EVERYONE wants to be happy. Who would not want greater meaning and joy in their professional and personal lives? This is what Marshall Goldsmith offers in his latest book.

With references from some of America's most influential bosses at companies such as Motorola, Unilever and Goldman Sachs, it is not hard to pay attention to what the author has to say.

Goldsmith says mojo, which he defines as a positive spirit from the inside that radiates outward, impacts on our relationships with our bosses, colleagues and spouses.

Using anecdotal evidence from his experiences coaching some of the most powerful businessmen in the US, he explains how once we begin to harness our personal mojo we can begin to be more effective in making our inner aspirations real in the world.

As a fan of self-help literature, I read the book to the end, but those who are not enthusiastic about self-discovery might find the book a bit of a challenge. His over-detailed analysis of how many identities we each have, and long questionnaires on assessing your reputation, can be daunting.

I believe the book will be most helpful to those who are already halfway there. Those who have already begun to ask life's big questions.

If you are not one for touchy-feely mumbo jumbo, there are still some practical applications in the book; such as ways to avoid career suicide. Interestingly, it is in these chapters with the most practical application that I enjoyed the book the most. All the talk of mojo can be elusive and in the end one can feel they still haven't totally grasped what Goldsmith is on about.