Sirus Digital Newsletter – Edition 75

I shared that I was reading Twelve And A Half (affiliate, but see below for additional options to get your copy) by Gary Vaynerchuk a couple of weeks ago. I just finished it and will say that it was a great read. The quote above quite possibly sums up the book’s premise about the importance of our emotional makeup and behaviors as important keys to success and happiness.

While it is targeted as a “business book” relating the key elements in business settings, the characteristics are wholly appropriate across our wider relationships outside our businesses or jobs.

More than anything, it seems to be a manifesto standing against the normed trope of bullying, “get-ahead”, domineering business leaders that have gotten so much attention over the past few years.

Central to the book’s premise is how that is a model of success, but not the model to achieve it!

Vaynerchuk highlights thirteen “emotional ingredients” that he deems necessary for business success (at least in his experience).

1. Gratitude
2. Self-Awareness
3. Accountability
4. Optimism
5. Empathy
6. Kindness
7. Tenacity
8. Curiosity
9. Patience
10. Conviction
11. Humility
12. Ambition
13. Kind Candor

As a part of his introduction, Gary admits his own weakness in the area of ingredient #13 (Kind Candor) – hence the book’s title Twelve And A Half. It is expected that different people are at different points in their journey as it related to each of the 13 emotional ingredients. It’s through the process of evaluating our relative strengths or weaknesses in specific areas that we are able to decide where and how to focus our energies toward improvement.

While the first part of the book where these attributes are defined sets the foundation, it is in the book’s latter two parts (Real-Life Scenarios & Activities) where the application and development of the traits take the stage.

In Real-Life Scenarios, he shares how he would apply them to events of his past or questions that he has gotten from followers. While a reader might be quick to judge his responses are “easy from where he sits”, it is relevant to note that he wasn’t always the brand atop a large media enterprise.

Activities give one or more actions that the reader can do to gain strength in the specific attributes.

I posted a more detailed review of the book as well as some additional thoughts on the emotional characteristics. If you haven’t read the book, I would definitely recommend that you include it on your shelf – and judge for yourself.

You can get a copy at this Amazon link (affiliate), but it is currently very easy to get a cheaper (or even free) copy from others within his community. You can find them on Twitter under the hashtag (#BookGames) or just pose the question of “Where can I get a copy?” under the book’s Twitter handle (@twelveandahalf).

No matter how you acquire it, get one, read it, and put it to work for you and your organization!