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4.06 of 5 stars 4.06  ·  rating details  ·  137 ratings  ·  32 reviews
In his popular Stanford University lectures, Shirzad Chamine reveals how to achieve one’s true potential for both professional success and personal fulfillment. His groundbreaking research exposes ten well-disguised mental Saboteurs. Nearly 95 percent of the executives in his Stanford lectures conclude that these Saboteurs cause “significant harm” to achieving their true p...more
Hardcover, 224 pages
Published April 3rd 2012 by Greenleaf Book Group Press (first published April 1st 2012)
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George Wang
Professor Sanjeev Bedi first introduced me to this book right after I told him I'm interested in pursuing a startup. To my surprise, this is not a book that teaches how to run a startup, but a book that teaches skills that critical to achieving success in any area of life.

According to the author, one's positive intelligence (PQ) is her biggest determinant of success. Based on this premise, this book explores the various entities in the mind that make up one's PQ. One of those entities is the "Ju...more
What a gold-mine of a book! An extremely useful text for increasing performance, success and happiness. As the author states: much like Sisyphus--the mythological king who was forced to roll a boulder to the top of a hill every day only to watch it roll back down in the evening--our best efforts to achieve our goals or increase our happiness often unravel. Though we frequently try to attribute our failure to others or uncontrollable circumstances, Shirzad Chamine shows in this book that it's usu...more
Alain Burrese
“Positive Intelligence: Why Only 20% of Teams and Individuals Achieve Their True Potential and How You Can Achieve Yours” by Shirzad Chamine is an interesting look at what the author calls Saboteurs and how these beliefs hold one back from achieving all they wish, and what the author calls Sage powers that will enable one to achieve much more. I have a feeling that some people will really connect with these labels and others may not care for them. Regardless, these concepts labeled Positive Inte...more
Tanja Berg
I am giving this book 4 out of 5 stars because I am not entirely convinced that it could be so easy to achieve peace and happiness as described in this book. "Easy" is the wrong word, although the steps themselves are simple and lucid, getting there will still require hard work. The book teaches us to recognize our saboteurs, strengthen our sage, doing "PQ" exercises (which is little more than awareness/mindfulness training). What I especially liked about this book is that it encompasses the ide...more
Taylor Ellwood
I loved this book! It's one of those books that offers practical solutions that anyone can implement to stop their saboteurs in their tracks, while also showing how to tap into skill sets that can help you professionally and personally. The author includes exercises you can try on the spot and as someone who tried them out, I found myself interrupting my saboteurs and really appreciating the situations I was in from a different perspective, that allowed me to see the bigger picture. The website...more
I first learned about the concept of Positive Intelligence while earning my MBA with one of my concentrations being in leadership development. Chamine has done a fantastic job of authoring a primer on the subject. Even if a potential reader of this book doesn't believe in the "psychobabbling" of business which I have often heard PI referred to, the book lays out excellent descriptors of group and individual dynamics which can interfer with successful team projects and lead to disastrous results....more
Apr 20, 2012 pri rated it 2 of 5 stars
Shelves: 2012
A little abashed to lower the overall rating. Despite the tremendous praise by CEOs and others on this book, I found it a repetition of self help knowledge. Your brain can be your worst enemy at times... here's how to overcome that and use the positive side of you. Chamine adds science to the mix and case studies. And it was interesting to read the exercises he suggests to help your PQ. They were very like mindful meditations. But overall, I just didn't feel I was reading anything new or that cl...more
Kent Winward
I'm giving this a lower rating, not because the book was particularly poor, but because it is overly simplistic. It's left brain/right brain dichotomy and it's New-Agey lingo turned me off, although I agree with the concepts. It was a great reminder to practice more mindfully and meditate. The neurological benefits of these practices is really undisputed -- nothing mystical, just how our bodies work best.

The short summary: Think positively, so that you act, rather than letting negative thoughts...more
Henk-Jan van der Klis
Shirzad Chamine lectures at Stanford University on Positive Intelligence (PQ). Where IQ and EQ are common sense these day, PQ might be new to you. PQ measures the percentage of time your mind is serving you as opposed to sabotaging you. While your IQ and EQ (emotional intelligence) contribute to your maximum potential, it is your PQ that determines how much of that potential you actually achieve. That’s why Chamine presents his results in Positive Intelligence – Why Only 20% of Teams and Individ...more
Rod Moser
I have been experiencing some challenges recently in my business and personal life and I have been looking for something to help me regain my focus. This is exactly what I have been looking for.

The tools in this book are simple yet have had a tremendous impact on my personal and professional life. I was able to have a productive conversation with my son tonight by focusing on my sage voice and quieting the saboteurs. He opened up to me and I was able to guide him without him feeling judged.

