Someone on twitter says:
The foundation of lasting self-confidence and self esteem is excellence, mastery of your work. ~Brian Tracy

Brian says:

So if someone feels they lack the self-esteem to do well at work, Brian Tracy doesn’t give them many options to succeed.

He places them in a bind.  At first they can’t succeed due to low self esteem.   He’s telling them they can’t get self esteem because you need to master your work to get it.   Need self-esteem to succeed but can’t get it because I need it to succeed.  Being in a circular bind like this can make people feel more helpless.

Brian is well respected, but taken on its own, this sort of quote can do more harm than good.

Evaluate your helpers like you would anything else you buy or take.  Is the help you’re getting working for you?

So you like it?  Probably, Brian Tracy is personable.

Do you learn from it?  Full of tips.

Do you use it?  If you start off not being able to do well at work due to low self esteem, this advice could make you feel worse.

Do you benefit from it?  Not if you don’t use it or it makes you feel worse.

So I hear you say, “What would you do smarty-pants?”, if anybody still uses that phrase.

Email me or call me and I’ll tell you what I’d do to get out of the bind or help you be fully productive despite it. It’s all about asking the right questions.
Brian Birch
My phone numbers are 020 8816 7343 or 07703 176167 (UK)