Disruptive Invocation: How Will You Measure Your Life?

"It's actually really important that you succeed at what you're succeeding at, but that isn't going to be the measure of your life."

CNBC called it one of the most anticipated business books of 2012. How Will You Measure Your Life? the latest book by management guru and Harvard professor, Clay Christensen appears to be living up to its billing. For those who do not have the time to read the book or just want to get a jump start, I prepared a Clay Christensen Primer today. Hope you find it useful...

Disruptive Innovation

Christensen is well-known for his groundbreaking work in the area of disruptive innovation, which he chronicled in his best-selling book, The Innovator's Dilemma.

Disruptive innovation describes a process by which a product or service takes root initially in simple applications at the bottom of a market and then relentlessly moves ‘up market’, eventually displacing established competitors.

An innovation that is disruptive allows a whole new population of consumers access to a product or service that was historically only

Professor Christensen Explains Disruptive Innovation

accessible to consumers with a lot of money or a lot of skill. Characteristics of disruptive businesses, at least in their initial stages, can include:  lower gross margins, smaller target markets, and simpler products and services that may not appear as attractive as existing solutions when compared against traditional performance metrics.  Source: ClayChristensen.com

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"No one graduates from the Harvard Business School planning to screw the world and end up in jail but a scary number of them actully do." ~ Clay Christensen

CNBC Book Review
In “How Will You Measure Your Life,” Christensen takes his readers on a journey to make the case that the path to one’s professional and personal success starts with this profound question: “How do you lead a fulfilling life?”

Through a series of questions and models that have been used successfully in the world of business, Christensen reveals how to find happiness in your life, in your relationships, and in your career through the moral decisions you make.

Much in the same vein as Steve Jobs’ epic address at Stanford’s 2005 commencement and Randy Pausch’s “ The Last Lecture ”, this book (which as it happens, is based on a 2010 speech Christensen gave to Harvard Business School graduates after he had survived a heart attack, advance-stage cancer, and a stroke) will inspire and cause readers to pause to answer one of life’s most pressing questions: What exactly is a well-lived life?  Source: CNBC

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"The reason successful companies fail is they invest in things that provide the most immediate and tangible evidence of achievement. And the reason they have such a short time horizon is that they are run by people like you and I."

Amazon.com Book Review
In this groundbreaking book, Christensen puts forth a series of questions: How can I be sure that I'll find satisfaction in my career? How can I be sure that my personal relationships become enduring sources of happiness? How can I avoid compromising my integrity—and stay out of jail? Using lessons from some of the world's greatest businesses, he provides incredible insights into these challenging questions.

How Will You Measure Your Life? is full of inspiration and wisdom, and will help students, midcareer professionals, and parents alike forge their own paths to fulfillment.

Forbes Interview, May 2012

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Explore More...

TedX Infographic

• Harvard Business Review - Author's Page
  
• Key Concepts by Clay Christensen - Author's main website
• How Will You Measure Your Life? - Author's website for new book
• Measure Your Life - Facebook Page
• Resources Page - from author's website
• One of the Most Anticipated Business Books of 2012 - CNBC
  
• TedX Boston Presentation
• Buy the New Book on Amazon.com