Powerful ideas from top nonfiction
Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,500+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.
Get started
Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
Listen to the Intro
Profit from the Positive summary
Margaret Greenberg
Senia Maymin
Proven Leadership Strategies to Boost Productivity and Transform Your Business
21 mins
Brief summary
Profit from the Positive by Margaret Greenberg and Senia Maymin is a practical guide for organizations and individuals to apply positive psychology at work and increase profitability. It shares evidence-based tools and techniques for fostering a positive mindset and culture in the workplace.
Table of Contents
Profit from the Positive
Summary of 9 key ideas
Audio & text in the Blinkist app
Key idea 1 of 9
To improve productivity, plan ahead and try to pick up positive habits.
If you’re a manager, you’re probably always on the lookout for new ways to increase both your own and your employees’ productivity. Let’s take a look at a few simple tricks for achieving that.
First of all, always take the time to formulate a plan before leaping into action.
The importance of this can be seen in a study by psychologist Peter Gollwitz, where he told his students to write a report on how they spent Christmas, and hand it in on 27 December. While half the students just got the assignment, the other half were also asked to identify exactly when and where they would complete it. It turned out that this “plan” made a huge difference: 71 percent of the second group submitted their reports on time, compared to just 32 percent who’d made no concrete commitment to getting it done.
This insight is easy to apply in other areas too. For example, saying, “Could you bring that report to the conference room after the 10 a.m. meeting?” is more effective than, “Could you hand it in tomorrow?” because the former creates a specific plan for the other person to follow.
Another way to improve productivity is tricking yourself into getting started.
Let’s say you’ve got a long, daunting to-do list and you’re having trouble getting started. Just pretend you’ve already begun! Jot down a few additional tasks that you’ve already completed, and then cross them out. This simple act will make you feel like you’ve already done something, which will motivate you to continue.
Finally, if you really want to be more productive, create positive habits and routines.
Consider Deborah. She used to check her email all the time, interrupting her other work. To improve her productivity, she decided to adopt a new positive habit: checking her emails only four times a day, at specific times, and not just whenever a new email arrived in her inbox. This allows her to better focus on her work, saving her time in the long run.
Want to see all full key ideas from Profit from the Positive?
Key ideas in Profit from the Positive
More knowledge in less time
Read or listen
Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.
Find your next read
Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.
Shortcasts New
We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.
What is Profit from the Positive about?
Profit from the Positive explains how leaders can increase productivity, collaboration and profitability by using the tools of positive psychology to boost their employees’ performance. It gives clear examples of how small changes can make big differences.
Profit from the Positive Review
Profit from the Positive (2013) is a valuable resource that explores the science-backed strategies for harnessing the power of positive psychology to thrive in work and life. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- It offers practical techniques that can be immediately implemented to increase happiness, resilience, and productivity.
- The book presents research-based insights and real-world examples to demonstrate the impact of positive psychology practices in various areas of life.
- With its engaging storytelling and thought-provoking exercises, it keeps readers engaged, ensuring that the topic of positivity remains anything but dreary.
Best quote from Profit from the Positive
We know what we should be doing, but sometimes we cant seem to get out of our own way.
—Margaret Greenberg and Senia Maymin
Who should read Profit from the Positive?
- Business leaders, managers, executive coaches
- Human resource professionals
- Anyone who wants to get ahead by being positive
Categories with Profit from the Positive
Book summaries like Profit from the Positive
People ❤️ Blinkist
Sven O.
It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.
Thi Viet Quynh N.
Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.
Jonathan A.
Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.
Renee D.
Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.
People also liked these summaries
4.7 Stars
Average ratings on iOS and Google Play
37 Million
Downloads on all platforms
10+ years
Experience igniting personal growth
Profit from the Positive FAQs
What is the main message of Profit from the Positive?
The main message of Profit from the Positive is that positive psychology can lead to increased profitability and success.
How long does it take to read Profit from the Positive?
The estimated reading time for Profit from the Positive is several hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in a matter of minutes.
Is Profit from the Positive a good book? Is it worth reading?
Profit from the Positive is worth reading because it offers practical strategies to leverage positive psychology for individual and organizational growth.
Who is the author of Profit from the Positive?
The authors of Profit from the Positive are Margaret Greenberg and Senia Maymin.
What to read after Profit from the Positive?
If you're wondering what to read next after Profit from the Positive, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- Before Happiness by Shawn Achor
- Ego is the Enemy by Ryan Holiday
- The Art of Encouragement by Jordan Montgomery
- Feeling Good by David D. Burns
- Getting It Done When You're Depressed by Julie A. Fast
- Minimalist Parenting by Christine Koh and Asha Dornfest
- How Highly Effective People Speak by Peter Andrei
- Atomic Habits by James Clear
- The Art of Persuasion by Bob Burg
- The Art of Talking with Children by Rebecca Rolland