Make Change Work for You

“What would you do if fear wasn’t holding you back?” This book answers how to turn fear and anxiety into powerful tools for growth and success.

1. Rational Thinking Over Emotional Reactions

Fear often clouds our thinking, making it hard to address problems logically. To counteract this, the FEAR method provides a structured approach: Focus, Engage, Assess, and React. Starting with a clear focus on the issue helps to strip away emotional distractions.

Rather than getting overwhelmed, break the situation down. Engaging thoughtfully with the problem means asking critical questions to explore solutions. Assessing options allows for a calm review of potential outcomes, before finally reacting with confidence and a clear plan.

For example, during a client meeting where dissatisfaction arises, instead of panicking, focus on the client’s concerns, engage by brainstorming solutions, assess the feasibility of adjustments, and react by implementing targeted changes. This removes the emotional biases and allows for a measured response.

Examples

• A product manager using the FEAR method avoids a costly misstep by refining their product based on client input.
• A team lead improves a failed campaign by calmly analyzing gaps and creating a new, data-driven plan.
• Sales professionals recover lost accounts by reassessing client priorities and pivoting strategically.

2. Courage is a Learned Skill

Courage doesn’t mean the absence of fear; it’s the willingness to act despite it. People with courage act strategically, analyzing risks and using their mistakes as stepping stones to grow stronger and more resilient.

Building courage involves starting small and exposing yourself to manageable risks. These small acts build a "muscle" of willpower that grows with practice, allowing you to face greater challenges over time. As you take risks, you also increase your ability to handle situations better.

Consider major innovators: they take calculated risks by testing new ideas and learning from what works and what fails. From pursuing stretch projects at work to applying for promotions, bold efforts turn setbacks into potential sources of personal growth.

Examples

• Douglas, who bounces back from job loss by exploring new work opportunities, versus Walter, paralyzed by fear and self-doubt.
• A young professional takes on a complex project, learns through trial and error, and earns recognition.
• Entrepreneurs rely on trial runs and testing to perfect their pitch or product launch.

3. Fear as Feedback

Rather than letting fear paralyze you, view it as an opportunity for growth. Fear often flags areas of improvement or warns of potential challenges. With mindfulness, you can pause and evaluate what’s really behind the anxiety.

When preparing for a large presentation or a new role, fear may highlight gaps in skill or knowledge. By identifying these gaps, you can seek preparation or guidance that strengthens your performance. Similarly, repeated anxiety around tasks can push you to create better systems or solutions.

Famous innovators often credit fear as a motivator. Artists like OK GO expanded their ventures into tech and video projects because their financial uncertainties spurred them to diversify and adapt.

Examples

• A public speaker hones their skills by addressing the underlying fear of crowds through practice sessions.
• A project manager overcomes apprehension by refining workflows that reduce inefficiencies.
• OK GO’s evolution into multimedia work born of creative survival instincts.

4. Paranoia Can Be a Strategic Tool

Paranoia, or fear of being overtaken by competitors, can fuel strategic thinking. Rather than letting it stoke anxiety, channel paranoia into a systematic review of threats and preparation.

Ask pointed questions about vulnerabilities. For instance, could a competitor rise if economic conditions shift? Are there areas where your product or skills could lag behind new technologies? Probing these topics allows you to anticipate changes and adapt preemptively.

Tony Hawk built a thriving business empire by acknowledging his sporting career's eventual decline. As younger talents came on the scene, he diversified into brands, merchandise, and video games, ensuring he stayed relevant beyond his time as an athlete.

Examples

• Tony Hawk securing longevity with varied business ventures.
• P&G keeping their Pampers brand ahead by consistently developing new product features.
• A software company identifying risks through regular assessment meetings, responding with adaptive updates.

5. Persistence is the True Marker of Success

Succeeding in the long term requires more than talent. Grit, or relentless perseverance, fuels the achievement of goals despite obstacles or failures along the way.

Psychologist Angela Duckworth found success depends more on persistence than intelligence or academic scores. For instance, students and professionals with lower IQs but higher tenacity often outperform their peers. The same principle applies in business, where grit trumps raw talent in driving outcomes.

Phil Gordon, a poker player and entrepreneur, perfectly embodies persistence. He rigorously tests his apps to verify their market value, taking the time and effort to ensure success.

Examples

• West Point cadets with grit navigating rigorous programs over smarter but less persistent peers.
• A CEO iterating business strategies over years of setbacks.
• Phil Gordon investing in expert feedback loops to improve his products.

6. Learn by Experimenting

Trial and error is often the most direct path to innovation. Fear of failure prevents many from experimenting, even though breakthroughs often come from repeated attempts at solving a tough problem.

Emerging businesses and creative teams run many tests, knowing each failed prototype gets them closer to a market-ready solution. With an adaptable mind-set, you can learn fast and pivot when necessary, just as companies release beta products for iteration.

Young professionals already excel at such thinking. Facing fast-evolving industries, they comfortably switch tracks, adjust roles, and innovate under pressure.

Examples

• Start-ups using customer beta feedback to refine software.
• A chef experimenting with flavor combinations to perfect a signature dish.
• Mobile app developers innovating through rapid cycles of user testing.

7. Use Change as a Catalyst for Growth

Remaining static is dangerous in today’s fast-paced world. To stay relevant, both individuals and organizations must be constantly evolving, seeking opportunities for reinvention and adding value to their roles or products.

Leaning into change might mean adopting new tech skills, networking in novel ways, or reshaping personal goals to align with market shifts. A short professional class could hold more value today than an advanced degree, as it signals adaptability.

Walgreens is a great business case. Transforming their stores into wellness centers with mobile tools and diverse services, they adapted when traditional brick-and-mortar strategies faltered.

Examples

• Walgreens redefining itself as a service hub.
• Workers adding certifications or learning AI to stay competitive.
• Freelancers gaining clients by constantly refining their niche skills.

8. Spot Opportunities in Uncertainty

Unpredictability creates the perfect breeding ground for reinvention. Businesses and individuals must train themselves to detect signals of change and act swiftly. This not only positions them as innovators but ensures they stay resilient.

Large companies are often least flexible, but agile thinking on a smaller scale can create massive advantages. Brainstorming, idea-testing, and time for creative thinking can uncover small wins that translate into powerful advantages.

Many entrepreneurs started by spotting overlooked needs, turning crisis situations into thriving businesses.

Examples

• Airbnb founders creating a hospitality shift out of housing shortages.
• Tech companies identifying consumer pain points and delivering tools.
• An aspiring author writing on trending topics first spotted in conversations.

9. A Formula for Success: Try, Learn, Adapt

The simplest path to success boils down to experimentation, effort, and learning over time. Even flawed attempts provide insights to improve the next one. With patience, this cycle generates major breakthroughs.

By seeing challenges as puzzles, not barriers, you can embrace a work-in-progress mentality to steadily improve. Whether improvising responses to obstacles or refining processes over years, this method drives development.

Gamers, coders, and mechanics successfully model this exploratory attitude, repeatedly fine-tuning their work until new possibilities emerge.

Examples

• Innovators like Elon Musk navigating industries by testing and fixing failures.
• Beta testers identifying product weaknesses and reshaping the final design.
• Engineers in rapid prototyping environments breaking and rebuilding tools.

Takeaways

1. Embrace fear as a feedback mechanism to learn and grow instead of seeing it as a stopping force.
2. Develop grit by taking on projects beyond your comfort zone, preparing you for sustained challenges.
3. Stay relevant by constantly learning, spotting opportunities, and being unafraid of reinvention.