EPISODE · Jul 14, 2026 · 17 MIN
REMASTERED: Are You Fully Charged, with Tom Rath | (Wellbeing, Science, Author, Leadership)
from The Action Catalyst
Bestselling author and researcher Tom Rath shares insights from his book "Are You Fully Charged?" on how to improve performance, well‑being, and engagement at work and in life. Rath explains that meaning—not happiness—is the key to fulfillment, emphasizing that focusing on helping others, leveraging strengths, and connecting daily work to a larger purpose leads to higher productivity and better outcomes. He explores how personal energy, including sleep, movement, and health, directly impacts cognitive performance, leadership effectiveness, and workplace success, while warning against the dangers of distraction, especially from smartphones, which reduce attention and relationship quality. The episode also highlights how emotions and behaviors spread through social networks, influencing teams and organizations, and why leaders must prioritize well‑being and purpose to build stronger cultures.
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Tom Rath is a researcher, author, and filmmaker who studies the role of human behavior in business, health, and well-being. He has been described by business leaders and the media as one of the greatest thinkers and nonfiction writers of his generation. Tom has written six New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestsellers over the past decade, starting with the #1 New York Times bestseller How Full Is Your Bucket? In 2016, his book StrengthsFinder 2.0 was listed by amazon.com as the top selling non-fiction book of all time. Tom’s bestsellers include Strengths Based Leadership, Wellbeing, and Eat Move Sleep: How Small Choices Lead to Big Changes. In total, his books have sold more than 6 million copies and have made more than 300 appearances on the Wall Street Journal bestseller list. Tom’s latest bestseller, Are You Fully Charged? The Three Keys to Energizing Your Work and Life is receiving acclaim as “Rath’s best book yet”. Tom also hosts Fully Charged, a feature-length documentary film which explores the key elements of energizing one’s work and life through personal stories and interviews with the world’s leading social scientists. He has also written two children’s books, How Full Is Your Bucket? for Kids and The Rechargeables. In addition to his work as a researcher, writer, and speaker, Tom serves as a senior scientist for and advisor to Gallup, where he previously spent thirteen years leading the organization’s work on employee engagement, strengths, leadership, and well-being. He is also a scientific advisor to Welbe, a startup focused on wearable technology. Show Highlights: Often companies don’t pay attention to the contribution they make in their employees lives. @TomCRathWe have to find ways throughout the day to connect what we’re doing with why we’re doing it. @TomCRathThe best way to find happiness is to focus on the things you can do for other people. @TomCRathMeaning is something you get from any effort you make for another person. @TomCRathYou must be able to meet your own basic needs to be of value in serving other people. @TomCRathOne of the single most valuable thing a leader can do is simply ask a question and genuinely listen to the response. @TomCRathYou can’t be fully effective as a leader if you don’t see the growth of your employee as an end In and of itself. @TomCRathSleep is probably the most underestimated critical business element. @TomCRathOne thing we all have within our power is to make better choices beginning today. @TomCRath To find more information or grab a copy of one of Tom's books, visit: tomrath.org The Action Catalyst is a weekly podcast hosted by Dan Moore, President of Southwestern Advantage, the oldest direct-sales company in America, and Partner with Southwestern Consulting. With more than 45 years in sales leadership and marketing management, Dan has a wealth of knowledge to share on how to make better use of time to achieve life, sales, and other business goals. Each week, he interviews some of the nation’s top thought leaders and experts, sharing meaningful tips and advice. Subscribe on iTunes and please leave a rating and review!
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REMASTERED: Are You Fully Charged, with Tom Rath | (Wellbeing, Science, Author, Leadership)
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