Disrupt Yourself: Putting the Power of Disruptive Innovation to Work Hardcover – October 6, 2015

As a long-time member of Clayton Christensen's consulting firm, I've spent years advising leaders on disrupting industries and companies. When I came across "Disrupt Yourself" by Whitney Johnson, I was intrigued by the idea of applying these same principles to personal growth. Johnson's book resonated deeply with my professional background, offering a fresh perspective on how disruption theory can be applied to individual career paths and personal development.One of the most impactful ideas comes from Chapter 4: "While we can natter all day about being agents of disruption, to effect real change, we need to be the subject of disruption. Innovation starts as an inside game." This concept really drives home the importance of personal transformation in driving broader change.Johnson's insights on constraints have revolutionized my approach to problem-solving. Instead of viewing impediments as blockers, I now see them as catalysts for creativity. This shift in perspective has allowed me to find innovative solutions by working within constraints rather than fighting against them. For instance, when faced with a challenge at work, I now embrace the limitations as opportunities to think differently and come up with unique solutions."Disrupt Yourself" is a game-changer for anyone looking to rethink, reimagine, and even disrupt their lives. It's perfect for those seeking to align their actions and time with their true selves and aspirations. Johnson's work provides a roadmap for personal innovation that can lead to profound professional growth. Whether you're a seasoned executive or just starting your career, this book offers valuable insights that will challenge you to step out of your comfort zone and embrace personal disruption as a pathway to success.

I enjoyed Whitney's perspective, ideas, and her words! Loved the S Curve idea especially applying it to my own personal development and career trajectory. I appreciated the MANY concise anecdotes and stories from business and life. She doesn't drown you out with extensive, detailed, boring stories but does a great job at summarizing the main idea and describing a real life example found in business or academic research, I really enjoyed that.I also really liked her use of headings and sub-headings - it allowed me to quickly understand the main idea and point of each chapter which created a road-map so I could focus into the areas that were most applicable to me.I totally recommend the purchase.

There has never been a more interesting, exciting time to work in technology-fueled business transformation. The turbo-charged pace of change unlocks tremendous new opportunities. It seems like every day brings a new startup, a new technology, a new way of working, a new innovation. Many industries—from financial services to publishing—face massive shifts in their businesses, increased competition, and significant changes in customer behavior and expectations. The scale and pace of the change is without precedent. Much has been written about this digital disruption and the business strategies and tactics to address it. But, what of the associated human dimension and sometimes the human cost?Whitney Johnson’s new book, Disrupt Yourself, couldn’t be better timed to address this urgent question. For so many of us, the pace of change can seem simultaneously exhilarating and overwhelming. In response, Whitney lends her wise, insightful voice to illustrate how disruptive innovation frameworks can be applied to our own particular lives and careers. Thriving during this time of change also means pushing ourselves out of comfort zones and accelerating lifelong learning.Among the ideas and advice Whitney shares in the book, two in particular resonated with me the most:Resist entitlement. As we grow in our careers and accumulate achievements, many of us develop a sense that we are entitled to success and associated rewards. After years of effort, the school we attended, the degree we earned, the certifications we achieved, the promotions gained, the titles and raises awarded can accumulate to give us the sense that we deserve something more from life. And, that actually works against our learning and development. Due to the scale and pace of change, those who succeed in the digital and social era will be those who make ongoing learning a priority, and resisting any sense of entitlement--staying humble and grateful--supports that quest.Disrupt yourself before disrupting others. For those leading innovation and change efforts in established companies, starting new businesses, or consulting to help firms with digital transformation, Whitney reminds us that change begins with each of us, at a personal level. Similar to “the buck stops here,” we now must think in terms of “the change starts here.” We must first change ourselves in order to help others and our organizations change. Whitney writes:“Most of us are brimming with the confidence, even competence, to change the world. It is vital that we are also equipped with the humility to understand that changing the world and keeping innovation alive require that we change ourselves.”I had the opportunity to read Disrupt Yourself over a fall weekend at the beach, a perfect time and place for reading and reflection. As with so much of Whitney’s writing and good advice over the years, this book challenged my thinking and reminded me of what’s really important as I pursue my own journey of personal disruption. I will be recommending Disrupt Yourself to friends, colleagues and clients.

I wish I felt like this book was more than a summary of other people's TED Talks with a smattering of famous quotations, but it is not. Plenty of inspiration, but not enough tangible action to make this a must-read.