What Color is Your Parachute?

What Color is Your Parachute? Plot Summary

Introduction

Have you ever wondered why some people seem to effortlessly achieve their goals while others struggle despite equal talent and opportunity? The difference often lies not in natural ability but in understanding how to unlock your unique potential. In a world filled with distractions and competing priorities, discovering your path to extraordinary achievement requires more than just hard work—it demands a strategic approach to personal development. This journey begins with self-discovery and extends through intentional goal-setting, strategic thinking, and relationship building. By understanding your distinctive strengths and learning to navigate obstacles effectively, you can transform challenges into stepping stones toward your most ambitious dreams. The principles shared in these pages will guide you toward not just accomplishing more, but creating a life of meaningful achievement aligned with your deepest values.

Chapter 1: Discover Your Hidden Strengths

Understanding your unique strengths is the foundation of extraordinary achievement. Unlike obvious talents that you've always recognized, hidden strengths are often capabilities you take for granted—natural ways of thinking, feeling, or behaving that come so easily to you that you might not even recognize their value. Sarah, a marketing professional, struggled with career advancement despite her consistent performance. During a strengths assessment workshop, she completed exercises that asked her to recall moments when she felt energized and accomplished at work. A pattern emerged that surprised her: while Sarah had always focused on improving her technical marketing skills, her greatest successes came when she was connecting people and ideas across departments. She remembered how she'd instinctively bridged communication gaps between the technical team and creative department during a product launch, translating complex specifications into compelling messaging that everyone understood. With this new awareness, Sarah began intentionally leveraging this connecting strength. Rather than trying to excel primarily through technical expertise, she positioned herself as an integrator who could align diverse teams toward common goals. Within six months, she was promoted to a cross-functional leadership role that perfectly suited her natural talents for building bridges between specialists. To discover your own hidden strengths, start by reflecting on moments when you've been "in the zone"—times when work felt energizing rather than draining. What were you doing? What problems were you solving? Pay attention to activities that you find easy but others find challenging. Ask trusted friends or colleagues what they see as your distinctive contributions to projects or relationships. Next, look for patterns across different areas of your life. Sometimes strengths expressed in personal contexts can translate powerfully to professional settings. The organizational skills that make you the go-to person for planning family gatherings might be valuable project management assets in your workplace. Remember that true strengths aren't just activities you're good at—they're activities that energize you. The distinction matters because sustainable achievement comes from leveraging capabilities that replenish rather than deplete your energy. As psychologist Donald Clifton noted, "You cannot be anything you want to be—but you can be a lot more of who you already are."

Chapter 2: Set Goals That Ignite Your Passion

Goal-setting is far more than creating a simple to-do list. Extraordinary goals—those that transform your life and sustain your motivation through inevitable challenges—connect deeply with your authentic passions and values rather than external expectations. Michael, a successful corporate attorney, found himself increasingly drained despite his professional achievements. During a period of reflection, he realized his career goals had been largely shaped by others' definitions of success. Though he'd achieved the partner position and income he'd targeted, these accomplishments left him feeling empty. Through a structured values assessment, Michael discovered his deep passion for environmental conservation—something entirely absent from his professional life. Rather than abandoning his legal career, Michael reimagined his goals. He began dedicating a portion of his practice to environmental law and set a specific goal of representing three conservation organizations within two years. This shift didn't reduce his professional ambition but redirected it toward work that resonated with his core values. The energy he experienced working on these cases spilled over into his other responsibilities, ultimately making him more effective across his entire practice. To set goals that ignite your passion, begin by distinguishing between extrinsic motivators (status, money, others' approval) and intrinsic motivators (personal growth, meaningful contribution, creative expression). While extrinsic goals have their place, research shows that intrinsically motivated goals lead to greater persistence and satisfaction. Create what psychologist Heidi Grant Halvorson calls "why-based goals" by connecting your objectives to deeper purpose. Instead of "increase sales by 20%," frame your goal as "increase sales by 20% to fund our expansion into underserved communities." This connection to meaning transforms routine targets into inspiring missions. Ensure your goals stretch you without breaking you. The most effective goals exist in what psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi calls the "flow channel"—challenging enough to require full engagement but not so difficult that they trigger overwhelming anxiety. If you find yourself consistently procrastinating on a goal, it may be either too challenging or insufficiently connected to your authentic interests. Remember that passion-aligned goals often emerge through exploration rather than analysis. Sometimes you must take action to discover what truly energizes you. As author Elizabeth Gilbert notes, "A creative life is an amplified life. It's a bigger life, a happier life, an expanded life, and a hell of a lot more interesting life."

