01
How Humans Think & Work
Fear, stress & EQ
NEW FROM EDWARD BJURSTROM
Master the human side of success.
A practical guide to thinking, leading, and building trust under pressure, from forty years on the front lines of biopharma.
★★★★★
Paperback & Kindle · Published December 2025
18 YEARS AT AMGEN
12 YEARS AT GILEAD
TEAMS OF 1,500+
FOUNDER, MOUNTAIN TOP CONSULTING
The way people think is the origin of all spectacular failures and the genius of all superior accomplishments.
THE CORE THESIS OF THE SUCCESS GUIDE
HOW THE BOOK IS ORGANIZED
Five parts.
One climb.
Each part builds on the last, from the way your brain works under stress to a complete real-world case study.
02
The Individual
Growth mindset, focus & flow
03
Teams
Group flow on real teams
04
Leaders
Trust, vision & alignment
05
Case Study
Applied in a real, high-stakes setting
WHAT YOU'LL TAKE AWAY
Ideas you'll use the same week you read them
Every chapter ends with key takeaways, so the book works as an actual guide — not just a good read.
Emotional intelligence over IQ
Why self-awareness, self-management, and empathy — not raw intelligence — decide who thrives when pressure hits.
Trust as the operating system
I've watched brilliant strategies fail on broken trust. Learn how trust is built, how it breaks, and how to rebuild it.
The Vision Stack
A five-level framework for aligning your organization — from vision and mission down to daily goals.
Group flow, the performance multiplier
Ten triggers that explain why crisis teams perform extraordinary feats — and how to cultivate them deliberately.
Mindfulness that reduces errors
Not meditation — task-focused awareness, and a systemic view of human error that goes beyond blame-and-retrain.
Storytelling as a leadership skill
Stories bypass defensiveness and stick where information doesn't. A practical method for building your own.
What readers are saying
★★★★★
“Like having a guidebook and a teacher all in one. Very practical, very human, and intended to help people succeed, not just survive.”
Noma Jack · Noma Reads Blog
★★★★★
“Careers don't usually stall because people lack ability. They stall because people don't really understand how humans think, feel, and react when the pressure is on.”
Emma Lee · BestReviewsClub
★★★★★
“Unlike most corporate success books, this one doesn't rush to hacks, slogans, or five-step shortcuts. It slows you down — and that's precisely its strength.”
Harper Quinn · Harper Quinn Blog
★★★★★
“A useful framework which can help advance your career in every aspect: from improving productivity to enhancing leadership skills.”
Sanne Vander · Discovery Book Reviews
★★★★★
“It isn't about racing to the top. It's about understanding the terrain, managing yourself well, and climbing in a way that actually lasts.”
Cody Avery · The Thought Shelf
★★★★★
“This wasn't your average business book. Each topic comes with background, history, and relevance — brought to life through practical application.”
Jill Rey · For the Love of the Page
Hi, I'm Ed Bjurstrom.
I helped grow Amgen from startup to global leader, ran manufacturing for Gilead in Southern California, and co-founded a nonprofit serving medical clinics across Africa. This book is the guide I wish someone had handed me forty years ago.
Read my story →Want to go deeper than the book? I coach executives and teams through Mountain Top Consulting.
Coaching & speaking →The Success Guide Newsletter
One practical leadership insight, every other week. No fluff — just what forty years taught me.