“BE EXCELLENT AT ANYTHING” –
The Four Keys To Transforming the way we work and live
by Tony Schwartz

The Book Is At This Link On Amazon: It costs about $10.00.
Be Excellent at Anything: The Four Keys To Transforming the Way We Work and Live

I’ve been reading this book over the past week or so. I bought it on a whim at a nearby book store while I waited to meet a friend for coffee.
Because I am always in search of good ideas about how to live better, work more efficiently and with greater pleasure, the title grabbed me – even if the overtly RAHRAH! look of the book gave me some pause.

Still, after reading some intro pages, I found that I liked the tone of the book, and I expected to come away with some new approaches that I could use for myself (as a singer and writer) and with my singing students.

But this book has been a surprising combination (a treasure trove!) of excellent research plus practical suggestions about specific actions to take in order to improve whatever it is that you are doing with your life.

While the book has a lot to say about people who work for companies and those who lead those companies, there was more than enough information for me, as an individual, to absorb and use.

Three examples:

1.  I learned that people who truly excel in their jobs (in both art and business) tend to find a rhythm of work that includes regular periods of un-distracted (very important!) – hard work, and then deep rest or play. Schwartz suggests that 90 minute chunks of work be followed by another very different kind of activity  – perhaps 30 minutes of exercise, reading, or even napping.
I know! You are going to say that you have no time for a nap! And even if you wanted to take one, your company/students/family would not appreciate it. But it seems that many of us are badly sleep deprived and taking a nap can make us much more, (measurably more) productive.
Read the book. You may be surprised at how compelling the studies are!

In the past week, I have consciously divided my day into 90 minute work chunks followed by clearly defined rest periods. I, like the writer of the book, have found myself to be happier in my work (in my case, rehearsals) and more focused and clear, as a result. In my rest periods, either I did some exercise, talked with my family or played with our sweet dog, Sniffer. (I work from my home, most of the time.) No, I did not take a nap. But I will try it this week, and see how it feels.

2. Schwartz talks about how we humans feel best when we meet the energy needs of 4 main areas of life: physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual. He claims that research shows that “few of us intentionally address each of our four key needs on a regular basis…” And we suffer for it.  “We are so busy getting things done that we don’t stop very often to consider what it is that we truly want…”

I’ve read these kinds of ideas in many other books. But I found Schwartz’s approach to improving our lives very practical and (my bias), based on quite a lot of good science.

3. He also writes about freeing ourselves from the clutter of the mind – the value of meditation as “attentional practice.” That mediation can be seen as a way to re-learn how to pay deep attention to what we are doing. Whether that involves talking with a loved one, writing a song or crafting a report.

In my life as a singer, teacher, and web site editor, I feel the pressure (and the desire) to do excellent work, as often as possible.  This book gave me a lot of food for thought as well as some well-defined actions to take in order to improve my life.

You can read more about the book here on Amazon.com:
Be Excellent at Anything: The Four Keys To Transforming the Way We Work and Live