It’s Not How Good You Are, It’s How Good You Want to Be
by Paul Arden · 2000
Paul Arden's tiny, irreverent book on ambition as a self-fulfilling decision.
Worth reading? It's Not How Good You Are is a pocket-sized attitude adjuster: it's not talent, it's how good you want to be. Quirky and quotable, more slogan than system. Skip it if you've already internalized the mindset.
| Author | Paul Arden |
|---|---|
| Published | 2000 |
| Category | Business & Money |
| Favorite quote | “It's not how good you are, it's how good you want to be.” |
The Verdict
It’s Not How Good You Are is a pocket-sized attitude adjuster: it’s not talent, it’s how good you want to be. Quirky and quotable, more slogan than system. Skip it if you’ve already internalized the mindset.
creatives and anyone who underestimates the power of wanting more
you already set your own bar high without permission
Book Summary
Paul Arden's tiny, irreverent book on ambition as a self-fulfilling decision. It earns its place by giving you a clear lens you can apply, not just inspiration. It's not how good you are; it's how good you want to be. Don't covet your neighbor's position; leapfrog it. The practical move is to read it once, then act on the one idea that maps to your current bottleneck, rereading the whole thing rarely adds more than executing the part you skipped.
Top 11 Lessons from It’s Not How Good You Are, It’s How Good You Want to Be
- It's not how good you are; it's how good you want to be.
- Don't covet your neighbor's position; leapfrog it.
- Establish what you want, then reverse-engineer.
- Failure is the norm; embrace it.
- When you hit a wall, think sideways.
- Whoever has the least to lose has the most freedom to be bold.
- A wrong idea executed boldly beats a good idea executed timidly.
- Don't ask permission to be brilliant; nobody's going to give it.
- The best way to get noticed is to do the opposite of everyone else in the room.
- Sell the idea, not the process that produced it.
- Every rule was made by someone no smarter than you; break it when it's in your way.
Top 5 Quotes from It’s Not How Good You Are, It’s How Good You Want to Be
"It's not how good you are, it's how good you want to be."
Paul Arden, It’s Not How Good You Are, It’s How Good You Want to Be
"Don't covet your neighbor's position. Leapfrog it."
Paul Arden, It’s Not How Good You Are, It’s How Good You Want to Be
"Your vision of where or who you want to be is the greatest asset you have. Without having a goal it's difficult to score."
Paul Arden, It’s Not How Good You Are, It’s How Good You Want to Be
"The person who doesn't make mistakes is unlikely to make anything."
Paul Arden, It’s Not How Good You Are, It’s How Good You Want to Be
"Be unfashionable. Take risks."
Paul Arden, It’s Not How Good You Are, It’s How Good You Want to Be
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It’s Not How Good You Are, It’s How Good You Want to Be worth reading?
Yes, if the description fits you, creatives and anyone who underestimates the power of wanting more. Skip it if you already set your own bar high without permission.
What is the main idea of It’s Not How Good You Are, It’s How Good You Want to Be?
It's Not How Good You Are is a pocket-sized attitude adjuster: it's not talent, it's how good you want to be.
Who should read It’s Not How Good You Are, It’s How Good You Want to Be?
Creatives and anyone who underestimates the power of wanting more. Skip it if you already set your own bar high without permission.
What will you get out of It’s Not How Good You Are, It’s How Good You Want to Be?
A clearer, opinionated take you can act on, plus the sharpest lessons pulled into a short list so you don't have to read the whole book to decide.
