About the author xi

Prologue — living by choice, not by chance 1

The Deliberate Quotient (DQ) Quiz 19

1 Decide — what’s important 31

2 Eliminate — focusing on the important 61

3 Language — your internal soundtrack 81

4 Information — managing inward and outward flows 99

5 Beliefs — guiding your behaviour 123

6 Energy — synchronising your body and mind 145

7 Responsibility — accepting and taking ownership 165

8 Action — getting work done 187

9 Time — achieving your priorities 209

10 Evaluate — managing your overall performance 241

Epilogue — living with success 261

Recommended reading 267

My story 291

Acknowledgements and gratitude 301

Index 307