Chapter 3: Overcome Obstacles With Strategic Thinking

Obstacles are inevitable on any path to extraordinary achievement. What separates exceptional performers from average ones isn't the absence of challenges but the approach to navigating them. Strategic thinking transforms barriers from discouraging roadblocks into opportunities for innovation and growth. James, a first-generation entrepreneur, launched his technology startup with enthusiasm but quickly encountered a series of seemingly insurmountable obstacles. With limited funding, he couldn't compete with established companies for top engineering talent. Rather than abandoning his vision, James reframed the constraint. He developed an innovative internship program partnering with local universities, offering students real-world experience in exchange for their fresh perspectives and energy. When a potential client expressed concerns about his company's small size and limited track record, James didn't try to minimize these legitimate concerns. Instead, he acknowledged them directly and repositioned his company's size as an advantage—offering personalized service and rapid adaptability that larger competitors couldn't match. By transforming his apparent weaknesses into strategic differentiators, James secured the contract that ultimately established his company's reputation. To develop your strategic thinking skills, start by adopting what Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck calls a "growth mindset"—the belief that challenges are opportunities to develop new capabilities rather than evidence of your limitations. This perspective shift transforms how you perceive and respond to obstacles. Practice reframing constraints as catalysts for creativity. When facing limited resources, ask: "How might this limitation actually force a more innovative approach?" Some of history's most remarkable achievements emerged from significant constraints. The Apollo 13 rescue succeeded precisely because the extreme limitations demanded unprecedented creative problem-solving. Develop the habit of considering multiple pathways to your goals. When one approach fails, immediately begin generating alternatives rather than questioning the goal itself. Research shows that resilient achievers typically identify several routes to their objectives and can pivot quickly when circumstances change. Remember that strategic thinking isn't just about overcoming immediate obstacles but anticipating future ones. Regularly step back from day-to-day execution to consider potential challenges on your horizon. As chess grandmaster Garry Kasparov advises, "Think about the consequences of your moves two or three steps ahead, not just the immediate results."

Chapter 4: Build Habits That Drive Success

Behind every extraordinary achievement lies a foundation of consistent, purposeful habits. While motivation fluctuates daily, well-designed habits create a reliable system that moves you toward your goals even when inspiration is temporarily absent. Elena, a bestselling author, struggled with inconsistent writing productivity for years. Despite her talent, she found herself repeatedly missing deadlines and experiencing intense anxiety as projects approached completion. Through working with a performance coach, Elena discovered that her approach—waiting for inspiration and then writing in marathon sessions—was fundamentally unsustainable. She implemented a radical change: writing for just thirty minutes each morning immediately after breakfast, regardless of how she felt. At first, this seemed too modest to make a difference. But by connecting this small habit to an existing routine (breakfast) and focusing on consistency rather than duration, something remarkable happened. Not only did Elena maintain this practice without fail, but the sessions naturally began extending as writing became associated with a sense of accomplishment rather than pressure. To build habits that drive your success, start by identifying keystone habits—those that create positive cascading effects across multiple areas of your life. For many, physical exercise functions as a keystone habit, improving energy, mood, and cognitive function. For others, it might be meditation, planning, or specific professional practices. Apply the principle of habit stacking by connecting new behaviors to established routines. Rather than relying on willpower to remember your new habit, link it directly to something you already do automatically. "After I pour my morning coffee, I will review my three priority tasks for the day" creates a stronger implementation pattern than "I will prioritize tasks sometime each morning." Design your environment to make desired habits easier and competing behaviors more difficult. Small friction reductions—like preparing exercise clothes the night before or keeping healthy snacks at eye level—have disproportionate effects on behavior maintenance. Conversely, creating barriers to distractions—such as keeping your phone in another room during focus periods—prevents habit interruption. Remember that habit formation requires consistency more than perfection. Research by University College London found that establishing new habits takes anywhere from 18 to 254 days, with 66 days being the average. The variability depends not on willpower but on habit complexity and implementation consistency. As James Clear notes in his research, "You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems."

