One of the highlights of attending Expert Live Netherlands was the chance to connect with people from diverse backgrounds. Among them was Christiaan, someone I had the privilege of sharing the stage with. While I plan to dive into the event itself in a future post—it was an experience so powerful that it’s still hard to put into words i mean speaking Infront of 2k people is still mind-blowing to me —I want to focus on what happened the morning after.
Over breakfast, Christiaan and I talked about his career journey and life in the U.S. During our conversation, he shared something that really resonated with me:
The way we use our energy. Christiaan pointed out that as we grow, the same strategies and energy that got us to where we are today might not be enough or needed to take us to the next level. Sometimes, it’s necessary to adapt and channel our energy in new directions to continue progressing weather in your personal or professional lives .
He recommended a book that , What Got You Here Won’t Get You There by Marshall Goldsmith. The book provided me with a fresh perspective on personal growth that changed my entire thought processes, and I’d like to share my thoughts on the chapters that resonated with me the most.
The Brutal Truth: Why We Get Stuck
One of the first things that struck me about the book was how brutally honest it is. Goldsmith doesn’t sugarcoat anything. He dives straight into the harsh reality that the very habits, strategies, and mindsets that got us to our current level of success can become the barriers to reaching the next level. This was a revelation to me. I had been relying on the same skills and approaches for years, without realizing that they are no longer serving me.
Goldsmith identifies 20 habits that successful people often develop, which can become their downfall sometimes when they cling to them too long. As I read through the list, I saw myself in many of those habits—things like needing to be right, failing to listen, and being overly focused on my own perspective. It was a humbling experience, to say the least.
A Shift in Perspective: From Brute Force to Mindfulness
The biggest change for me after reading the book was in how I approach challenges. Before, I would often try to brute-force my way through problems, relying on sheer willpower and hard work to get things done. But Goldsmith’s insights made me realize that this approach was not only exhausting but also inefficient sometimes.
Instead of pushing harder, I started to pay more attention to my behaviors and the impact they were having on others. I am becoming more mindful of how I communicate, how I reacted to stress, and how I approached decision-making. This shift from brute force to mindfulness has made a world of difference. I’m now more focused on the quality of my actions rather than the quantity. This change has brought a sense of calm and clarity that I hadn’t experienced before.
The Power of Letting Go
Another key takeaway from the book is the importance of letting go. Goldsmith emphasizes that in order to move forward, we need to let go of the things that no longer serve us, whether they are habits, beliefs, or even relationships. This resonated deeply with me. I realized that I had been holding onto certain ways of thinking and acting because they had worked for me in the past, but they were now holding me back.
Letting go isn’t easy—it requires a level of self-awareness and humility that can be uncomfortable. But once I started to release some of these outdated habits, I found that new opportunities and ideas began to flow more freely. It was as if clearing out the old made space for the new.
Finding Peace in the Process
Perhaps the most surprising outcome of reading What Got You Here Won’t Get You There has been the sense of peace I’ve found. I used to feel like I was constantly fighting against the current, trying to force things to happen. But now, I’m more at ease with the process of growth and change. I understand that progress isn’t always about pushing harder; sometimes it’s about stepping back, reassessing, and making adjustments.
This newfound peace has also improved my relationships, both at work and in my personal life. I’m more patient, more understanding, and more open to feedback. I’ve stopped trying to control everything and started to trust the process more.
A New Path Forward
As I continue to apply the lessons from What Got You Here Won’t Get You There, I’m excited to see where this new path will take me. I no longer feel the need to force things to happen. Instead, I’m focused on growing in a more mindful, intentional way. And for that, I’m incredibly grateful to Christian for the recommendation and to Marshall Goldsmith for writing such a transformative book.
If you’re feeling stuck or frustrated with where you are, I highly recommend giving this book a read. It might just be the key to unlocking the next level of your success—and bringing a sense of peace to your journey, just as it has for me.
