Above the Line

Living and Leading with Heart

By: Stephen Klemich, Mara Klemich

Narrated by: David Linski

A leadership consultant and neuropsychologist identify the universal habits of the heart and mind—the keys to eliminating behavior patterns that hold us back, unlocking our true potential, and creating our best selves.

Why is it so hard for leaders to coach employees who are struggling? Why do we repeat the mistakes and negative behaviors?

Common wisdom says you always have a choice in how you react or respond. But, as corporate consultant Stephen Klemich and clinical psychologist Mara Klemich contend, until you recognize why you make choices, and how the heart and the brain work together to shape your behavior, you can’t change long-ingrained ways and discover your best self.

The Klemichs have developed a model, backed by extensive research and data and paired with character-led personal development, to help you answer the why and eliminate behavior that is ""below the line.""

In Above the Line, they argue that that the quality of your life flows from the attitudes of your heart. Wise, compassionate, and practical Above the Line explores the deep, fundamental drivers of human behavior that exist within your heart—the seat of your character. It reveals that all of these behaviors can be explained by four heart-based principles—humility, love, pride, and fear—which influence every facet of our life, for better or worse.

We are all designed for greatness, but so often our best self is pitted against our worst. The pressures of life are pulling our character below the line while our authentic self is drawing us to live above the line. When you fully understand that these four principles are at the root of your behavior, you can begin the journey to become your best self and navigate life more effectively and successfully. Filled with proven strategies, Above the Line will create lasting behavior change and improve your life personally and professionally so you can make a positive impact on the world around you.

Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.

This book will change your Business, you Life and your Heart!

This book is well written and the narrator did a great job. Stephen and Mara Klemich poured their hearts into this Life Guide. If this book does not change your life and your culture, nothing will.

Useful, kind, but a couple of misses as well

Lots of useful frameworks and insights, but a couple big misses as well, in my opinion. 1) A focus on situations as being half the equation in leading to behavior, but an assessment that completely ignores situation. 2) Never addresses the privilege of being able to ignore or avoid fear.

Too many acronyms

The book itself seems to be really good but as an audiobook, it was hard to follow as sentences were sometimes similar:

And when sbt then you need to t + s = b



Therefore i couldn't finish listening it - i did quit on half way

Zero Star Not an Option

This is Corporate culture and the book falls apart if you don't except the premises. If you're not from an upper middle class white collar background it's a little painful to read. Appreciate the effort to try and make people's lives better but this is cringe. Kept listening to see if there was something useful to take away but it became too forced and stopped.