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Acknowledgements. <p>Confessions of a Goalaholic.</p> <p><b>Getting Started in Goal-Free Living.</b></p> <p>Introduction: Setting the Stage for Goal-Free Living.</p> <p><b>The Eight Secrets of Goal-Free Living.</b></p> <p>Secret #1:  Use a Compass, Not a Map.</p> <p>Secret #2: Trust That You Are Never Lost.</p> <p>Secret #3: Remember That Opportunity Knocks Often, but Sometimes Softly.</p> <p>Secret #4: Want What You Have.</p> <p>Secret #5: Seek Out Adventure.</p> <p>Secret #6: Become a People Magnet.</p> <p>Secret #7: Embrace Your Limits.</p> <p>Secret #8: Remain Detached.</p> <p><b>Using the Eight Secrets.</b></p> <p>Setting Your Compass.</p> <p>Epilogue: One Person’s Transformation from Goalaholic to Goal-Free.</p> <p><b>Appendixes.</b></p> <p>Appendix A:  Frequently Asked Questions.</p> <p>Appendix B:  Take the “Are You a Goalaholic?” Quiz.</p> <p>Appendix C:  Score the“Are You a Goalaholic?” Quiz</p> <p>Appendix D:  The “Are You A Goalaholic?” Survey Results.</p> <p>Index.</p> <p>About the Author.</p>

<p><b>STEPHEN M. SHAPIRO</b> is a recognized expert and professional speaker on the topics of creativity and innovation. He is the founder of the 24/7 Innovation Group, a management education and research organization focused on innovation and breakthrough business thinking. A former consultant at Accenture, he founded that firm's Process Excellence Practice. You can learn more about goalfree living at www.goalfree.com.

<p>We are taught from a young age that in order to achieve great success we must set and achieve our goals. However, in doing so, we become focused on where we are going rather than enjoying where we are right now. We sacrifice today in the hope that a better future will emerge, only to discover that achievement rarely leads to true joy. <i>Goal-Free Living</i> presents an alternative philosophy—that we can have an extraordinary life <i>now</i>, all without goals and detailed plans. By living for each moment, it's possible to have a successful life <i>and</i> follow your passions at the same time. <p>This amazing book shares the personal discovery of consultant Stephen Shapiro, who achieved professional success only to find that personal satisfaction remained elusive. He wanted to escape the treadmill of goal-chasing and find a way to make his life truly rewarding. So over 90 days, he drove 12,000 miles and interviewed 150 extraordinary people from all walks of life to learn how they lived fulfilling, happy lives. Along the way, he discovered the eight secrets to living life free from the constant pressure of goals: <ul> <li>Use a compass, not a map—have a sense of direction, and then let yourself wander and try new things on the way to fulfilling your aspirations</li> <li>Trust that you are never lost—every seemingly wrong turn is an opportunity to learn and experience new things</li> <li>Remember that opportunity knocks often, but sometimes softly—while blindly pursuing our goals, we often miss unexpected and wonderful possibilities</li> <li>Want what you have—measure your life by your own yardstick and appreciate who you are, what you do, and what you have . . . now</li> <li>Seek out adventure—treat your life like the one-time-only journey it is and revel in new and different experiences</li> <li>Become a people magnet—constantly seek, build, and nurture relationships with new people so that you always have the support and camaraderie of others</li> <li>Embrace your limits—transform your inadequacies and boundaries into unique qualities you can use to your advantage</li> <li>Remain detached—focus on the present, act with a commitment to the future, and avoid worrying about how things will turn out</li> </ul> <p><i>Goal-Free Living</i> offers practical guidance on putting these valuable lessons to work in your own life every day. Take them to heart and you'll be free of the tyranny of goals—and experience a life truly worth living.

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