All or Nothing ― Bringing Balance to the Achievement-oriented Personality

In this fascinating and empowering book, the author (a clinical psychologist) looks at the often talked about but little understood phenomenon of the 'all or nothing' personality: a personality type that is driven to focus on a task or area of their life to the exclusion of all else. While often bringing great rewards in terms of career achievement, this approach can commonly lead to other areas of life being adversely affected (difficulty maintaining relationships, not having a life outside work, etc). It's also one of the main causes of burnout. The author looks at how this personality type can develop (for example, a deep fear of failure, a desire to please others, childhood expectations that you 'always do your best') and, more importantly, how balance can be brought to the all or nothing personality so that the best aspects of it can be retained while the potential negatives are mitigated, resulting in a more meaningful and rewarding life.

Mike McKinney is a registered clinical psychologist with over 20 years of experience. He has worked in both public (hospital-based) and private practice settings, and over the years has become increasingly intrigued by the potential for an individual's personality style to enhance or undermine decisions and behaviours in relation to achievement. Mike is married to a psychologist and together they have two teenage boys. His interests include martial arts and classic Japanese motorcycles. Mike lives with his family in Christchurch, New Zealand.