Ten differentiating behaviors that will bring you career and personal success Just being good at what you do doesn't cut it anymore. Today's information fueled economy rewards a new breed of worker--those who can think differently, move faster, and attain a level of knowledge that tilts the field of play in their favor. In Shortcut to Prosperity , Mark Hopkins explains how to develop those habits--not only for career success, but also for a more fulfilling and exciting life. He'll show you how to - Do the soul searching required to find your passion - Harness hardship or personal vision to engage a lifelong Prosperity Cycle that builds on one success after another - Put in the hours with the right organizations to develop a differentiating level of competence - Exploit your natural curiosity and expand your field of vision to spot opportunities others miss, the most important entrepreneurial habit - Develop partners, guides, and mentors to help you along the way However you define prosperity, Mark can help you find your field of play, develop a competitive advantage, and recruit allies. Through stories of inspiring people--some entrepreneurs, some not--Mark reinforces the book's message: you don't have to be a genius or lucky to have the exact career and life you want. By sharing the habits of success and simple strategies for integrating them into your life, Mark will help you map your own shortcut to prosperity. ''Mark Hopkins' shortcuts are proven techniques to identify your strengths as you build your own competitive advantage--they are easy to read, comprehend, and DO. It is a wonderful compilation, describing how inspiration and perspiration can build success.'' --James Ellis, dean, Marshall School of Business, University of Southern California ''Mark Hopkins nails it by incorporating great stories of average people who have achieved prosperity. Each story underscores a key step on the path toward identifying and pursuing the career and life you envision. Don t miss this book!' --Jason Jennings, New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of It's Not the Big That Eat the Small, It's the Fast That Eat the Slow and The Reinventors ''Mark Hopkins has captured the magic of great entrepreneurship and boiled it down in 10 practical 'shortcuts.' The power of his approach is masked by the clarity and simplicity with which he presents it. Shortcut to Prosperity is a masterful blueprint to a more effective and richer life. I wish I had read it as I launched my company!'' --Zack Neumeyer, chairman, Sage Hospitality ''Shortcut to Prosperity offers the reader a rare combination of original stories, challenging exercises, and useful chapter summaries. It is written in the authoritative and gritty voice of a successful leader who has made this journey himself.'' --Geoff Smart, PhD; CEO, ghSMART; and author of the New York Times bestsellers Who and Leadocracy ''Whether you want to move up the corporate ladder or make it on your own, Shortcut to Prosperity is your success bible.'' --Tommy Spaulding, author of the New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller It s Not Just Who You Know ''I have spent my career preparing young people to succeed in an increasingly challenging global economy. Shortcut to Prosperity does a wonderful job compiling a timeless set of recommendations that will give readers a huge head start.'' ----John Box, PhD, senior vice president, education (retired), Junior Achievement Worldwide ''In the words of Seneca, the Roman philosopher, 'luck is when preparation meets opportunity.' Mark Hopkins shows in a powerful and practical way how you can make your own luck, and be happier, healthier, and more successful as a result.'' --Robert Halperin, executive director, MIT Center for Collective Intelligence, Sloan School of Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology ''Success in today's hyper-competitive world is all about differentiating yourself and adding value. Shortcut to Prosperity shows you how.'' --Keith McFarland, New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of The Breakthrough Company and Bounce ''Mark Hopkins accomplishes a rare feat in Shortcut to Prosperity, meting out practical how-to wisdom right alongside earnest encouragement. Those looking to capitalize on their innate strengths and live a more energized life should read this book.'' --Aaron Kennedy, founder and former CEO, Noodles and Company ''For those unwilling to settle, Shortcut to Prosperity provides a game changing roadmap for personal and business success.'' --David Prokupek, chairman and CEO of Smashburger, voted #1 most promising company by Forbes Magazine ''I recommend this book to anyone at any point in their career trajectory. It is a wonderful tool for evaluating where you are, where you want to go, and how to get there.'' --Katherine Gold, president, Goldbug '' 'How often is the status quo really what you want?' A challenging question from provocative author