is a reminder that high performance doesn’t come from adding more, but from clearing away what no longer serves the mission. As he writes, “The path to performance improvement is through decluttering anything irrelevant to the mission.”

For executives leading top-performing organizations, the message is clear: “Our outer results depend on our inner clarity.” The ability to cut through noise, sharpen focus, and reset your operating system is what separates leaders who sustain excellence from those who plateau.

What I took from this book is simple but powerful: you already have what you need to win at the next level. The work is about subtraction, with curating inputs, shedding clutter, and staying clear on what matters most. I love this line: “...with a clean space, the next steps become obvious.”

This book is a field guide for executives who want to keep their edge, scale performance, and continue driving results—simpler, better, faster.

The introduction pulls you in and immediately builds a compelling case for the pursuit of less. This isn’t a “be better at work” manual—it’s bigger than that, offering lessons that apply across life. He shares vivid examples of executives who’ve leveled up their thinking and routines, and weaves in his own stories, from running track to serving in the Marine Corps.

The middle hits hard—in the best way. “You Are the Program” stopped me cold; it reoriented my thinking and I firmly believe that it has permanently changed the way I see things. And I printed out Chapter 9 and hung it on my office wall. No joke. Andy has a rare gift for taking concepts that could feel heavy or academic and making them feel urgent and real. His personal anecdotes do much of the heavy lifting, and I found myself connecting with the career crossroads and tough conversations he described.

“Regression-proofing yourself” and the framework for maintenance around who you want to become sticks the landing. This book doesn’t just hand you answers; it provides an intuitive system to help you lead and live differently. That’s exceedingly rare, and Andy has done something special here.

On a personal note, the lessons from this book have not only sharpened how I lead as a public company executive, but have also reshaped how I show up in my relationships. It’s changed how I listen to and engage with my family and friends—bringing more presence, patience, and intentionality into those moments. The result has been a more grounded and authentic way of moving through both work and life, and I can genuinely say that I like myself better as a result of it.