In the course of my productivity research (read: Web surfing), I came across a couple of extremely attractive surrogates for two of the most popular motivational texts of the last 20 years.
McSweeney’s 7 Habits of Highly Successful People
Look Shiny’s Instructional Video on NGTD
These two pieces are a good appetizer, but if you’re looking for the all-inclusive guide to bettering yourself, there’s no other option but 1975’s The Unexpurgated Code by James Patrick Donleavy. The author and decidedly indifferent life coach doles out advice on what to do “Upon Not Being to the Manner Born” all the way to “Upon Good Manners, Honour and Duty Getting You Absolutely Nowhere,” covering every important social interaction along the way. He leaves no embarrassing, socially awkward or horrifying stone unturned. It’s out-of-print but it’s out there for those truly dedicated to self-improvement.
(Picture of “Success” Poster via flickr user aloshbennett, CC 2.0)
