The firstborn advantage : making your birth order work for you

Firstborns were born to win. Clearly the natural movers, shakers, and leaders of this world, they can accomplish anything they set their minds to. They're the high achievers, the benchmark-setters, the business moguls, the concert violinists, the heads of the PTA. But if they're out of balance, they can be overly perfectionistic, driven, and critical. They can become controllers (everything has to go their way) or pleasers (exhausting themselves in meeting the demands of others). In The Firstborn Advantage, bestselling author, humorist, and internationally known psychologist Dr. Kevin Leman identifies the qualities of firstborns...and there's a hook. Just because you're the firstborn child in the family doesn't mean you'll have a firstborn personality. You can be #3 in a group of 4 siblings, and still have a firstborn personality! Dr. Leman reveals why. He helps firstborns understand their natural advantages--while becoming aware of their weaknesses and learning how to sidestep them--for the highest level of personal success at home, at school, at work, and in relationships. This fun, informative, and practical book will keep readers engaged and provide many "aha!" moments. Introduction: Will the firstborn please stand up? Just who are the firstborns? What's this birth order business about anyway? It has everything to do with your place in the family and your entire life Who's on first? Just because you're the first child born in a family, does that make you the firstborn? : here's why or why not The firstborn personality Firstborns are achievers : they get things done ... but there's a flip side to always winning Why firstborns are the way they are From day one, they're in charge, they always have the thickest photo album, they set the benchmark for every other child in the family Where do I go to buy one of those firstborns? You can't buy 'em, you can't teach 'em (at least not very well) Firstborn has innate skills that are hard to beat if he or she is balanced in life Has the critical eye turned on you? If there's anything firstborns struggle with, it's criticism : did you have a flaw picker as a parent? are you a flaw picker? here's how to turn that around for your own and others' good The firstborn advantage at home How to use your firstborn skills to strengthen your relationships with your spouse and children (who may be the same or a different birth order than you) The firstborn advantage at school How to use your firstborn nature to set reasonable goals and to encourage both yourself and your children as you pursue excellence ... not frustration The firstborn advantage at work How you can win at business anytime and all the time The firstborn advantage in relationships Why birds of a feather flock together ... but sometimes cause problems in the nest Making the most of being a firstborn What do you really want out of life? : you can break free of your own and others' expectations. Dr. Kevin Leman is an internationally known psychologist, humorist, and bestselling author of more than thirty books, including The Birth Order Book, Sex Begins in the Kitchen, Making Children Mind without Losing Yours, Sheet Music, and Have a New Kid by Friday. He is former consulting psychologist for Good Morning America and a frequent guest on The View, The Early Show, and Focus on the Family. He and his firstborn wife, Sande, live in Tucson, Arizona. They have five children and two grandchildren. Oldest children were born to win! They're the high achievers, benchmark-setters, business moguls, concert violinists, and PTA presidents of our society. But when things get out of balance, how can they avoid being overly perfectionistic, people-pleasing, driven, and critical? Dr. Kevin Leman helps you to maximize your strengths, overcome your weaknesses, and better understand your firstborn friends and relatives Helps firstborns understand their natural advantages - while becoming aware of their weaknesses and learning how to sidestep them - for the highest level of personal success at home, at school, at work, and in relationships.