IF THE GRASS IS GREENER ON THE OTHER SIDE... It's probably getting better care. Success is not a matter of luck or circumstance. It's not a matter of fate or the breaks you get or who you know. Success is a matter of sticking to a set of commonsense principles anyone can master. In Lead the Field Earl Nightingale explains these the magic word in life is ATTITUDE. It determines your actions, as well as the actions of others. It tells the world what you expect from it. When you accept responsibility for your attitude, you accept responsibility for your entire life. Earl Nightingale -- the "Dean of Development" -- offers you a treasure trove of uplifting and insightful information * The importance of forgiveness * How "intelligent objectivity" can improve your professional life * The usefulness of constructive discontent Now it's your turn to bring positive changes to your own life, changes that will allow you to lead the field yourself!
Earl Nightingale was an American motivational speaker and author, known as the "Dean of Personal Development." He was the voice in the early 1950s of Sky King, the hero of a radio adventure series, and was a WGN radio show host from 1950 to 1956. Nightingale was the author of the Strangest Secret, which economist Terry Savage has called “…One of the great motivational books of all time“.
Earl Nightingale is amazing. He's inspirational and can help everyone find a way to deal with even the smallest block that is in their way to success. He is a founding father to the motivational speaking life. Read him first, then go on to all the others. The rest make more sense.
I listened to this book on an audio while I worked. (My job entails driving to people's homes and doing interviews for the Census.) He keeps my spirit up on the bad days and inspires me to do better on all days.
The first one to listen to is "The Strangest Secret." It is about a half hour. I listen to it often, especially when I need a boost.
I know that this field of personal growth / self-help or whatever you prefer to call it, is full of hawkers, snake-oil pushers and all manners of charlatans. However, this book has quite a lot of actionable advice that is no doubt positively good. Mostly about habits of course, but also mental strength and a proper command of language are given their due importance. It is one of those books one would do well to keep in the closest shelf for frequent reference.
I probably will read more books in the self help category but my search ends here for the most influential, and results driven book. This has become a staple. Honestly, I'm reviewing it for the third time. I've bookmarked it so I start week off with the recommended principles therein. I didn't realize just how little I was thinking until I came across this book. Now I deliberately make time for ideas. Its improved my concentration and helped me to commit to new secure goals. I thoroughly recommend it to all who enjoy material in this genre.
Lead The Field is a must read if you are serious about personal development....especially character development. This is my 3rd read in the past 3 decades. Each time the book and its ideas are just as fresh and vibrant as the first time through. The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is that Earl Nightingale has another classic....The Strangest Secret...which is even better. Lead the Field is a must read though. You will not be disappointed.
If you are an ambitious person or want to make something out of your life (find happiness and realization of your goals in business success and wealth), this is the book you ought to read. It is a useful handbook and guide on how to climb the layers of the socioeconomic pyramid and find your place under the sun, how to live your life the way you want to live it.
Translating this book for the Croatian publisher, Planetopija, was yet another enlightening experience for me.
What an amazing book! This is a manifesto to all entrepreneurial minded individuals out there.
Hearing Earl Nightingale perform the audiobook recording himself was icing on the cake. I wasn’t too knowledgeable about him before, but have heard quotes of his surface often in the writings of other authors in the personal development & business genres.
EN is a true grandmaster of psychology, human nature and the human condition — and it’s safe to say his words rival that of the deepest and most meaningful philosophical thought I’ve personally read or encountered. As much as this is a practical guidebook chocked full of wisdom on personal development, success and human achievement – it could just as easily be considered a manifesto on the moral virtues of capitalism, the free market enterprise system and entrepreneurship.
Especially regarding the peaceful prosperity, healthy relations, and trade between two or more individuals, organizations and/or nations – by placing emphasis and importance on individual performance, accountability, prosperity and achievement.