Chapter 5: Leverage Relationships for Growth

No extraordinary achievement happens in isolation. Behind every remarkable success story is a network of relationships that provided crucial support, opportunities, and perspectives. Strategic relationship building accelerates your development and opens doors that remain closed to those who travel alone. Thomas, a talented software developer, hit a career plateau despite his technical expertise. During a professional development workshop, he realized he had invested heavily in technical skills while neglecting relationship development. Though respected for his abilities, he had few meaningful connections outside his immediate team. Thomas decided to transform his approach, committing to one relationship-building activity each week. He began by seeking mentorship from a senior leader whose communication skills he admired. Rather than asking for general guidance, Thomas requested specific advice on an upcoming presentation. This focused approach made it easy for the mentor to help and demonstrated Thomas's seriousness about growth. The relationship developed naturally from this initial exchange, eventually leading to opportunities to work on high-visibility projects that showcased Thomas's technical abilities to decision-makers he wouldn't otherwise have encountered. To leverage relationships for your own growth, start by assessing your current network. Most people have imbalanced networks—deep in some areas but limited in others. Identify gaps in your relationship ecosystem: Do you lack connections with senior leaders? People in adjacent fields? Those with complementary skills to yours? Practice what organizational psychologist Adam Grant calls "generous relationship building." Look for opportunities to contribute value before asking for help. This might involve making introductions, sharing relevant resources, or offering your expertise. This approach establishes reciprocity and demonstrates your commitment to mutual benefit rather than one-sided advantage. Develop the skill of strategic vulnerability—sharing appropriate challenges that allow others to contribute meaningfully to your growth. Many professionals project constant competence, inadvertently preventing others from offering valuable assistance. By thoughtfully disclosing specific areas where you're seeking growth, you create natural opportunities for collaboration and mentorship. Remember that relationship quality matters more than quantity. Research by network scientists demonstrates that diverse, high-trust connections provide significantly more development value than numerous superficial contacts. As leadership expert John Maxwell observes, "Those closest to you determine your level of success," making the intentional cultivation of growth-oriented relationships one of the highest-leverage activities for extraordinary achievement.

Chapter 6: Embrace Failure as a Learning Tool

The path to extraordinary achievement is never a straight line. What distinguishes exceptional performers isn't an absence of failure but a transformative relationship with it. By embracing failure as a powerful learning tool rather than a verdict on your capabilities, you convert setbacks into catalysts for breakthrough growth. Sophia, a product designer, invested months developing an innovative feature that she believed would transform her company's flagship application. When the feature launched, user feedback was overwhelmingly negative. Initially devastated, Sophia found herself questioning her professional judgment and design instincts. Her manager suggested a structured approach to extracting value from this disappointing outcome. Rather than moving quickly to the next project, Sophia conducted in-depth interviews with users who disliked the feature. These conversations revealed crucial insights about user priorities that contradicted the team's assumptions. She documented these findings and organized a workshop where the team could reassess their understanding of user needs. The failure that initially seemed career-damaging ultimately led to a fundamental reimagining of the product roadmap and positioned Sophia as a leader who could navigate uncertainty with maturity. To embrace failure as a learning tool in your own journey, start by distinguishing between growth failures and preventable failures. Growth failures occur at the edge of your capabilities when you're attempting something challenging but worthwhile. These deserve celebration rather than criticism, as they indicate you're pushing boundaries. Preventable failures result from carelessness or cutting corners and warrant honest assessment and process improvement. Practice conducting neutral, curious post-mortems after disappointments. Ask questions like: What assumptions were we making? What information were we missing? What would we do differently with our current knowledge? This approach extracts valuable insights without triggering defensive responses that block learning. Develop what psychologist Carol Dweck calls "failure tolerance" by intentionally engaging in activities where initial failure is likely but stakes are manageable. Learning a new skill, participating in unfamiliar sports, or tackling creative projects outside your expertise builds comfort with the discomfort of imperfection. Remember that failure's impact depends entirely on your response to it. As researcher Angela Duckworth discovered in her studies of high achievers, "passion and perseverance for long-term goals" (what she terms "grit") consistently predicts success better than talent or intelligence. This perseverance isn't about blindly persisting but about maintaining commitment to your ultimate vision while adapting your approach based on what each failure teaches you.

Summary

The journey to extraordinary achievement isn't reserved for a select few born with special talents—it's available to anyone willing to approach their potential with intention and persistence. By discovering your unique strengths, setting passion-aligned goals, thinking strategically about obstacles, building supportive habits, leveraging relationships, and embracing failure as education, you create a powerful framework for exceptional results in any area of life. As you move forward from these pages, remember that the most important step is the next one you take. Choose one principle that resonated most deeply and implement it today. As author James Clear wisely noted, "You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems." Your potential for extraordinary achievement awaits not in some distant future but in the consistent actions you begin right now.

About Author

Loading...

Richard Nelson Bolles

Dick Bolles, more formally known as Richard Nelson Bolles, was a former Episcopal clergyman, a member of high-IQ society Mensa, and the author of the best-selling job-hunting book, What Color is Your Parachute? The book remained on The New York Times best-seller list for more than a decade and has sold over 10 million copies.

Read more