Succeeding: How to Choose the Right Goals and Increase Your Chances of Achieving Them (Paperback)

by John T. Reed (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
High goals are fine. Author John T. Reed reached several high goals in his life like making a million dollars, getting degrees from West Point and Harvard, being listed in Whos Who in America, appearing on TV shows like 60 Minutes, writing over two dozen well-received books, as well as celebrating a 30-year marriage and raising three fine sons. His experience has also been varied from being the son of an alcoholic father to living in the country, suburbs, and big city to serving a tour in Vietnam to working for a large corporation to successful self-employment and extended bachelorhood. He also failed significantly in various pursuits and thereby learned many important lessons. Succeeding will tell you how to achieve high success, but it will constantly remind you to go for enough, not more; and to pursue what suits you, not just some goal chosen solely based on how much you think it will impress others. Strategies, tactics, tips, and tricks on how to succeed. Lessons learned by one man in his 50 plus years. The book focuses on choosing the right spouse and career. Unlike most success books that encourage you to choose whatever extremely high goals your heart desires, this book emphasizes the importance of choosing the right goals. If you choose your goals carefully, you are far more likely to achieve them and far more likely to be happy when you do.

Product Details

• Paperback: 205 pages
• Publisher: John T. Reed (2003)
• ISBN-10: 0939224569
• ISBN-13: 978-0939224562
• Average Customer Review: 2.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #144,129 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book, March 1, 2007

By	Interested Observer (Battle Creek, MI) - See all my reviews

Mr. Reed recommends you read this one first. The reason is sound. One should be clear on one's objectives, capabilities, ethics and character before starting on a demanding project with large financial risk if not executed with skill and diligence. Reed describes his life and how his views on several things including real estate developed. At one time he overreached because of unclearly understood objectives (what is enough) only to get wiped out by the Texas meltdown and the 1986 tax changes that dropped income property values by about 25% overnight. He recovered, and did so without cheating anybody or running a shady series of infomercials with deceptive and deceptively priced products.

6 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Much Ado About Nothing, January 20, 2008

By	H. Perera (Danbury, CT United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I must say that I'm a little bit disappointed with "Succeeding" by John T Reed. The book reads more like an autobiography than a "how to" book. The author spends too much time describing his own (and his family's) experiences, rather than emphasizing the principles that made him successful. Also, the author's constant talk about his sons (in particular "Dan")and how great they are grew to be a little bit irritating. I didn't pick up this book to hear how wonderful Mr Reed thinks his sons are (though that is a good quality, and I'm sure he must be a great father).

On a positive note, the book does pick up a little bit in the second half, and there is some useful advice stuck in there between all the biographical aspects. Also, from the little that Reed talks about real estate in the book, he comes across as being very knowledgeable in that field.

To conclude, I would say that if you are looking for real estate advice you should definitely pick up one of his other books and give him a try. I'm sure they will be great and information packed (this is something I plan to do in the near future). However, I would leave "Succeeding" firmly off your list of what to read.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Qualified Foundation for Personal Achievement, January 27, 2009

By	Xenocrates - See all my reviews

Reed presents his theory of success offered in a text book format. The principles are derived from his experiences at West Point, Harvard, as a real estate expert, as a football coach, at being a minor celebrity, and dating hundreds of woman. The foundation of Reed's advice is built upon a strong sense of personal accountability that includes a strict adherence to an alcoholic and drug free life. Reed covers topics such as following your passions, guidelines for human interaction, financial principles, and building strong productive habits.

Reed is blunt, straightforward and sugar coats nothing; an approach that is refreshing. It is clear his intent is to sincerely convey his message rather than merely sell books. Those familiar with Reed's prior works will identity with this approach immediately; those new to Reed will find the material presented in a natural and easy to read format. There will be items in the book you may not agree with, but most of what Reed says is backed up with ample reasoning and is hard to dispute.

The 180 pages contained in the book could have encompassed 400 to 500 total pages using any common format. This is a testament to the amount of information included (and Reed is not long winded, there really is a sizeable amount of quality content). As a benefit to the reader, Reed breaks his material down into many small sections; however, because each page contains so much text (similar to a workbook), the amount of information on a single page is tantamount to three to four pages for most common books. I have no issue with striving to be uncommon, yet to any avid reader this style can be distracting as you may end up spending far more time reading a single page than what you are normally accustomed to (I suppose academia enjoys this approach, so if textbooks are your preference please disregard).

Reed spends a lot of time discussing his principles relative to his own life which includes details about his sons. As a new father, I enjoy his expressions of pride and appreciation toward his sons and this methodology resonates with me; however, that might not be true for everyone. Other times, it was difficult to know if the book was intended as a success book for all ages, or for only those facing a new career (fresh out of school), or at other times even as a parenting book. Reed jumps around in his approach enough to make the intent confusing at times; however, putting this mere distraction aside, you will find that focusing on the content in small segments easily compensates for any confusion.

If you intend to discover well substantiated principles of success, this book will serve as a qualified foundation. Reed's direct approach is supported by wholly defined positions that permit you to completely comprehend his reasoning. Few personal achievement books offer this benefit, and thus I recommend studying the ideas presented in Succeeding.