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15 min 04 sec
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Elevate: An Essential Guide to Life

Shows how to lift your work and personal life through small choices you already control: asking better questions, rewriting negative self-talk, setting quick and certain rewards, structuring your time, protecting your energy and listening openly.

Table of Content

Most people know roughly what they want from life and still spend whole seasons stuck, waiting for motivation or luck to change things. In Elevate, Joseph Deitch, who built an investment firm in Boston and later won a Tony Award as a Broadway co-producer, argues that the first move is almost embarrassingly simple: stop complaining and ask a better question. For years he dreaded the gray Boston November, until he asked what made Thanksgiving its one bright spot and found the answer in the people he loved.

That small move runs through the whole book. Deitch’s case is that a better life is built from deliberate everyday choices you already control: the questions you ask, the words you use about yourself, the rewards you set, how you start and structure work, how you spend energy, how you listen and how you love. Each idea that follows is one of those levers, paired with a test you can try before the week is out.

A man who dreaded every winter now looks forward to it, and the weather never changed. A boy who wanted video games stopped whining. Both shifts came from the same overlooked habit.

A father repeated one sentence to his son every night, and the boy has slept well ever since. Deitch thinks the same mechanism shapes your weight, your mood and your confidence.

Many bosses still believe fear gets results. Deitch thinks they have it backwards, and the formula he offers instead works just as well on a team as on your own stalled diet.

Deitch spent years trying to learn to ski and finally quit. With yoga he did one thing differently, and it stuck. The difference has little to do with talent.

In a family emergency, people suddenly organize their days with surprising discipline. Pilots and hospital staff work that way every day, and Deitch asks why the rest of us wait for a crisis.

Lifting a suitcase with too much force is almost as useless as lifting it with too little. Deitch applies that picture to your workload, and then to the power-napping habit of well-known historical figures.

At a feedback seminar, one participant shouted that his colleagues’ comments were unfair, and in doing so proved them right. Deitch uses the scene to show what real listening demands.

Puppies, small children and an ancient Indian text all appear in Deitch’s advice on connection. Together they point to something most people agree matters, yet rarely make room for.

Elevate reads like advice from a successful man who has tested most of it on himself and his family. What it adds up to is a change in where you look for change. Rather than waiting for a better season, a better boss or more willpower, Deitch keeps pointing at the small controls already in your hands: the question you ask, the sentence you repeat, the reward you promise, the force of your first month, the checklist, the nap, the open ear and the hug.

None of them asks for a new life. They ask for attention. Begin where he does, by naming what you want to change and staying with that question until you have a firm answer. Then keep a two-week time log, every six minutes, and see how many hours are already free. And the next time someone close to you seems unhappy, stop trying to read their mind and ask what they want.

His November is the proof. The weather stayed exactly as gray as before. He changed the question, and the month he once dreaded became one he looks forward to.

About this book

What is this book about?

Most people know roughly what they want from life, yet they spend long stretches stuck, waiting for motivation, luck or a better season to arrive. Joseph Deitch, a financial entrepreneur and Tony Award-winning Broadway co-producer, argues that the tools for change are smaller and closer than they look. His starting point is the question. Ask what would actually solve a problem, and what you would need to do to get what you want, and self-pity gives way to action. From there Deitch moves through a set of everyday levers: talking about yourself as if you were programming your own brain, motivating yourself and others with rewards that are positive, immediate and certain, launching new projects at full strength, using checklists the way pilots and doctors do, matching effort to the task, and treating sleep and power naps as part of your work. The book ends with other people, explaining why love, time with children, playful openness and touch make life happier and fuller. Readers get a short, practical toolkit drawn from Deitch's own life and family, with simple experiments they can try right away.

Book Information

Rating:

Genre:

Personal Development

Topics:

Listening, Self-Talk, Time Management

Publisher:

Civica Media

Language:

English

Narrator:

Jenna

First published:

March 27, 2018

Pages:

350

Length:

15 min 04 sec

Get the book:

Amazon

Who it's for

  • Busy professionals feeling stuck

    Busy professionals who feel stuck and want simple levers for work and home they can try this week.

  • Managers rethinking pressure

    Managers who rely on pressure and want a better way to motivate their teams.

  • Wanting to feel better

    Anyone short on sleep, energy or connection who wants practical, low-cost habits to feel better.

