A Word about Perceptions

Speaking of Ike, we typically don't think of him as having had a big ego. Supreme Allied commander, president of Columbia University, general of the Army, president of the United States. That's a résumé that would enable anyone's ego to balloon. But not Eisenhower. He was awesome and not awesome at the same time.

Likewise, it is important for all of us to understand how we are perceived by others and where that is consistent with our self-perceptions. If there is misalignment between the two, it is important to understand why that is. As the introduction implies, this book's process and steps are not intended to reaffirm to you that you are just so awesome right now. In a few paragraphs, you will meet Bob and watch his lunch mates tell him how not awesome he really is. It is a shocker for him.