Triggers：Creating Behavior That Lasts--Becoming the Person You Want to Be

Inhispowerfulnewbook，bestsellingauthorandworld-renownedexecutivecoachMarshallGoldsmithexaminestheenvironmentalandpsychologicaltriggersthatcanderailusatworkandinlife.Doyoueverfindthatyouarenotthepatient，compassionateproblemsolveryoubelieveyourselftobe?Areyousurprisedathowirritatedorflusteredthenormallyunflappableyoubecomesinthepresenceofaspecificcolleagueatwork?Haveyoueverfeltyourtemperacceleratefromzerotosixtywhenanotherdrivercutsyouoffintraffic?AsMarshallGoldsmithpointsout，ourreactionsdon’toccurinavacuum.Theyareusuallytheresultofunappreciatedtriggersinourenvironment—thepeopleandsituationsthatlureusintobehavinginamannerdiametricallyopposedtothecolleague，partner，parent，orfriendweimagineourselvestobe.Thesetriggersareconstantandrelentlessandomnipresent.Thesmellofbaconwaftsupfromthekitchen，andweforgetourdoctor’sadviceonloweringourcholesterol.Ourphonechirps，andweglanceinstinctivelyattheglaringscreeninsteadoflookingintotheeyesofthepersonwearewith.Sooftentheenvironmentseemstobeoutsideourcontrol.Evenifthatistrue，asGoldsmithpointsout，wehaveachoiceinhowwerespond.InTriggers，hismostpowerfulandinsightfulbookyet，Goldsmithshowshowwecanovercomethetriggerpointsinourlives，andenactmeaningfulandlastingchange.Change，nomatterhowurgentandcleartheneed，ishard.Knowingwhattododoesnotensurethatwewillactuallydoit.Wearesuperiorplanners，saysGoldsmith，butbecomeinferiordoersasourenvironmentexertsitsinfluencethroughthecourseofourday.Weforgetourintentions.Webecometired，evendepleted，andallowourdisciplinetodraindownlikewaterinaleakybucket.InTriggers，Goldsmithoffersasimple“magicbullet”solutionintheformofdailyself-monitoring，hingingaroundwhathecalls“active”questions.Thesearequestionsthatmeasureoureffort，notourresults.There’sadifferencebetweenachievingandtrying;wecan’talwaysachieveadesiredresult，butanyonecantry.InthecourseofTriggers，Goldsmithdetailsthesix“engagingquestions”thatcanhelpustakeresponsibilityforoureffortstoimproveandhelpusrecognizewhenwefallshort.Filledwithrevealingandilluminatingstoriesfromhisworkwithsomeofthemostsuccessfulchiefexecutivesandpowerbrokersinthebusinessworld，Goldsmithoffersapersonalplaybookonhowtoachievechangeinourlives，makeitstick，andbecomethepersonwewanttobe.