Human will, hard work, grit, a spirit of determination, the desire to make a difference, to have a positive impact, to strive for and achieve something great, and to provide a valuable product or service to our fellow man/woman makes this possible. EN, similar to other personal development psychologists such as Jordan Peterson, Tony Robbins, and Brian Tracy emphasizes the importance of strengthening the individual through humility, honesty, integrity and self-reliance.
Sadly, this free and fair system of peaceful trade and prosperity can easily fall off the tracks when politics, envy, cronyism, and special interests come into play (like they always tend to do).
The post-COVID geopolitical environment, ballooning bureaucracy, and the creeping onset of Socialism in the West are all highlighting these failings. In 2022, bad behavior and habits are being incentivized over truth, integrity, responsibility or accountability – and contributing to mediocrity overall in society. If more folks could become educated to EN’s work, I believe we could get back on track however.
What’s needed more than ever nowadays is strong leadership, vision, and a culture of performance + accountablity to turn the ship around – and as EN accurately states, it all filters down from the top.
Admittedly, I don't read very much...that'd be pretty evident after conversing with me for 5 mins. It just takes too much precious time to digest a good book these days. That's why I never really expected to pick it up on my online business coach's recommendation. . So I compromised a bit and went with the audio book version. I do not regret it one bit. I've seen a few of Mr. Nightingale's video programs on YouTube and it piqued my curiosity about him and his ideas. So when the book was recommended, I wasn't a hard sell. Lately, I've been searching for information on starting a business, how to 'fix' your finances, how ti escape the rat race, etc. But, the author talks more about the things with YOU that need fixing! The book explains how, with Nightingale's illuminating clarity that much of the dissatisfaction we have in life is the direct result of our own choices. If you are looking for fluffy, feel good cheerleading that tells you how swell you are, this is the wrong book. If you want a book that tells you the path to becoming a trailblazing leader at your job overnight, still this is not the right book. But, if you have an open mind and a humble, teachable spirit then this book will be a wellspring of wisdom for you. I especially enjoyed the fact that there were many of his ideas that parallel basic principles found in the Bible.
I love this book in its entirety. It has some great advice on dealing with yourself first, before trying to deal with others. You are the problem to your distress and your misfortune. On most days, you make the circumstances, or find the right ones that make your life more comfortable, richer and more exciting.
Your attitude is one of the mos important things you have to change and see yourself in the mirror to see what is setting you back from reaching your goals. Procrastination never took a man nowhere.
I love this book because is filled with daily reminders of how to take care of one self image and self esteem.
Absolutely one of the greatest books ever written about success. It's less about formula and more about human nature -- more importantly, about how to change our nature while remaining true to ourselves.
I listen to this book while I run, bike, drive, do yard work, wherever. I'm on my third listen and I catch new things all the time. It's truly excellent.
One bit of warning (if it is a warning): Nightingale can sound a bit old-timey. Yet, the more you listen, the more he endures you to his voice and tempo.
Earl Nightingale in his Lead The Field audiobook provides numerous guides and practices to help oneself in his self-realization as a good person. This book stands within the category of self-help, and I would say is one of the better that I have encountered. Whether you decide to listen to it through his provided audiobook, or listen to the printed copy it will be beneficial in the long run of one's life.
Nightingale excels at laying out what he perceives to be the high mark of society, and how to achieve a life of success. Success is the realization and progression towards a worthy goal. Throughout his book, Nightingale portrays firstly the difference between the follower and a leader, how leaders cultivate their own ideas and thoughts, and lastly how leaders achieve goals. At the core, he provides a practical guide to simply thought and thinking. One of these practical guides he sets forth is setting a time each day to cultivate new ideas and thoughts to potentially follow through on a later date. Imagine, he says, of all the ideas that one can have in their quiver of thoughts within a year's time if they set aside an hour each day to come up with potentially beneficial ideas for the enjoyment of life.
