MARGIE WARRELL
First published in 2021 by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd
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Office also in Melbourne
© John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd 2021
The moral rights of the author have been asserted
ISBN: 978-0-730-39458-7
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Disclaimer The material in this publication is of the nature of general comment only, and does not represent professional advice. It is not intended to provide specific guidance for particular circumstances and it should not be relied on as the basis for any decision to take action or not take action on any matter which it covers. Readers should obtain professional advice where appropriate, before making any such decision. To the maximum extent permitted by law, the author and publisher disclaim all responsibility and liability to any person, arising directly or indirectly from any person taking or not taking action based on the information in this publication.
ABOUT MARGIE
Dr Margie Warrell brings her diverse international experience in business, coaching and psychology — coupled with a deep passion for unlocking the potential that fear often holds hostage — to inspire braver action in today's increasingly cautious world.
Margie has walked her talk since her childhood growing up in a big family on a small farm in rural Australia. She has lived and worked around the world for more than 25 years, trusted by global brands such as Amazon, Dell, Google, Johnson & Johnson, L'Oreal, Morgan Stanley, NASA and Salesforce to deliver transformative programs that accelerate growth, improve outcomes and strengthen leadership.
A passionate advocate for women and inclusive leadership and a Women's Economic Forum honoree, Margie sits on the advisory board of Forbes School of Business & Technology and regularly shares her insights in the media including the Today show and CNN. Her advice has been featured in The New York Times, The Week, Success magazine, Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal. Margie also shares insights from her conversations with global leaders and luminaries such as Richard Branson, Steve Forbes, Tony Robbins, Bill Marriott, Dr Phil McGraw, Marianne Williamson and Dr John Demartini in her ‘Courage Work’ Forbes column and Live Brave podcast.
The titles of Margie's Live Brave podcast and other best-selling books — Find Your Courage, Make Your Mark, Train the Brave and You've Got This! — reflect the passion she brings to her own leadership and life. Margie also loves adventure travel, especially long hikes in beautiful places — from climbing Kilimanjaro with her husband and their four brave-hearted children to exploring national parks near her home outside Washington, DC.
Margie would love to connect with you on social media or at www.margiewarrell.com.
PREFACE
The first edition of this book was written nearly a decade ago, during my first year living back in Australia after over a decade in the USA. At the time, many people were still regaining their footing in the wake of the 2008 global financial crisis which had shaken their sense of security. As fear ran high, I drew on the insights of leaders I'd worked with, as well as my own research, to help people ‘rethink risk’ and move boldly forward amid the uncertainty.
This revised second edition has been written after another global move — this time from Singapore back to the USA — and another, even greater, global crisis. I think it's fair to say the COVID-19 pandemic jolted our sense of security and raised the ‘fear factor’ to whole new levels.
As I witnessed people making irrational decisions driven solely by fear (one person I knew cashed in their entire retirement savings, fearing Armageddon was nigh), I felt compelled to update this book and streamline it.
Of course, there will always be legitimate reasons for going with the safest option. Yet when uncertainty looms large, we must be all the more vigilant to discern between the fears that are serving us and those that are driving us to make overly cautious decisions in our work, in how we live and how we lead. Because while playing it too safe can provide a short-term sense of security, it ultimately keeps us from taking the very actions that would help us become more secure — individually and collectively — over the longer term.
While the world may feel like a riskier place today, the truth is that there have always been risks. The difference is that in today's digital 24/7 world, we're now continually bombarded with information that makes life appear riskier. Only when we dare to ‘lean towards risk’ and venture onto new ground can we seize the opportunities hidden within our challenges, turning our setbacks into stepping stones, and leading ourselves and others to higher ground and a more, not less, secure world.
So if the title of this book spoke to you, it wasn't by chance. I hope the pages that follow will embolden you to embrace uncertainty and take the risks required to open up new possibilities for you and those around you.
In today’s culture of fear, daring to rise above our instinctual desire to play it safe, to take brave action amid the risks, has become ever more imperative.
INTRODUCTION
Please indulge me for just one moment with a little game of ‘make believe’.
Imagine stepping into the shoes of your ‘future self’, ten years from now, looking back on you today, reading this, facing an unknown future but eager to make the most of it.
What would you love to have experienced in your work and career, and in your life outside it? What impact would you love to have made on the lives of others? What skills or mastery would you like to have gained? What kind of person would you like to have become?
Ten years may feel like a long time away right now. Yet you thought that ten years ago and look … here you are.
So the next ten years is going to pass for you one way or another. The question is, what will you do with it?
Life is the lump sum of our choices. Too often, though, our choices are driven by fear — fear of what might go wrong; fear of not having what it takes; fear of making a fool of ourselves, ‘found out’ as unworthy or inadequate in some way. Often, we're not even aware of how fear is pulling the invisible strings of our daily decisions but if you're not waking up inspired by your future, then it most certainly is.
We live in a culture
