What You're Really Meant To Do

A Road Map for Reaching Your Unique Potential

By: Robert Steven Kaplan

Narrated by: Wes Talbot

How do you create your own definition of success - and reach your unique potential? 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.

©2013 Robert Steven Kaplan (P)2013 Gildan Media LLC

Critic reviews

"Rob Kaplan has spent years mentoring and coaching executives and young professionals, and there is no one any better. This audiobook is a superb guide for helping people understand themselves and reach their unique potential.” (Henry M. Paulson, Jr., seventy-fourth secretary of the US Department of the Treasury; Chairman and CEO, Goldman Sachs, 1999 - 2006)

"Rob Kaplan’s brilliant new book inspires you to reach your full potential by taking responsibility for your development as a leader and as a human being. If you follow his thoughtful, pragmatic approach, you will live an even more satisfying life. Filled with real-world examples, Kaplan helps you build your road map to fulfillment.” (Bill George, professor, Harvard Business School; author, Authentic Leadership and True North)

Slow Pace for a Motivational Book

What did you like best about What You're Really Meant To Do? What did you like least?

Lots of examples were a plus. Good coverage of what leads to success. But it was read too slowly with exaggerated pronunciations like talking to a toddler. A chore to get through, but I felt better for having listened to the whole thing.

Very monotonous voice

If you could sum up What You're Really Meant To Do in three words, what would they be?

It is a nice book but very disappointed by the voice. Very monotonous. Difficult to concentrate.

What aspect of Wes Talbot’s performance would you have changed?

Did not like it at all. The voice is a drag...very monotonous.

Premier guidance book

I truly enjoyed each of the chapters with its depth analysis and self questions. The personal stories and outcomes are relatable and inspirational.

Delightfully inspiring...

Wonderful read. I would certainly recommend this audio book to individuals seeking clarity and direction within their personal lives, educational, and/or professional journeys.

Answer is from within, not the book

I think the title creates an unrealistic expectation -- that after reading this book, you'll know what you're meant to do. It doesn't. The answer doesn't come from someone else. You have to do some soul searching and identify what makes you happy. That's not new, nor any of the other concepts in this book. The book is useful in that it contains stories that readers can relate to... and maybe one of these stories will spark an insight or motivate a person to take actions for a career move.

to summarize practical knowledge

insightful but not original. However a road map of the many questions we should be asking ourselves many times.

Great tools and exercises

This is one of those stories that I look forward to getting back to and had a hard time leaving each day. As soon as I was finished with it I went back and listen to second time. Highly recommended for anyone starting for questioning a change in careers.

VERY MISLEADING career growth orientated

What would have made What You're Really Meant To Do better?

Better would have spent the first chapter on something more interesting than why to read the book. I do have it already. The second chapter discussed how to get more out of your annual employment interview (I'm self employed, not helpful). The third chapter focused on coaching and mentoring, still no information about how to figure out what you (or I) am ment to do

Would you ever listen to anything by Robert Steven Kaplan again?

No, no, do not pass go, do not collect 200 dollars, heck NO