That leads me to his belief in the ultimate goal in life, which is similar to Aristotle's, happiness. Nightingale believes that this goal of happiness is achieved through successful activities, which nearly correlates to Aristotle's of participation in virtuous activities. With this end in mind, Nightingale, as previously said, contributes his ideas that can benefit the person of his time by achieving the ultimate goal in life.
Each chapter throughout the book encompasses a single main idea that would help one achieve a successful life. Many of them are riddled with short stories and or singular words that need helpful elaboration and conceptual design in order for them to benefit a person. The chapter, "Acres of Diamonds" contains the well-known story, recently written in Paulo Coelho's "The Alchemist" novel, about the fellow who hears of treasures and riches that his neighbor discovers. This fellow then travels around the world in search of this mysterious treasure to never find the neighbor's mysterious newfound wealth. Yet, unlike Coelho's novel, Nightingale showcases that the man who bought this fellow's land then found a hidden wealth. Nightingales place's stories like these as metaphors for the hidden wealth of each person's hidden wealth within their brain.
Some other topics that he covers are how a person is worth an immeasurable amount, planting seeds for achievements through routine and consistency, the importance of attitude, achieving tasks one day at a time to achieve a successful year, and some more. The most important thing that he recommends, like in his other book "The Greatest Secret" is the idea that the thoughts you think are what you become.
In the end, Earl Nightingale's "Lead the Field" is a fantastic book, or audiobook in my case, to listen to when you're doing another activity. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in self-help books which firstly, help one cultivate ideas and thoughts to potentially pursue that are worthy, as well as secondly help those ideas and thoughts to be brought out to their fullest potential. The concepts found within are simplistic enough to remember and implement in one's day-to-day life. Be successful, and read more books as he recommends, and if you haven't yet, read this one.
"Lead the Field" by Earl Nightingale is a comprehensive personal development course that aims to provide a blueprint for successful living. Earl Nightingale, one of the pioneers of the personal development industry, presents strategies and principles to achieve success in all aspects of life.
The program is divided into twelve sections, each with a core principle:
The Magic Word: The magic word is 'attitude'. A positive attitude attracts success, while a negative attitude repels it.
Acres of Diamonds: This section teaches that opportunities for success are all around us, not in distant places or times, but here and now.
A Worthy Destination: Goals are essential. Nightingale emphasizes setting clear and meaningful goals for your life.
Miracle of Your Mind: The mind is a powerful tool. We can change our circumstances by changing our thoughts.
Destination Success: Success is not an accident but a deliberate direction. It is the progressive realization of a worthy goal.
The Strangest Secret: The strangest secret is that you become what you think about.
Going the Extra Mile: Nightingale explains that going beyond what is expected is a key to success.
Love and Law: This section describes how the universal law of cause and effect applies to human relationships.
Pro & Con: Here, the discussion centers around the benefits and drawbacks of being an employee versus being an employer.
Serendipity: Nightingale teaches that good luck tends to happen to those who are prepared and are active seekers.
Man and the Lives He Leads: This part explains that every person plays many roles and has many 'lives' within their one life, and how managing these different aspects can lead to a fuller existence.
One Hour a Day: Nightingale encourages spending an hour a day to study and think about your chosen field to become an expert and eventually a leader in the field.
The primary take-away from the book is that one's state of mind directly impacts their level of success in life. By setting clear goals, maintaining a positive attitude, and working diligently towards those goals, individuals can shape their lives and achievements.
Earl Nightingale was probably one of the fathers of personal development. As opposed to a lot of the self help DJs that spam the internet nowadays, his words are actually full of common sense and wisdom. Earl Nightingale (what a predestined name!) is a craftsman of wise words.
His toolkit also carries interesting information, even for our day and age. I learned from this audiobook that in the 70's people actually anticipated the boom of population and consumerism that was to come.
