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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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True North summary
Bill George
Discover Your Authentic Leadership
20 mins
Brief summary
True North by Bill George is a leadership book that focuses on discovering and leading from your personal values and principles. It provides real-world examples and exercises to help readers hone their skills and become authentic leaders.
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True North
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Key idea 1 of 8
Take your inspiration and passion for leadership from your life story.
We all have unique life stories shaped by past relationships and events. Authentic leaders, however, gain more from these experiences than the rest of us.
Authentic leaders are genuine people - that is, true to themselves and their beliefs - who are able to motivate others to perform at their best. Ultimately, they’re more concerned with serving others than with their own success or recognition.
Understanding the meanings of the key events in your unique story will guide you and help you find and focus on your True North. This, in turn, will set you on the path to becoming an authentic leader.
A case in point is Howard Schultz, the founder of Starbucks. When an accident caused his father to lose his job, his whole family lost their health coverage. Schultz’s mother was pregnant and unable to work, so his parents borrowed money and avoided bill collectors.
Schultz had vowed to create a different reality for workers if he had the chance, and he thus made Starbucks the first company in the United States to offer health coverage to part-time employees working as little as 20 hours a week.
In this case, Schultz’s experience and memories of his father carried him along the path to authentic leadership.
Authentic leaders’ stories also provide the context for their lives, as well as the inspiration to have an impact in the world.
Take Reatha Clark King, former president of the General Mills Foundation. As a poor, black woman growing up in Georgia during the 1940s, both poverty and discrimination were constant obstacles in King’s life. Nevertheless, she won scholarships and eventually earned a PhD in thermochemistry.
King’s goal is to create more opportunities for the poor and to help others overcome the barriers of racial and gender discrimination. She drew inspiration from her own story to stay true to who she is – and to stay on course with her True North.
Money and success don’t make authentic leaders forget those they’ve left behind; rather, they spur a sense of responsibility to help them.
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What is True North about?
True North (2007) is a guide to discovering your inner compass and staying true to yourself, all while developing the skills you need to be an authentic leader. By uncovering your values and motivations, you’ll gain the tools you need to build a professional life that remains true to who you are.
True North Review
True North (2007) by Bill George is a book that explores the concept of authentic leadership and provides valuable insights for those seeking to lead with integrity. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- It offers real-life stories and practical advice on how to become a truly authentic leader, enabling readers to develop their own unique leadership style.
- Combining personal experiences, research, and interviews with top leaders, the book provides a comprehensive and well-rounded understanding of what it means to be an authentic leader.
- With its thought-provoking questions and reflective exercises, the book actively engages readers in a process of self-discovery, making it an interactive and transformative read.
Best quote from True North
The story of your life is not your life. It is your story. - John Barth
—Bill George
Who should read True North?
- Leaders looking for a better work-life balance
- Anyone hoping to become a better leader
- People who need an extra bit of help reaching their goals
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True North FAQs
What is the main message of True North?
Discover your authentic leadership by aligning your values and beliefs with your actions. Find your True North.
How long does it take to read True North?
True North can be read in several hours. The Blinkist summary will take only 15 minutes.
Is True North a good book? Is it worth reading?
True North is worth reading for those interested in developing their leadership skills. It offers valuable insights and practical advice.
Who is the author of True North?
Bill George is the author of True North.
What to read after True North?
If you're wondering what to read next after True North, here are some recommendations we suggest:
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- Meaningful by Bernadette Jiwa
- Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek
- Read People Like a Book by Patrick King
- How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie
- Primal Leadership by Daniel Goleman
- Your Next Five Moves by Patrick Bet-David
- 8 Secrets to Powerful Manifesting by Mandy Morris
- The Meaning of Life by Terry Eagleton