In his book Encore Effect (Doubleday, 2008), Mark Sanborn sets up life as a stage and challenges the reader to perform remarkably in every setting; who wouldn’t want that? He gives a background on the “encore effect” and tantalizes the reader with the idea of boosting self-performance so the rest of the world is left asking to see more of what you can do. 

He sets the stage this way; we have all seen great performances of one kind or another (theater, art, etc.) that leave us wanting more.  For Sanborn, this concept can be transferred into every situation.  When people constantly demand more and more of whatever it is you do, you have achieved the Encore Effect.  When I read that statement, he had me hooked. 

Sanborn’s style is conversational and sincere.  Think about it—how do you cultivate passion in yourself that in turn inspires passion in others?  This book tells you how.  It leads the reader through preparation and practice, which increases confidence. This, in turn, creates tremendous performances in all the challenges you take on.

The final chapter tells us how to inspire others to improve their performance, and there’s the rub; the decision to make your own performance more energy-charged and impactful directly leads to the same attributes in others. 

This book resonated, because it reminds us all that we don’t need to just “get by” in life; we can have an impassioned life, inspire the same in others, and leave the world demanding an encore! It is a quick, two-hour read, and it is definitely worth it.  Read Sanborn’s book and give yourself the chance to live the Encore Effect!