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About the Author

Joseph Deitch

Joseph Deitch founded Commonwealth Financial Network, an independent investment broker-dealer based in Boston, and serves as its chairman. He also chairs Southworth Development, a golf and resort real estate company. Between 2009 and 2012 he co-produced nine Broadway productions and won a Tony Award in 2012 for The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess. Elevate is his first book. In 2018 he founded the Elevate Prize Foundation, which supports people and organizations improving the human experience, and he started the Deitch Leadership Institute at the Boston Latin School.

Ratings & Reviews

Ratings at a glance

4.1

Overall score based on 516 ratings.

What people think

Listeners find this book to be perceptive and highly readable, with one listener highlighting the inclusion of practical exercises. They also appreciate how the inspirational themes weave in spirituality, while one listener points out that it is not preachy. Additionally, the author’s professional background in business is well-regarded.

Top reviews

Connor

Finally got around to reading Joseph Deitch's work and I’m genuinely impressed by the lack of preachiness here. Often, successful business leaders write books that feel like a long ego trip, but this was the opposite. It felt like a warm, relaxed conversation with a mentor who actually wants you to succeed. The spiritual elements are woven in naturally without feeling forced or overly religious. I spent about three weeks working through the different sections, taking my time to digest his ten steps. Frankly, it’s not the kind of book you breeze through in an afternoon. It requires you to sit with your thoughts and really diagnose your own habits. I particularly appreciated the focus on clarity—knowing what you want before you try to change everything. This is a masterful work that deserves a spot on your shelf.

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Thitiwan

Picked this up on a whim after seeing a recommendation in my counseling program. As someone studying mental health, I was surprised by how much clinical wisdom Deitch packs into these pages. It’s rare to find a business book that balances hustle with such a deep respect for spirit and well-being. The flow of the book is excellent; each chapter builds on the last in a logical sequence. I even took my copy to a local Starbucks and spent a whole Saturday morning getting lost in the section on surfing the waves of life. It’s encouraging, insightful, and surprisingly practical if you’re willing to put in the mental effort. Definitely recommending this to my fellow students and future patients. It’s an uplifting guide for anyone feeling weighed down by the complexity of our modern culture.

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Kavya

Wow, what a refreshing take on personal growth. I was particularly struck by the author's success in business and how he translates those high-stakes lessons into everyday wisdom. This isn't just about elevating your career; it's about raising the quality of your entire existence. The way he discusses our convoluted lives and how to navigate them with grace really resonated with me. I loved the quotes at the beginning of the chapters—they were incredibly relevant and gave me a lot to think about. It’s a book that helps you find your center again. In my experience, most self-help books are either too dry or too woo-woo, but this finds the perfect middle ground. Truly a masterful work that I’ll be keeping on my shelf for a long time. It provides clarity where there was once confusion.

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Titiluck

The chapter on curiosity versus frustration really hit home for me. Instead of getting annoyed by things I can't control, I'm trying to be fascinated by them. Deitch's business background clearly informs his perspective, providing a sense of grounded authority that many gurus lack. Truth is, while a lot of this echoes standard self-improvement concepts, the way he frames our interactions with others as a way to "elevate" is quite clever. He doesn't just preach; he offers a blueprint for navigating our convoluted modern culture. I loved the quotes at the start of each section—they really helped set the tone for what followed. My only gripe is that it can feel a bit theory-heavy at times. You really have to do the legwork to apply these ideas to your daily routine because the book doesn't always provide a direct map for every single step.

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Hannah

As a long-time self-help junkie, I’ve seen it all, from the deep philosophical texts to the quick cash-grabs. Elevate belongs in the former category. Joseph Deitch manages to bridge the gap between high-level theory and actionable mindset shifts. One thing that stood out was the emphasis on how we treat the people around us. Are we giving them what they need? It’s a simple question that we often forget to ask in our pursuit of personal gain. The writing style is very accessible, making complex psychological concepts easy to grasp for a layman. My only minor complaint is the lack of a structured workbook. Some of the tasks are a bit vague, leaving you to figure out the implementation on your own. Still, it’s a solid addition to any growth-oriented library and the quotes are excellent.

