Marshall Goldsmith Shows How to Disengage from Your Past

In a blog post about starting over, adapted from his new book The Earned Life, the renowned leadership expert and bestselling author Marshall Goldsmith talks about how it’s necessary to let the past go so that you can fully engage with transitions in your life.

Goldsmith writes: “Our lives are marked by transitions where we move from one phase to another, as we continually change who we are and become someone new. In achieving an earned life, you are constantly becoming someone new. Before you can effectively earn the next phase of your life, you have to disengage from the old phase that you claim to have left behind. You not only have to let go of past achievements (you are not the person who earned those achievements, that is, you have become someone new), you also have to relinquish your old identity and way of doing things. It’s okay to learn from our past, but I don’t recommend going back to visit every day.”

The newly reelected French President Emmanuel Macron is seeking to leave a bit of his past behind, as his new administration has named several fresh faces as ministers. France’s new government mixes veteran politicians from President Macron’s prior administration with newcomers in key ministries, including education and diplomacy. In addition, President Macron named Élisabeth Borne, former labor and environment minister, as prime minister — she is only the second woman to be prime minister in France, a break from the past where the majority in government were men.

In The Earned Life Goldsmith uncovers the source of today’s existential crises, including regrets that stem from choices that irrevocably alter our lives, reroute destinies, and haunt our memories. These are particularly timely themes today.

With Goldsmith’s book as a guide, readers can close the gap between what they plan to achieve and what they actually get done—even in a world full of inescapable unfairness and curveballs—and live an earned life that is fulfilling in the long run.

You can read Marshall Goldsmith’s blog here.

About MARSHALL GOLDSMITH

Marshall Goldsmith has been recognized for years as the world’s leading executive coach and the New York Times bestselling author of many books, including What Got You Here Won’t Get You There, Mojo, and Triggers. He received his Ph.D. from the UCLA Anderson School of Management. In his coaching practice, Goldsmith has advised more than 200 major CEOs and their management teams. He and his wife live in Nashville, Tennessee.

About THE EARNED LIFE

In THE EARNED LIFE (Currency Books), Marshall Goldsmith uncovers the source of today’s existential crisis: regret, the kind stemming from choices that irrevocably alter our lives, reroutes destinies, and haunts our memories—particularly timely themes as the pandemic and Great Resignation inspire people to seek meaning in their lives, get unstuck and make changes. With this book as their guide, readers can close the gap between what they plan to achieve and what they actually get done—even in a world full of inescapable unfairness and curveballs—and live an earned life too fulfilling to dwell on the “what ifs.”

If you’d like more information on Marshall Goldsmith, The Earned Life, and his work, please get in touch with Lyda Goldsmith.