Tom Rath Quotes

If you want people to understand that you value their contributions and that they are important, the recognition and praise you provide must have meaning that is specific to each individual.

If you spend your life trying to be good at everything, you will never be great at anything.

One's single greatest strength may be uncovering the hidden talents of another person.

You cannot be anything you want to be - but you can be a whole lot more of who you already are.

Make work a purpose, not just a place.

When we build on our strengths and daily successes — instead of focusing on failures — we simply learn more.

People have several times more potential for growth when they invest energy in developing their strengths instead of correcting their deficiencies.

The things that change people's lives are usually an accumulation of small acts.

If we can find short-term incentives that are consistent with our long-term objectives, it is much easier to make the right decisions in the moment.

Exercise is not enough. Working out three times a week is not enough. Being active throughout the day is what keeps you healthy.

From the cradle to the cubicle, we devote more time to our shortcomings than to our strengths.

The pursuit of meaning, not happiness, is what makes life worthwhile.

I first found out I had cancer on my eye and lost an eye to this disease when I was 16, and I've since had cancer in my kidneys and pancreas and a host of other areas.

Perhaps the ultimate test of a leader is not what you are able to do in the here and now - but instead what continues to grow long after you're gone

Making better choices takes work. There is a daily give and take, but it is worth the effort.

Far too many people spend a lifetime headed in the wrong direction. They go not only from the cradle to the cubicle, but then to the casket, without uncovering their greatest talents and potential.

When we're able to put most of our energy into developing our natural talents, extraordinary room for growth exists

Followers have a very clear picture of what they want and need from the most influential leaders in their lives: trust, compassion, stability, and hope.

Although individuals need not be well-rounded, teams should be.

Every human being has talents that are just waiting to be uncovered.

The most successful people start with dominant talent—and then add skills, knowledge, and practice to the mix. When they do this, the raw talent actually serves as a multiplier.

Clearly, there aren't enough positive moments or interactions happening in the workplace. As a result, our economy suffers, companies suffer, and individual relationships suffer.

Buying experience such as going out to dinner or taking a vacation increases our own wellbeing and the wellbeing of others. Experiences last while material purchases fade.

The quickest way to be a little bit happier and more engaged in your job is to spend some time thinking about developing closer friendships.

When I was in kindergarten, I entered a competition and read 52 books in a week.

There will be plenty of blame to go around but if you take credit for the sunshine, you also get blamed for the rain.

Positive words are the glue that holds relationships together.

At its fundamentally flawed core, the aim of almost any learning program is to help us become who we are not.

What works for one persons needs is almost always very different from the next.

Most people perceive their occupation as being a detriment to their overall wellbeing.

Spending on oneself does not boost wellbeing. However, spending money on others does -- and it appears to be as important to people's happiness as the total amount of money they make.

Every day, I read about new ideas and research that could help someone I care about live a longer and healthier life.

The vast knowledge we have to prevent cancer, heart disease, and other chronic illnesses is staggering.

Every hour you spend on your rear end ... saps your energy and ruins your health.

When we can see an immediate payoff, we are more likely to change our behavior in the moment. This aligns our daily actions with our long-term interests.

Figure out what you really love doing and use your strengths on a daily basis.

When you ask people what affects their wellbeing most, they think of health and wealth.

Its tempting to work more than 60 hours a week and sacrifice sleep, not move, and eat bad foods as they are convenient. But this comes with a cost.

Even if people just change two or three things that they are able to sustain over time, it makes quite a difference eventually.

If you want to improve your life and the lives of those around you, you must take action.

The absence of high-quality friendships is bad for your health, spirits, productivity, and longevity.

Doing for others may be the only way to create lasting well-being.

the key to human development is building on who you already are

What great leaders have in common is that each truly knows his or her strengths - and can call on the right strength at the right time.

followers have a very clear picture of what they want and need from the most influential leaders in their lives: trust, compassion, stability, and hope

What's more, we had discovered that people have several times more potential for growth, when they invest energy in developing their strenghts instead of correcting their deficiencies.

When your boss and colleagues care enough to invest in your health, it is good for you and the business.

Wanting a more positive environment isn't enough. You need to do something, and it doesn't require a great deal of effort or some huge change in the way you approach things at work.