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Isabelle

Ever wonder why life feels so cluttered and overwhelming these days? This book tries to answer that by providing a framework for simplification and growth. Deitch doesn’t just talk about making more money; he talks about the why behind our actions. That focus on purpose is what sets this apart from your average airport business book. Not gonna lie, some parts are a bit slow, and I found myself skimming the more theoretical sections to get to the actionable advice. But the insights on how to structure your day for maximum efficiency were genuinely useful. It’s a book that demands you take a hard look at yourself. If you’re ready for some inner diagnosis, there’s a lot of value here. The author's voice is relaxed and never feels like he's talking down to the reader.

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Emma

After hearing about Deitch's success, I was curious to see if his philosophy would be applicable to someone not in the corporate world. I'm happy to report that it is. This book is remarkably versatile. Whether you're a manager looking to better understand your team or just a parent trying to communicate with your kids, there's something here for you. Gotta say, the author has a very relaxed and encouraging voice that makes the reading experience quite enjoyable. It never feels like he's talking down to you. Instead, he offers practical tips on how to tend to your mind, body, and spirit in a dynamic way. While it contains a lot of theory that takes time to digest, the overarching message of proficiency and satisfaction is hard to ignore. It’s an educational journey that left me feeling much more optimistic.

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Pang

To be fair, I went into this book with very high expectations because of the author’s reputation in the financial world. There are definitely some gems hidden in these pages, especially the parts about effective communication and stopping the "psychic" game with partners. However, I felt like a lot of the material could be condensed into a long YouTube video or a series of blog posts. Personally, I found it a bit too broad to be life-changing. It covers everything from mental health to business efficiency, which is great for a general overview but leaves you wanting more specific exercises. If you’re new to the genre, this is a fantastic starting point. For those of us who have read the master works of self-help, it might feel a little repetitive and light on new facts.

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Natnicha

Not what I expected from a top-tier executive, but in a good way. The tone is very humble and the author clearly values holistic success over just bottom-line numbers. However, I have to agree with some other readers who mentioned that it lacks a bit of punch. The core message—clarify what you want and refuse to give up—is powerful, but it's nothing groundbreaking. I found some very good bits scattered throughout, like the part about fascinated curiosity, but I spent a lot of time waiting for a lightbulb moment that never quite arrived. It’s a pleasant read and definitely inspirational, but maybe a bit too gentle for those who need a kick in the pants. It’s more of a slow burn than an immediate transformation, but worth it if you have the patience.

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Natchaya

Look, I really wanted to love this because the reviews were so glowing, but it just didn’t land for me. I read a summary first and then bought the full copy, hoping for more meat on the bones. Unfortunately, it felt like a lot of information with very little structure on how to actually execute the elevation process. It’s very theory-oriented. If you’re looking for a step-by-step guide with checklists and daily prompts, this isn’t it. Most of the advice felt like things I’ve heard a thousand times before—eat well, sleep, and communicate better. In my experience, the book is a bit too broad to provide the specific breakthroughs I was looking for. It’s a nice enough read, but not something I’d revisit or recommend to anyone who has already read the classics of the genre.

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Questions about this book

Deitch argues that a better life comes from small, deliberate choices you already control. He starts with asking the right question, such as what you need to do to get what you want, then covers positive self-talk, rewards that are positive, immediate and certain, committed starts, checklists, balanced energy and sleep, active listening, and making room for love and touch.

Deitch says fear backfires, because threats push people to do only enough to avoid punishment. Instead, rewards should be positive, immediate and certain. People prefer a payoff now over a larger one later, so quick rewards drive harder work, and firm, reliable bonuses keep people pushing toward targets better than promises that might be broken.

Deitch recommends a two-week time log. Carry a notebook and write down what you are doing every six minutes. He expects most people to be shocked at the hours lost to television, social media and worry. Seeing that waste clearly, he argues, is half the work, and the freed hours can go to an instrument, family or exercise.

He recommends naps of 20 to 30 minutes when you are tired, rather than pushing on with poor work. In his account, such naps are almost entirely REM sleep and end before deep sleep, so you wake refreshed rather than groggy. He stresses that naps cannot replace full nights and treats sleep medication as a last resort after exercise and natural remedies.

It suits busy professionals and managers who want short, practical tools for both work and home life. Readers who feel stuck, struggle to motivate a team or themselves, start projects and abandon them, or feel low on energy and connection will find simple experiments to try, such as a positive-mood exercise, a 30-day challenge and a two-week time log.

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Elevate

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