Denis Waitley once again comes to lead and inspire you with his book The Double Win. The author opens with the simple premise, “If I win, you win.” Throughout the book Waitley details what it truly means to live as a double winner. This philosophy is more than just corporate strategy to get ahead, it’s a way of life. Let’s examine the difference between one-way winners and double winners. One-way winners usually become arrogant because they can’t help comparing themselves with others. They become hardened and cold, closed to new opportunities and ideas. Their hardness can range from intellectual cynicism to indifference and apathy.

Double winners understand the path towards authentic, continual, lifelong winning. This path is one’s own pursuit of individual excellence. The double win is giving and getting in an atmosphere of love, cooperation, social concern and responsibility. The book is written around nine core skill areas you need to learn in order to successfully live as a double winner.

Skill area one: Decide to take action – “The beginning is half won” to be a winner you must take responsibility for making the best use of what you have.

Skill area two: Set your goals – set aside a time and place for self-examination. Inventory your talents and assets. Set specific goals you are willing to commit yourself to completing. Always set goals with timelines.

Skill area three: Get the needed information – be an open-minded skeptic. Make sure you’re getting accurate sources.

Skill area four: Observe winning role models – The best role model is someone who most nearly approximates show you are, where you’ve been, and where you want to go.

Skill area five: Simulate (practice) the real thing – Simulation is an invaluable skill to help  prepare you for all kinds of situations.

Skill area six: Combine relaxation with visualization – What the mind harbors, the body manifests.

Skill area seven: Concentrate and do it – Focus all your attention on the desired result and dismiss the background noise and potential penalties of failure.

Skill area eight: Monitor your performance with feedback.

Skill area nine: Reset your goals and try again – Failure is just a learning experience. No problem, try again.

YOU WILL NEVER FORGET:

• The art of goal setting. Make goals with set deadlines, set explicit goals that are yours, commit them to writing and set goals that can be incremental and measured.

• The nine skill areas for double winners.

• Double winners give and get in an atmosphere of love, cooperation, social concern and responsibility.

• The four kinds of people – spectators who watch life, losers who choose to lose, one-way winners who follow the win lose philosophy and double winners.

My Take:

Treat others as you want them to treat you. Help others win and you win also. It’s a very simple idea to live by but may require constant effort to keep. This book is an immense help to make sure you live your personal and corporate life as a double winner.

Read Time: Approximately 4-6 hours

Pages: 223

Genre: Motivational/Self-help Writings