Book Title: 8 Attributes of Great Achievers

Author: Cameron C. Taylor

Genre: Personal Development

Sub-Topics: Success Principles, Morality, Business

Rating: Good

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This came down as the “book of the month” from a self-directed education program I subscribe too.  I usually don’t read these books the same month I get them as I am playing catch up with many other important and foundational readings.  However I enjoy and value the subscription because it builds my reading queue with pre-scrubbed, principle based personal and leadership development literature.  What made me pick up this book over several other BOMs was the men pictured on the front cover.

Top Row (Left-Right): Sam Walton - Mahatma Gandhi - Walt Disney

Center Row (Left-Right): Orville Wright - Abraham Lincoln - Warren Buffet

Bottom Row (Left-Right): Benjamin Franklin - Winston Churchill - George Washington

I recognized all but Sam Walton and Orville Wright at first glance, and hoped by reading this book I would learn more about these great leaders and how they achieved seemingly untouchable levels of success and leadership.  My presupposition was fully fulfilled by Cameron C. Taylor, who not only lays out 8 solid fundamental attributes but also colors in the lines with great stories.  His account of the Wright Brothers was the source for my last blog you can read here.

What I enjoyed thoroughly beyond the great historical accounts was Taylor’s personal stories and the framework of the 8 attributes outlined below.

  1. Responsible
  2. Creator
  3. Independent
  4. Humble
  5. Honest
  6. Optimistic
  7. Vision
  8. Persistent

Although I found a lot of the ideas in this book  to be sourced from The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey, Taylor does a great job of adding substantial body with not only stories but other great quotes such as these.

“One person seeking glory does not accomplish much.”
“Life is not a competition with others.  Life is a competition with yourself-to do your personal best each day.”
“Living off others is a form of bondage-for if you take from a person his responsibility to care for himself, you also take from him the opportunity to be free.”
“If you keep your children from experiencing struggle and responsibility, you will also prevent them from growing.”
“To obtain a goal you have never before achieved will require tasks you have never before done.”
“There are no failures in life, only those who quit before success.  Failure is part of learning.  The formula for success is trying until you succeed.  If you give up during the struggle, you will never experience the victory.”

 

My favorite chapter was 7 Be Teachable under Attribute 4:  Humble.  To sum it up Taylor exemplifies how education is required for growth and improvement in all areas, especially finance.  ”Those who invest heavily in financial education typically obtain a high net worth.”  He goes on to list the 3 best resources for financial education.

  1. Reading Books
  2. Attending Seminars
  3. Listening to audio programs

I was also please to read the account of George Washington in which it was written that he read an hour before bed and also prior to breakfast.  This got me thinking, “George Washington accomplish many great achievements, perhaps I should resolve to this sort of habitual reading?”

I highly recommend Cameron C. Taylor’s 8 Attributes of Great Achievers for readers and leaders of all skills and levels.  It is a foundational book, with historical examples to back up the central themes.
 

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