Triggers – Marshall Goldsmith

🧠 Short Summary:

In “Triggers,” world-renowned executive coach Marshall Goldsmith teams up with co-author Mark Reiter to explore what really drives human behavior—and how small environmental cues, or “triggers,” can either help or hinder your efforts to improve yourself.

Goldsmith challenges the traditional belief that motivation and willpower are the keys to lasting change. Instead, he argues that behavior is largely shaped by our environment , and that understanding the role of “triggers”—both external (like people, places, and events) and internal (like emotions and thoughts)—is essential to making meaningful, long-term improvements.

The book is built on years of research, real-world coaching experience, and Goldsmith’s work with top CEOs and leaders across industries. He reveals why so many people fail at sustaining positive change—not because they don’t want to improve, but because they underestimate the power of their surroundings .

He categorizes triggers into two types:

• Activators : Triggers that push us toward positive action.
• Saboteurs : Triggers that lead us back into old habits and poor decisions.

Goldsmith provides practical tools to help you identify and manage these triggers in your life. One of the most powerful concepts in the book is his daily self-monitoring questions:

• Did I do my best to…
  • Set clear goals?
  • Make progress toward what matters?
  • Find meaning?
  • Build positive relationships?
  • Be happy?

By asking yourself these questions every day, you create a habit of reflection and accountability—key ingredients for lasting change.

He also emphasizes the importance of environmental design —how structuring your surroundings (from your workspace to your social circle) can support better choices without relying solely on discipline.

This isn’t just a book about self-improvement—it’s a guide to understanding how the world around you shapes who you become. Whether you’re trying to lose weight, improve relationships, boost productivity, or become a better leader, “Triggers” gives you the insight and tools to make it happen.

🔑 Bold Key Points

• Behavior is more influenced by environment than willpower.
• Triggers can be activators or saboteurs of change.
• Self-reflection is key to sustained improvement.
• Small environmental changes lead to big behavioral shifts.
• You can’t control all triggers—but you can learn to manage them.