Bet on Yourself

"To succeed spectacularly, you have to be willing to fail spectacularly." Ann Hiatt's Bet on Yourself teaches us that taking daring risks and embracing failure pave the way to success.

1. Hard Work Builds the Foundation for Success

Hard work and dreaming big are essential building blocks for significant achievements. Ann Hiatt’s experiences in her formative years, growing up in a military family, reinforced this principle. Watching her father pursue his dream of becoming a fighter pilot taught her about the value of setting high goals and persevering through uncertainty.

Hiatt's mother, despite the challenges of being a military spouse in isolated areas like Alaska, demonstrated entrepreneurial spirit by setting up her own preschool for military families. Her creative pursuits like painting and ceramics further inspired Ann to focus on personal growth, no matter the circumstances. These lessons shaped Hiatt’s belief that hard work and risk often bring greater rewards than playing it safe.

Hiatt herself experienced this when she faced academic and athletic challenges as a child. Though she wasn’t naturally gifted in these areas, she gained confidence and determination by stepping out of her comfort zone. This mindset fueled her belief that pursuing big dreams, even in the face of fear, can open the door to exponential growth.

Examples

• Hiatt’s father overcame his humble beginnings on a potato farm to become a fighter pilot.
• Her mother found fulfillment by combining caregiving and creativity while in a remote location.
• Hiatt’s own struggle to overcome feelings of inadequacy in school taught her perseverance.

2. Growth Comes from Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone

Hiatt's career turning points arose from putting herself in challenging situations. Fresh out of college, she applied for a position at Amazon despite her unconventional educational background in Scandinavian studies. This leap represented her willingness to embrace uncertainty in the pursuit of growth.

Her interview experience underscored the importance of problem-solving skills over specific expertise. When Jeff Bezos himself asked how many panes of glass she thought existed in Seattle, Hiatt’s ability to work through a complex problem gave her an edge. Once hired, her drive to learn and make meaningful contributions proved even more vital to her success than her formal qualifications.

By nurturing this mindset, Hiatt not only survived but thrived at Amazon. Later, she joined Google, recognizing that building relationships and learning from talented colleagues would support her growth. Hiatt targeted positions that demanded hard work, problem-solving, and adaptability, leading her to become an invaluable asset in any team.

Examples

• Hiatt joined Amazon despite her seemingly unrelated background.
• She rigorously tackled tough interviews to show her problem-solving methodology.
• Hiatt consistently chose roles that challenged her, like working with Marissa Mayer and Eric Schmidt.

3. Learn from Your Failures

To Ann Hiatt, failure isn’t just inevitable—it’s valuable. She emphasizes using every failure as an opportunity to improve, equipping yourself for future challenges. Working closely with leaders like Jeff Bezos offered her firsthand lessons about long-term thinking and learning from mistakes.

For example, Bezos often prioritized customer loyalty and growth over short-term profits. Over time, this commitment turned Amazon into a tech giant, even though many of his decisions were criticized in the short term. Hiatt adopted this mindset, finding that even her mistakes opened doors for learning and improvement.

Hiatt’s time at Google also offered her tough lessons. Overwhelmed by her workload, she once overlooked an essential meeting for her boss, Marissa Mayer. Reflecting on this mistake, Hiatt pivoted her approach, focusing on networking and relationship-building rather than sheer task execution. This change led to stronger connections and broader opportunities within the company.

Examples

• Bezos prioritized long-term vision at Amazon, embracing failures along the way.
• Hiatt overlooked a critical meeting, then adjusted her focus on relationships instead of tasks.
• Failure helped her sharpen her perspective and align herself with team goals.

4. Build Relationships to Add Value

Investing in relationships can significantly enhance your career impact. Hiatt learned this during her time at Google when she realized her success relied not just on task management but also on collaboration and trust-building.

She began focusing on building strong networks within Google. Understanding people's needs and aligning her actions with team priorities helped her become a valuable contributor. Developing relationships across departments provided her with insights that strengthened her ability to support her leaders.

Hiatt's transition from working under Marissa Mayer to partnering with Eric Schmidt gave her another chance to practice and refine this skill. With Schmidt’s team offering more collaboration opportunities, Hiatt gained the support she needed for both personal and professional growth.

Examples

• Hiatt cultivated networks within Google to enhance teamwork.
• Building connections helped her adapt her actions to team priorities.
• Collaborations with leaders like Schmidt showcased the power of nurturing relationships.

5. Embrace Risk and Stay Resilient

Hiatt teaches the importance of calculated risks in achieving long-term success. For instance, her move from Marissa Mayer’s team to Eric Schmidt’s team was a risk aimed at restoring work-life balance while maintaining professional growth.

Risk-taking requires resilience. Hiatt reminds readers that discomfort is a sign of growth. When facing self-doubt, she tackled challenges head-on, ultimately reaping the benefits of pushing through fears and uncertainty.

This philosophy applied to her personal life as well. She sought challenges outside of work, whether learning new skills or taking up unique projects, knowing these would benefit both her growth and her career. Ultimately, it was her willingness to take bold steps that allowed her to progress continuously.

Examples

• Hiatt left academia to join Google after weighing the learning opportunities.
• She transitioned to Schmidt's team as a risk balancing professional growth and personal well-being.
• Hiatt sought personal projects that pushed her boundaries outside work.

6. Seek Supportive Teams

The right work environment can make all the difference. Hiatt understood the value of surrounding herself with driven colleagues and teams that motivated her to grow. At both Amazon and Google, Hiatt sought out innovative, high-performing teams.

She noticed that such teams thrived on passion and purpose. Leaders like Jeff Bezos and Marissa Mayer succeeded by hiring people not just for their skills but for their intrinsic drive. Hiatt’s ability to observe and adopt a similar approach helped her grow further into her roles.

Even outside of work, Hiatt advises seeking individuals in personal life who uplift and inspire. Whether it’s friends or mentorship opportunities, stepping into the company of supportive and aspirational individuals drives progress.

Examples

• Bezos hired passionate individuals whose drive aligned with Amazon’s vision.
• Hiatt thrived under leaders like Mayer by adopting their passion for growth.
• Surrounding herself with goal-oriented people strengthened Hiatt’s development.

7. Recognize Progress with a Growth Mindset

Hiatt believes that true growth comes from effort and adaptability. While talent may open doors, a willingness to learn and adjust ensures those doors stay open. Her junior high choir teacher taught her to see challenges as places to improve.

This concept carried forward into her career. When faced with dull tasks like copying packets early in her career, she worked to understand their greater purpose. This shift in perspective enabled her to find meaning in her role and deliver better results.

Hiatt credits this mindset with her ability to move up the ladder. By consistently asking herself how she could grow, and how her presence benefited the team, she took ownership of her journey.

Examples

• Hiatt's choir teacher taught failure is essential for improvement.
• She found purpose even in mundane tasks by connecting them to company goals.
• The growth mindset fueled her career advancements.

Takeaways

1. Look for learning opportunities even in failures. Treat them as stepping stones for personal growth.
2. Challenge yourself by stepping out of your comfort zone and pursuing projects or roles that push your boundaries.
3. Invest time and energy into building strong professional and personal relationships—they will support and amplify your growth.