Books The Earned Life: Lose Regret, Choose Fulfillment Book by Mark Reiter and Marshall Goldsmith

The Earned Life: Lose Regret, Choose Fulfillment

By Mark Reiter and Marshall Goldsmith

Overview

The Earned Life offers a practical framework for attaining fulfillment and minimizing regret, rooted in both contemporary coaching insights and elements of Buddhist philosophy. Marshall Goldsmith—renowned executive coach and author—and Mark Reiter present a guide for aligning daily choices, risks, and efforts with a larger sense of life purpose, regardless of outcomes123.

Core Ideas

What Is an "Earned Life"?

An earned life is defined as one in which our moment-to-moment decisions and actions are aligned with a long-term, overarching purpose. Rather than living in autopilot or attaching happiness to future achievements (“I’ll be happy when…”), fulfillment comes from consistently earning satisfaction through our choices and efforts each day134.

“We are living an earned life when the choices, risks, and effort we make in each moment align with an overarching purpose in our lives, regardless of the eventual outcome.”35

Key Themes and Takeaways

Impermanence and Present Focus
Drawing from Buddhist ideas, Goldsmith encourages accepting that all achievements are temporary, pushing us to live more presently and re-earn our fulfillment every day265.

Reduce Regret
Regret is recognized as unavoidable, but its prevalence can be diminished by mindful living and purposeful action175.

Beyond Outcomes
The book challenges the cultural obsession with results, encouraging readers to detach fulfillment from external achievements and instead focus on meaningful objectives and personal growth35.

Aspiration Versus Ambition
Goldsmith distinguishes “ambition” (what you want to achieve) from “aspiration” (who you want to become). True fulfillment, he argues, is achieved when action, ambition, and aspiration are aligned5.

Overcoming Barriers
The book discusses obstacles such as inertia, old programming, obligations, and vicarious living. Exercises and self-reflection techniques are included at the end of each chapter, guiding readers through personal change135.

Practical Tools

Life Plan Review
Goldsmith advocates for regular reviews of one’s actions versus intentions as a powerful tool to close the gap between planning and actual behavior3.

Every Breath Paradigm
Cultivating the idea that each moment presents an opportunity for new choices—and that fulfillment is a living process, not a static achievement35.

Credibility and Empathy
Building discipline for daily earning of one’s life and practicing empathy for oneself and others are highlighted as central skills3.

Who Should Read This Book

The Earned Life is valuable for anyone seeking to move past the cycle of chasing achievements and experience greater satisfaction in their journey. Its insights are especially relevant for those at a professional plateau, facing regret, or wanting to align daily effort with authentic aspiration143.

Reception

The book has been praised for its clarity, practical exercises, and its blend of ancient philosophies with actionable frameworks for modern living. Some critics note that many examples reference high-achieving executives, but the principles and exercises are broadly applicable to a wide audience14.

Table: Main Distinctions

In Summary

The Earned Life by Mark Reiter and Marshall Goldsmith offers a refreshing approach to purpose, motivation, and self-fulfillment. Through practical guidance and reflective exercises, it inspires readers to pursue a life measured not by accomplishments accumulated, but by the purpose and intention behind every meaningful choice135.

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