What You're Really Meant to Do | Robert Steven Kaplan | Talks at Google

Building a fulfilling life and career can be a daunting challenge. It takes courage and hard work. Too often, we charge down a path leading to "success" as defined by those around us—and ultimately, are left feeling dissatisfied.

Each of us is unique and brings distinctive skills and qualities to any situation. So why is it that most of us fail to spend sufficient time learning to understand ourselves and creating our own definition of success? The truth is, it can seem so natural and so much easier to just do what everyone else is doing—for now—leaving it for later to develop our best selves and figure out our own unique path. Is there a road map that will enable you to defy conventional wisdom, resist peer pressure, and carve out a path that fits your unique skills and passions?

Harvard Business School's Robert Steven Kaplan, leadership expert and author of the highly successful book What to Ask the Person in the Mirror, regularly advises executives and students on how to tackle these questions. In this indispensable new book, Kaplan shares a specific and actionable approach to defining your own success and reaching your potential. Drawing on his years of experience, Kaplan proposes an integrated plan for identifying and achieving your goals. He outlines specific steps and exercises to help you understand yourself more deeply, take control of your career, and build your capabilities in a way that fits your passions and aspirations.

Are you doing what you're really meant to do? If you're ready to face this question, this book can help you change your life.

[dr.arth]

Great talk, thank you! Coaches vs. Mentors, relationship shortages, failure narratives, why leaders fail-isolation and inability to learn, these were a few great takeaways of this talk.

[RichPerez]

Invaluable advice and teachings in this video -- I can't thank you enough for uploading this.

Thank you very very much.

[TauMuYi]

A fantastic talk and fantastic advice!

[mimishyu]

really an inspiring talk, most people can't see their own weakness- a common mistake made by all of us, and this is even more often with people who are in the higher rank of their position, our weakness mostly be the main cause why we fail, also if the manager leaders close the door to listen to others about what their weakness are, the organization could not function very well

[ClearOutSamskaras]

Slide at 9:01 >devastating threat<
How to view it and use it and go right into it? See it from how he was saying just 30 seconds before.
Don't do it the way you learned way back. Instead do it (here and now) in the way he said: owning that this is for developing and living your potential, this isn't for putting down, insulting and punishing yourself (how it was used against me way back). Don't fall into that way back and definitely stronger tendency/mode.

27:24

[hongkongtennis]

Great talk. I listen to thousands of these. This is one of the best ever. Immediately gets to the point and stays on it.

[chance]

Peoples weaknesses are their strengths to an extreme.

[platamonia]

A really good performance, very useful. Greetings from Hungary,

[ChadGesser]

is it possible to post a link to his slides?

[suziblue]

@1:00 - reference as a personal goal to grow my team members

[ToddThomas]

Actually reaching one's potential would be extremely hard considering far are actual potential is compared to where we currently perform. People have the capacity to achieve so far beyond what they are achieving today, it would boggle their mind.

[ryanmcsherry]

Would this video substitute for the book? Or should I read the book and watch the video? Thanks!

[DaxXx]

What does he mean with "Harvard is like Switzerland" at 34:18?

[invisil]

great talk! this is a talk for slaves who are willing to devote their entire lives to business owners, work for them, climb up the lovely career ladder and eventually become a successful slave!!!! well, i have only made it to 1:40, i dont think the rest of the lecture could teach me anything but become a good slave!!! very well!

[ugandaswedishfoundationsfo]

I would like to get a copy of your book. Thanks!

[ChadGesser]

I emailed Mr. Kaplan and he was gracious to send me his slides. I have them in my.Google Drive but an not allowed to post the link in comments. If someone at Google Talks will email me then I'll send them the slides so that can put a link in the video description. Otherwise, hit me up on Twitter @profgesser and I'll send anyone the link.

[StefanReich]

Only at Google is building a fulfilling life and career a daunting challenge. It's because they treat you like crap. I know, I've worked there.

[franzkingalfredvaldez]

may i know when they publish their article : Creating the Office of Strategy Management. thanks

[aammssaamm]

Does anyone really worry about the year end reviews? 😂

[DaxXx]

One *can* dunk with 5'11... just sayin ;)