AGL 065: Tom Rath

A Geek Leader Podcast - inspiring technical and creative leaders around the world

I’m honored to have multiple time #1 New York Times best selling author Tom Rath on the show today. At one point, prior to writing best selling non-fiction books, Tom was a technical project manager. He offers great insight into his life and work during this interview. We talk about ways to increase health, well-being and happiness in general. We discuss focusing on your strengths and Tom’s advice to young leaders. Tom’s books have made a big impact in how I do certain things in my life which I’ll address in detail in future episode when I give my take aways from several of his books.

---

About Tom Rath

Tom Rath is a researcher and writer who studies the role of human behavior in business, health, and well-being.

Tom has written six New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestsellers over the past decade, starting with the #1 New York Times bestseller How Full Is Your Bucket? In 2016, his book StrengthsFinder 2.0 was listed by amazon.com as the top selling non-fiction book of all time. Tom’s bestsellers include Strengths Based Leadership, Wellbeing, and Eat Move Sleep and Are You Fully Charged?. He has also written two children’s books and produced a feature-length documentary. In total, Tom’s books have sold more than 6 million copies and have made more than 300 appearances on the Wall Street Journal bestseller list.

Tom currently serves as a senior scientist for and advisor to Gallup, where he previously spent thirteen years leading the organization’s work on employee engagement, strengths, leadership, and well-being. Tom also served as vice chairman of the VHL cancer research organization. He holds degrees from the University of Michigan and the University of Pennsylvania, where he is a regular guest lecturer. Tom, his wife, Ashley, and their two children live in Arlington, Virginia.

---

What we talked about:

Eat Move Sleep

1. Walking Meetings
2. 10,000 steps
3. Standing
4. no sugar in coffee
5. cut out fruit juices
6. cut down on bread
7. SLEEP!!!!

Are You Fully Charged?

1. Work in bursts
2. Pomadora Technique
3. Search for meaning, not happiness

Strengths Finders 2.0

1. Why should we focus on strengths and not our weaknesses
2. grades…ugh!

How full is your bucket

1. Give what you want
2. Filling others buckets, fills your own

---

Tom’s Books

• Are You Fully Charged?
• The Rechargeables: Eat Move Sleep (kids book)
• Eat Move Sleep
• Strength Finders 2.0
• Strengths Based Leadership
• How Full is Your Bucket?
• Wellbeing
• How Full is Your Bucket for Kids (kids book)
• Vital Friends

---

Connect with Tom

• Website
• Twitter
• Facebook

---

I hope you enjoyed this show, please head over to iTunes and subscribe and leave me a rating and review, even one sentence will help spread the word. Thanks again!