Million Dollar Maverick: Forge Your Own Path to Think Differently, Act Decisively, and Succeed Quickly

“Million Dollar Maverick” is written with wisdom and wit by Alan Weiss, PhD. a master storyteller and contrarian. The book is replete with metaphors and examples of growth mindsets to think differently, and practical case studies from his wealth of consulting and coaching experience to help entrepreneurs make their learning practical and actionable.I mentioned “Million Dollar Maverick” as a must read at a recent San Francisco Bay Area Consultant (BACN) meeting. Many of the consultants expressed a lack of confidence and self-worth in growing their solo practices. I suggested that reading “Million Dollar Maverick” might help them develop a healthy ego to guide self-promotion, face self-imposed fears by changing their internal narrative story building resilience, and shift from a poverty mindset to abundance thinking.The lessons learned from Dr. Weiss’s life story and world-renowned consulting career - successes and failures can inform and inspire all coaches and consultants who are driven by purpose and passion to achieve success and not strive for perfection. You may need to get out of your comfort zone and be provoked to change habits, beliefs and even values that may no longer serve you.Although Dr. Weiss has brilliantly created a wealth of intellectual property that has improved the lives and businesses of countless people, I will most remember the emotional impact he has had on me as a human being. Dr. Weiss’s advice can be tough for some, but has been a reality check for me when I need to challenge what I think is true which may not be. It’s my own internal killer GPS app!I have experienced Dr. Weiss’ humanity, grace, kindness and compassion remembering his admonition in the book that when we experience pain suffering is optional. Moving forward and thriving is a much smarter choice for health, wealth and happiness.Alan Weiss has created a growing community of followers who focus on their self-development to learn, grow and get better increasing their competence in creating value in order to help clients achieve desired results.You can join Alan’s community of the best consultants and coaches in the world. “Million Dollar Maverick” can help you navigate your business challenges, gain influence, and achieve success doing it your way with a little Weiss advice mentoring.Dr. Maynard BrusmanConsulting Psychologist & Executive CoachEmotional Intelligence & Mindful Leadership Consultant

I believe, as the author explains in the introduction, the premise of the book is “a memoir covering what I’ve learned and how I’ve applied it to create great success and a wondrous life.” So, in an essence, I think, the audience of the book can go beyond consultants and even entrepreneurs. I haven’t finished the book, but I’ve enjoyed it so far.In terms of the contents, the book contains ten chapters on being different to stand out, losing the fear of failure, gaining influence, critical thinking skills, improving self-esteem, understand the difference between pain and suffering, control over our careers and being shameless in taking credits, effective use of language for business and life, examples of innovations such as “perpetual motion attraction machines”, and feeling comfortable in your own skin (e.g., no guilt, no fear).I think some of the unique and intriguing ideas (and experiences the author had based on these ideas) are abundance mentality, shameless promotion, and the four levels of existence.The book contains several mindsets that are very useful in understanding and applying author’s effective methods. Some of the ones I’ve found very interesting to know and apply in my own life are “we often face unexpected, inescapable pain, but we create our own suffering;” we need a self-esteem workout program on a regular basis, similar to a physical workout, we establish our doom or achievement loops, “if you find yourself debating things that are irrelevant in your current situation and success, you’re sliding back through open doors to previous levels,” and “we are often shocked into immobility by abject fears without basis or rationale. Hence, we can’t eliminate them and they self-perpetuate. We need to find the cause of our fears.”Also, I think, Alan Weiss’s Thrive on self-mastery and taking control of one’s own life would be a good companion to this book.

Exceeded expectation. Great copy of the book and relishing it!

I've been working with Alan Weiss as my business coach for the past 6 years and I usually ascribe a great deal of my success to my work with Alan. His experience, encouragement, and directness always leaves me ready to act. So it was no surprise to me that Million Dollar Maverick provides an array of immediately accessible steps that any person, whether you are in business for yourself or are an employee of an organization or are a student can put into play.It all begins with understanding and believing in yourself but then the application of skills such as influence, critical thinking, resilience, communication and language, and putting the past behind you provides a blueprint for a successful and happy life. Alan's Million Dollar Maverick provides those insights and more.I started my consultancy work reading Million Dollar Consultant and now this book provides a bit of a bookend to in my own practice library. Knowing Alan, however, he already is cooking up new ideas to challenge each of us to grow into the people we were meant to be. This is a great book to start off with or to continue with in your journey. Whatever it is, pick up your copy and get out your yellow highlighter.

This is vintage Alan Weiss - plus some! The book not only contains a lifetime of lessons that have made Alan one of the management gurus of our time, it also is a call-to-action for those who read it. I had the good fortune of spending a week with Alan and being coached by him. His mentoring has made all of the difference in my consulting. This book broadly captures both the what and the how he teaches others to be wildly successful. It is a wonderful complement to his other books but has a deeper vulnerability. The result for me has been a deeper appreciation of the man as well as the lessons he teaches. Should be required reading for anyone wanting to "Forge their own path."Myron Beard, Ph.D.Beard Executive Consulting

Excellent book on recovery after taking a career hit, and how to bounce back again. I think you need to be over 50 and have seen a bit of corporate life in order to fully appreciate just how good this book really is. Mr Weiss talks candidly and reflectively about getting fired as a young'ish corporate CEO, and how he recovered from that major career setback to build his own successful consulting business. Deals with the pyschology of failure and success, and more importantly rebuilding the right mindset to win. The kind of great no-nonsense practical advice that my Dad used to give me when times were tough. Great book Mr Weiss, well done.

This is my first Alan Weiss book, and I think I'm hooked. He has an engaging style that is fast-paced and absorbing, and the book is full of wise advice from a guy who's clearly lived the life and talks from experience.Very inspiring and eye-opening. Well worth the time invested

Direct, incisive and to the point. Alan's contrarian ways are insightful and refreshing. First read his classic "Million Dollar Consulting" about 7 years ago and have been a fan since.

Nach 60 publizierten Werken (inkl. aller Übersetzungen, der Autor lässt es den Leser mehrmals wissen) legt Alan Weiss, PhD, sein neuestes Werk vor und der Leser fragt: Warum?Weiss teilt mit seinen Lesern seine gesamte Lebensphilosophie, die, nicht überraschend, sehr amerikanisch und leider auch redundant rüberkommt. Wer hofft, in "Million Dollar Maverick" etwas Neues und Originelles zu finden, wird enttäuscht. Dies ist im Wesentlichen für Weiss die Abrundung seines professionellen Lebens, und, da er keine Autobiographie schreiben wollte, nun dieses Sammelsurium aus Lebensweisheiten, Ein- und Ansichten bzgl. Consulting sowie sehr viel Eigenlob.Ich bin durchaus beeindruckt von Weiss' unternehmerischer Leistung, muss aber feststellen, dass seit seinem Buch "Million Dollar Consulting" nicht viel Neues an Verwertbarem hinzugekommen ist, schade. Hier schafft er es, ganz der Ich-Unternehmer, wieder Umsätze für sich zu generieren; er versteht das Spiel der Buchvermarktung einfach aus dem Eff-eff. Dafür den zweiten Stern von mir. Aus meiner Sicht aber nur ein Buch für absolute "Alan Weiss, PhD"-Fans. Ich ärgere mich im Nachhinein über diesen Kauf: Geld- und Zeitverschwendung.

I've read about a third of Alan's 60+ books and this is my favourite along with million dollar consulting, million dollar speaking, and value- based fees which all had profound impact how I do business.What I particularly like about this book is the captured mindsets. I counted over 40. My favourite "You can always make another dollar, but you can never make another minute."