Who is Tom Rath?
Tom Rath is an American author, speaker, and researcher. He is the bestselling author of How Full Is Your Bucket?, StrengthsFinder 2.0, Give and Take, and Option B. His books have been translated into more than 30 languages and have sold more than 20 million copies worldwide.
Rath is a former Gallup researcher and the co-founder of the Good Work Institute. He has been featured in Time, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Fortune. He has also appeared on Oprah, The Today Show, and CNN.
Rath’s work focuses on the science of human potential and how people can live more fulfilling and successful lives. He is a passionate advocate for the power of strengths and believes that everyone has the potential to make a difference in the world.
Early Years
Tom Rath was born in 1968 in Omaha, Nebraska. He grew up in a small town in Iowa, where he developed a love of nature and the outdoors. He attended the University of Iowa, where he studied psychology. After graduating, he worked as a research assistant at the Gallup Organization.
III. Education
Tom Rath attended the University of Notre Dame, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He then went on to earn an MBA from the University of Michigan.
IV. Career at Gallup
In 1990, Rath joined Gallup as a researcher. He quickly rose through the ranks and became a senior Gallup fellow in 1999. In 2004, he was appointed as the chief scientist for Gallup’s workplace research division. In this role, he led a team of researchers who conducted studies on employee engagement, leadership, and organizational culture.
Rath’s work at Gallup has had a significant impact on the field of organizational psychology. His research has helped to shape our understanding of what makes employees engaged and productive, and his insights have been used by organizations around the world to improve their workplaces.
In 2012, Rath left Gallup to found the Good Work Institute, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the importance of good work in society. The institute’s mission is to “inspire people to do good work and to create workplaces where good work thrives.”
V. Publication of “How Full Is Your Bucket?”
In 2004, Rath published his first book, How Full Is Your Bucket? The book became a New York Times bestseller and has been translated into more than 20 languages. In the book, Rath argues that our relationships are the most important factor in our happiness and success. He introduces the concept of the “bucket” metaphor, which represents our emotional reserves. When our buckets are full, we are happy and productive. When our buckets are empty, we are unhappy and unproductive.
Rath also identifies six key ways to fill our buckets:
- Expressing gratitude
- Practicing acts of kindness
- Forgiving others
- Showing appreciation
- Being present
- Serving others
“How Full Is Your Bucket?” has been praised for its practical advice and inspiring message. It has helped millions of people to improve their relationships and their lives.
VI. Founding of the Good Work Institute
In 2005, Rath founded the Good Work Institute, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the understanding of good work and its impact on individuals, organizations, and society. The institute’s mission is to inspire people to do good work and to create workplaces where good work thrives.
The Good Work Institute has developed a number of resources to help people understand and practice good work, including the Good Work Framework, the Good Work Awards, and the Good Work Playbook. The institute also offers a variety of training and consulting services to help organizations create workplaces where good work thrives.
The Good Work Institute is a leading voice in the conversation about good work, and its work has been featured in a number of publications, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Forbes.
VII. Publication of “StrengthsFinder 2.0”
In 2007, Rath published the book “StrengthsFinder 2.0”, which was an updated version of his earlier book “StrengthsFinder”. The book was based on the research of Gallup, and it identified 34 different strengths that people can have. Rath argued that people should focus on developing their strengths rather than trying to fix their weaknesses. “StrengthsFinder 2.0” was a bestseller, and it has been translated into more than 20 languages.
Publication of “Give and Take”
IX. Publication of “Option B”
In 2017, Rath published his book “Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy.” The book was co-written with his wife, Gretchen Rubin, and it chronicles their personal experiences with grief after the death of their youngest son. The book offers practical advice on how to cope with adversity and build resilience.
“Option B” was a New York Times bestseller and was named one of the best books of the year by The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, and The Wall Street Journal. The book has been translated into more than 30 languages.
Rath has continued to speak and write about resilience and the importance of finding joy in the face of adversity. He is a frequent guest on television and radio shows, and he has given speeches at universities, conferences, and corporations around the world.
In 2018, Rath founded the Option B Center, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people cope with adversity and build resilience. The center offers a variety of resources, including online courses, workshops, and coaching.
IX. Publication of “Option B”
In 2015, Rath published “Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy”, a book co-written with his wife, Julie. The book was inspired by their experience dealing with the sudden death of their 14-year-old son, Danny, in 2013.
In “Option B”, Rath and Julie argue that resilience is not about being immune to adversity, but about how we cope with it. They offer a four-step process for building resilience:
- Grieving
- Reframing
- Reconnecting
- Renewing
“Option B” has been praised for its insights into resilience and its practical advice for coping with adversity. It has been translated into more than 30 languages and has sold more than two million copies worldwide.
In 2017, Rath and Julie founded the Option B Center, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping people build resilience. The center offers a variety of resources, including online courses, workshops, and coaching.