked the aspect that it made me think and rethink about how I do business /perosonal and how much I want change. My main purpose in seeking out this topic was that I was successful in my field but wanted more. Tony gave me exercises, which you can download at his website, that allowed me to review my past,present and key into the future. The book seemed mundane at the beginning and got a little long in read but the last few chapters Tony starts to challenge you. If you are picking this book you probably have read several other self development books. This book I would say is for the above average, type A personality who is looking for the next level.

I am thrilled with this book. These ideas can change your life . . . if you read with intent, take the exercises seriously and are open to making dramatic leaps forward. Having just the information alone will result in some impact, but the focus and execution can be revolutionary. Tony makes the solution to accelerated success very clear and straightforward, offering new insight into the one problem that eludes many - lack of clarity, focus and execution. He also offers an awareness of strategic perception and how, without intended positioning, you can make or break your success. This book can be THE defining difference in your business and your life.

Speed and success often go hand in hand. "Strategic Acceleration: Succeed at the Speed of Life" is a self-help manual from Tony Jeary, a man who has advised some of the most powerful men in business today. Encouraging readers to reevaluate their life so that they can see what is important and what to focus on to better so that they can get better results at a rate they never thought possible. Communication, understanding, and using your resources to their fullest extent are all-important aspects of Leary's advice. "Strategic Acceleration" is a must for any business leader who thinks they can do much better than they are now.

Awesome - Tony has done it! He has a common sense solution for the current tough economic times for businesses and corporate executives alike and even the average struggling home owner. Tony's message takes success, accelerates, it and makes it possible for anyone to follow his proven strategies to fulfill their corporate or personal visions. I wish I had a resource like this years ago!! This book picks you up where other books leave you hanging wondering what to do next. Anyone who has a need to succeed at the speed of life needs to read this masterpiece. Thanks Tony.

This book draws you forward to realizing how to accomplish the very thing that makes your heart sing. It literally teaches you how to get clarity and focus and how to apply that to making what you want to do a reality in your life. I have never before read a book that has me instantly answering my own quesitons about what I want to do, why I want to do it, who will benefit and how it will make a difference in the lives of others. This book helps you know if what you'd like to do has real value and real potential. It is impossible to read it without a pen and paper to take notes. Get your highlighter out too. You're going to want it.

I have a plan for my future that is rock solid because of the way this book drew it out of me. There were so many profound insights they became the norm instead of the one or two little bright spots. This book, applied, will change lives for the better! I can't think of a better time for this book to be hitting the shelves. Anyone who is looking for a new professional or personal direction for their lives needs this book.

Thank you Tony Jeary! Julie Ziglar Norman