Live every day with greater clarity, confidence and courage. Brave is a handbook for being more courageous. Written for busy people on the go, its short, focused chapters provide practical tools and empowering perspectives to help you build your 'courage muscles' in your work, relationships and life. Live every day with greater clarity, confidence and courage. Brave is a handbook for being more courageous. Written for busy people on the go, its short, focused chapters provide practical tools and empowering perspectives to help you build your 'courage muscles' in your work, relationships and life. About the author vii Acknowledgements viii Introduction xi PART I: LIVE PURPOSEFULLY Ten building blocks for living bravely 1 1 Decide what you stand for 3 2 Interrogate your reality 8 3 Face your fear to rise above it 13 4 Value your own opinion above all others 20 5 Trust your intuition 25 6 Focus on what you want 32 7 Own your choices; spare the excuses 37 8 Resist conformity; embrace what makes you different 44 9 Change before you have to 52 10 Live by design, not by default 56 PART II: SPEAK BRAVELY How to have courageous conversations about things that matter 61 11 Your voice matters; be heard 63 12 Speak from your heart, not your ego 68 13 Say no to the good to say yes to the great 77 14 Dare to ask big 83 15 Listen to understand; not to be understood 88 16 Be willing to rock the boat 94 17 Talk more; type less 100 18 Hold people accountable 107 19 Be careful keeping secrets 112 20 Offer feedback; it's an act of service 116 21 Say sorry even when it's difficult 122 PART III: WORK PASSIONATELY How to risk the bravery your potential is counting on 127 22 Work as though what you do matters; it does 129 23 Play to win, not to avoid losing 135 24 Be the leader you would love to have 139 25 Quit quickly; fail fast 144 26 Never give anyone power to intimidate you 150 27 Don't hide behind humility 153 28 Risk more rejections 157 29 Be decisive amid uncertainty 162 30 Unlearn to relearn 167 31 Seek expert advice, but apply it sparingly 172 32 Lift others as you climb 176 PART IV: DIG DEEP How to be resilient when life doesn't go to plan 181 33 Life doesn't happen to you, it happens for you 183 34 Refuse to let your circumstances define you 187 35 Nurture resilience daily; courage calls for it 191 36 Asking for help reveals strength, not weakness 196 37 Let go disappointment but retain your hope 201 38 Do your best with what you have; it's enough 207 39 Anger chains you to the past; leave it there 212 40 Sit with your sadness 218 41 Gratitude elevates; lift yourself daily 225 PART V: DARE BOLDLY How to pursue your biggest dreams and ambitions 231 42 Live from your imagination; not your history 233 43 Pave your own path 239 44 Yes, take that chance! The odds are better than you think 244 45 Fear regret more than failure 248 46 Break the rules; make your own 253 47 Forget perfect! Good enough is good enough 259 48 Embrace problems that are worthy of you 263 49 Courage is contagious; walk with giants 268 50 Think big; start small; begin now 273 Epilogue 278