Ian Nadeau
"Your mind is your best friend. But it is also your worst enemy." - Shirzad Chamine

I would have thought this book to be too new-age-y for my tastes, but it was actually a pretty fascinating / useful look at how our brains can work against us. The rational part of our brain (prefrontal cortex) is certainly our best friend, guiding our growth and success. However, it/we must also contend with the emotional part of the brain (limbic system) which is focused on our survival. Stress, guilt, anger and...more
Shirzad Chamine's "Positive Intelligence: Why Only 20% of Teams and Individuals Achieve Their True Potential and How You Can Achieve Yours" is an amazing resource. It's an examination of what Chamine calls PQ or positive intelligence quotient. Chamine's arguments on PQ are that it's a measurement of how productive your mind can be based on its self-affirming factors, and that by tapping into the wells of PQ, examining what strengthens it and lessening others that work against it, we can be more...more
A book everyone should read! It is a great tool for improving areas in your life whether it is professional or personal. You will be able to distinguish the "Judge" in you that stops you from achieving/surpassing certain things in your life. It's a simple easy read. The book can be a little repetitive towards the end but I still think it's a great tool. You might learn quite a bit about yourself and learn how to tackle certain situations in your life in a less stressful manner. If you're able to...more
Sometimes mixing psychology with neuroimaging, the scripts by Berne and the PNL can be useful and helps people achieving their goals. As a psychotherapist I appreciated some parts of this book, but I consider that making it too easy is not good for the person that is struggling to obtain results. Path is hard and not so easy even if you know that sometimes your brain is the one that is sabotaging you.

A volte mischiare la psicologia, con la neuroimaging, i copioni di Berne e la PNL può essere uti...more
I was extremely impressed with the framework and model proposed by Chamine. The idea of Sabateours and Sage traits resonated greatly with me. I liked it so much that I've also ordered the hardcover to supplement my kindle version.

I have used the reframing methods with great success already and hope to be able to increase my PQ through the exercises - though I do find this harder to accomplish.

I highly recommend this book for people interested in positive intelligence.
Shelley Wall
Interesting read. The recommendations were great. Content too. Delivery was really dry. I had a hard time maintaining interest. Put it down several times only to pick up later and read on. Still, I really liked the suggestions on how to achieve potential through positivity.
Nurhafizah Yusri
Those bubbles of thoughts in your mind are only as messy as you make them out to be. I found the PQ brain exercises really helpful in situations when I instinctively make negative mental comments. Note to self: Don't worry, be happy :)
I wish the negative people in my life would read this book. This book was geared more toward a business person view, but will work for anyone. I felt like a learned a more methodical or practical way to meditate and de-stress.
A must read for everyone! You will have many aha! moments as you realize that our thoughts cause us not to be "present" and, that our thoughts can run away with fretting about the past or future. Very insightful!
Kim Leandersson
I can't really decide how I should rate this book. I enjoyed it, I like the topic, I believe what is described, but on the other hand the descriptions are so simplified and there is a lot of repetition in the book. So, it's not a 5 and not a 2. I choose between 3 and 4...

What I do like with the book is that it's not only theory, it is more hands on and deal with real examples. As with many books in the genre a lot of what is written is common sense, but sometimes you need it packaged and deliver...more
EVERYONE can benefit from this book! So easy to practice the exercises to build one's positive intelligence. I've been recommending it to all my friends and have already seen some remarkable changes.
Similar to: You Are Not Your Brain: The 4-Step Solution for Changing Bad Habits, Ending Unhealthy Thinking, and Taking Control of Your Life.

I think "you are not your brain..." is better.
Kathy Nguyen
It is a good book. It has a different approach. I will be following up on the website to see if I can incorporate some of this in my interactions more.
This is a wonderful book to help you overcome any of the obstacles your mind can create for you.
Erik Zimmer
Through 2/3 of the book and its message resonates...
I recommend everyone working on the Sage drills daily.
You MUST take the assessments on the website. This book WILL change your life.
Marcus Miller
Great book for controlling head trash and coping with your own mind's "saboteurs".
Marilyn Kilgore

Good practical ways to quiet your mind chatter.
Perry Rahbar
One of the best books i've read in a long time.
PQ - Positive Intelligenz: Entwaffnen Sie Ihre 10 inneren Saboteure - (German Edition) Inteligência Positiva: Por que só 20 por cento das equipes e dos indivíduos alcançam seu verdadeiro potencial e como você pode alcançar o seu (Portuguese Edition) Positive Intelligence:  Why Only 20% of Teams and Individuals Achieve Their True Potential AND HOW YOU CAN ACHIEVE YOURS

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