Be the Unicorn

12 Data-Driven Habits That Separate the Best Leaders from the Rest

De: William Vanderbloemen, John C. Maxwell - foreword

Narrado por: William Vanderbloemen

“This book is one of the most worthwhile and immediately usable reads I have come across in a long time.” –Kiplinger

Read by the author.

Want to stand out from the crowd? We have studied 30,000 top leaders and have discovered the 12 habits they share that make them as rare as a unicorn. Learn these habits, and you’ll be one of the best at whatever you do!

How do I stand out? How do I become irreplaceable? With a crowded workforce, an unstable job landscape, and the rise of AI, these questions are the ones that everyone either is or should be asking.

William Vanderbloemen has asked these questions over the past 15 years while running one of the world’s top executive search firms. Through extensive research of over 30,000 top leaders and proprietary data, Vanderbloemen has identified the 12 habits that the best of the best have in common. Traits such as authenticity, responsiveness, agility, and the ability to problem solve, among others.

Each habit includes information on What We Know (the hard data behind why the habit is so transformative), What We’ve Seen (first-hand accounts by high-achieving professionals on how they live the habit), and What We Do (simple ways to build this habit into your daily routine). Be the Unicorn will help you:

• Discover the top twelve soft skills the most successful leaders, the top 1%, have.
• Understand how to develop these soft skills in your own life for better job success.
• Learn how to apply soft skills to interpersonal relationships outside of work.
• Understand how these soft skills can be applied in different work environments and job fields, especially with the rise of AI technology.

©2023 William Vanderbloemen (P)2023 HarperCollins Leadership

The Team at Vanderbloemen created a new business classic!

I loved the twelve habits, and am going to have my team read it, and start looking for these traits in every new team member moving forward!

Interesting High Level View on Leadership Qualities

Interesting perspective on various qualities that definitely apply to leadership at any level, but also qualities that ideal employees embody. Some of the people used as examples were interesting and suggest a mildly political undertone with specific leaders that have questionable pasts, but overall interesting read with a variety of takeaways.

Disappointed

No new content. Rehashing old ideas. Was greatly looking forward to this book. Was irritated by the author’s attempts to use pop culture references as logical interjection of rational support for his positions. It weakened my view of his opinions. Felt out of place, as if he was just trying to be trendy.

Listened to it 5 times...

Very tactical, I learned something new every time I turned it on. Easily applied lessons after every chapter.

A manual in becoming unstoppable.

I stumbled upon this book quite unexpectedly. While out for my usual walk with my dogs, I tuned into the "Art of Manliness" podcast. The episode titled "The Leadership Qualities That Will Set You Apart From the Pack" immediately caught my attention, especially as I've been navigating through a rollercoaster of emotions lately. I'm on the cusp of a significant career shift and have been on the lookout for that elusive spark to make the leap.

Mr. Vanderbloemen's insights on the podcast were a revelation, offering a sneak peek into the traits that foster success. This brief introduction piqued my interest, and I knew I had to dive into the full book. It resonated deeply with me; the qualities discussed were not just familiar but also a refreshing deviation from the typical, clichéd motivational rhetoric.

The book offers practical advice on refining certain attributes and provides an insightful look into applied research and analysis. Beyond its educational value, it's genuinely entertaining. The content is engaging, holding my interest right up to the very last word. I'm eagerly anticipating Mr. Vanderbloemen's next work. And a fun fact: Mr. Vanderbloemen is based in Houston, just like me!

The Best Pocket Bible for Leaders & Employees!

Often, we find ourselves striving to improve upon our previous selves. When I purchased this book, I had no inkling of the profound impact it would have on my life. I shared this book with my colleagues in the book club sponsored by our federal agency, and it resonated immensely. I have revisited the book multiple times, uncovering new insights with each read, and I am not alone in this regard, as many members of the book club have expressed a similar experience. This book is highly recommended, unless, of course, you prefer mediocrity. (smile)

Mr. Vanderbloemen kindly joined one of our book club sessions to provide an insightful discussion on personal growth and self-improvement. It was a valuable opportunity to learn how to maximize our potential. If you are considering reading this book, I highly recommend it. Get your copy today!

Taking life to the next level

If you want to take your life and career to the next level, this is the book for you. 12 solid traits and the tips to achieve each that are expressed in the most effective leaders in business to help you grow and become a better version of yourself.

Enjoyable, to the point, clear narration.

I enjoyed this book. Practical tips to be better at whatever it is you do. Probably more so for the corporate world. The structure of this book was nice as well. I liked the sections of each chapter. I feel all these traits can be learned. I also enjoyed the narration by the author. Clear and to the point. I think whether you’re new to the workforce or been around the block, you will find these ideas useful.

Superficial

Kind on a breeze by superficial attributes book. Seemingly draw a lot from a survey among people identified as high achievers by the employment recruiter who placed them (would probably help to understand what makes these folks so exceptional beyond “being fast”- such as accomplishments) easy enough to listen to though and a bit uplifting in purpose driven living.
Would probably not listen to again.

Unleash Your Inner Unicorn: A Review of ‘Be the Unicorn’

"Be the Unicorn" is a game-changer for anyone striving to be a high performer in today's competitive world. With practical insights and actionable strategies, the author guides readers on a transformative journey to unlock their full potential. Through the lens of the unicorn, they illustrate the importance of cultivating unique strengths, maintaining resilience, and staying true to one's vision. This book is a must-read for those ready to stand out, shine brightly, and elevate their performance to new heights.