More interesting is the insight that he provides. After reading "Duct tape selling" by John Jantsch, the idea that nowadays people have info but lack insight stuck to my head. I find it painfully true. Lead the Field provides load of it and it's written in '76. It goes way back to the roots. Forget tricks, tips, methods and gimmick. Think principles. Think human nature. Think life principles applied with a jolly smile and rock solid resolve right after the alarm clock rings every morning.
This is a book that should be listened to every month until it sticks to our skulls and wraps around our hearts. I keep finding books like these lately. Too bad the day is only so long..
The book covers a wide range of topics, including goal setting, attitude, self-discipline, and the power of thinking positively. Nightingale's central philosophy emphasizes that our thoughts shape our reality and that success is not merely about luck but a byproduct of consistent, focused effort and mindset.
One of the book's standout ideas is the "Strangest Secret," which asserts that "We become what we think about." This simple yet powerful concept resonates throughout the chapters, inspiring readers to cultivate constructive thought patterns and take responsibility for their personal growth.
Nightingale's straightforward and motivational tone makes the material accessible and engaging. His use of relatable anecdotes and timeless wisdom ensures the principles remain relevant, even decades after their original publication.
Lead the Field is ideal for anyone seeking personal growth, professional success, or inspiration to live a more purpose-driven life. Whether you're new to self-help literature or revisiting the classics, this book offers invaluable insights that can transform your mindset and outcomes.
A book that you would want to read twice per year.
He is a motivational speaker; his advice, though, is very simplistic. To give an example: One of his core lessons is to use one hour per day (!) to write down twenty things one could do better at the current situation or job. Sure, brainstorming can be very useful. However, brainstorming can only take you so far. It is rather unlikely that you can just come up with a solution to a problem you have encountered. Even assuming you come up with good ideas, he doesn't give any advice how to follow through. Should this brainstorming be continued indefinitely?
The book promises no matter what your situation is, if you just work hard every day and think a bit about how to do better, you can "lead the field." This is the American dream in a nutshell and as such very simplistic and misleading.
First of all, I was mislead by the title, I thought its about what we call “leaders” anyways.. its a motivational book, probably it served better in the years when it first came out but not much for the second millennium.
On the one hand I found the book has some deprecated facts like we use only 20% of our brains and we find joy in accomplishment… also the book tend to be redundant and verbose in the most of the chapters.
On the other hand, I start to like the book toward the end, specifically the last 3 chapters, when the author talks about the top 5% class. I liked the way he put it and I felt motivated. I just saw somethings I already know more clearly.
I have always said it. I wish Earl Nightingale would have been my grandfather. He started it all. He started the concept of really striving to become better in every single way. His mature and enlightening voice is all I would want or need if I had no chance to hear any other author.
Have listened to everything he has to offer through audiobooks. Everybody has to losten to or read "Lead The Field".
Earl makes some good points and leaves a few memorable quotes on the page, but alltogether it was a dry and superficial and overly repetitive read - unfortunately. But I suppose his thoughts and ideas are easy enough to absorb, though his talk of success and money was in disagreement and didn't match up at all.
Personally, 'The strangest secret' says it much better and to the point, therefore I'd recommend sticking with Earl's most profound and memorable audiotape.
This is motivational speaking distilled to simple perfection, free of pretense and belittlement. Nightingale et an example that fifty-plus years of grifting would try to reduplicate ad infinitum by paraphrasing what he said, just less concisely or convincingly.
I think if most people listened to this every day for a week or two, the world would be a significantly better place. I intend to try myself and see the results down the road.
I honestly find it amazing how many different variations of the same book I can read with different authors and it feels like it’s new information. I think Earl Nightingale does a wonderful job and uses great examples on how to improve your outcomes in life. For sure in my list to read over and over. This book is a classic and should be read.
I love Earl Nightingale's work. Aside from a few dated references, Lead the Field contains solid, life-changing advice. From exercises to improve your life and words of wisdom, I am confident that everyone will learn something, if not, many, positive things from this book, to help achieve what they want in life.