This Element is an excerpt from Make More, Worry Less: Secrets from 18 Extraordinary People Who Created a Bigger Income and a Better Life (ISBN: 9780132346863) by Wes Moss. Available in print and digital formats. What it really means to see risk as opportunity: the unforgettable story of Ralph Olson, from working-class Philly to the CEO’s suite. Ralph Olson only knows one direction--forward. He grew up in gang-ridden downtown Philadelphia. Determined to succeed, he went head to head with his parents and even his football coach, Joe Paterno. Later, in business, he faced Harvard elites, Fortune 100 companies, and his wife’s cancer diagnosis--head on.

"Some people in life know exactly what they want to achieve. This is a book for the rest of us." - Victoria Labalme if you're trying to figure out your next steps at work or in life... if you wish you had the courage to move in a new direction... if you sense there's something more, waiting to be discovered... Risk Forward will help you find your way. In this brief, full color, whimsical book "experience," Hall of Fame speaker, leading consultant, and Wall Street Journal best-selling author Victoria Labalme shares a series of principles from the arts that are practical, reassuring, and radically freeing. "Sage advice-and brisk inspiration-for anyone contemplating the daunting prospect of a new project or change of direction." - Pamela Liebman, President & CEO, The Corcoran Group "RISK FORWARD is a mosaic that will change the way you view your life forever." - Roberta Matuson, FORBES.com "If Picasso and Apple produced a book, this would be it!!!" - Vince Poscente, New York Times best-selling author & Olympian Through these uniquely designed and thought-provoking pages, you'll learn: • 4 Questions to help you discover your next best step • How to make a decision when you have a variety of options • 3 key filters to evaluate input and advice • Permission and Ideas to express your whole self at work and in life • The #1 way to identify what really matters • What holds you back

A persuasive and eye-opening look at the importance of embracing risk in our working lives—and how to use it to achieve lifelong career success Some of us relish the chance to fly without a net, others . . . not so much. But no matter how adventurous we might be in our personal lives, most of us are wary of allowing risk into our careers. With an economy in constant flux and a job market in which uncertainty is the only constant, stepping outside one’s comfort zone can feel dangerous. But as the findings of this eye-opening and urgent book attest, the avoidance of risk might pose the greatest danger of all to our career prospects. In Risk/Reward, trend-spotter and career guru Anne Kreamer makes the compelling case that embracing risk is essential to managing a twenty-first-century career. Risk-taking isn’t just for entrepreneurs, nor does it require working on a figurative tightrope. Rather, Kreamer says, conscious, consistent, and modest risk-taking can help us become more able to recognize opportunity when it appears, and more likely to seize the chance to make the right change at the right moment. Risk/Reward presents a framework for making the most of today’s ever-evolving workplace and turning risk-taking into a daily practice. Using proprietary data from three national studies about the American worker, Kreamer explores the importance of career risk-taking through profiles of four Risk/Reward personality types: Pioneers, Thinkers, Defenders, and Drifters. She presents a Risk/Reward Matrix that anyone can use to identify his or her own innate risk threshold, and she identifies constructive ways to implement risk in everyday situations—from initiating an uncomfortable conversation with a boss to sharing out-of-the-box ideas with colleagues or constructively challenging long-held practices in an organization. Peppered throughout Risk/Reward are insights and hard-won wisdom from notable achievers such as bestselling author Anna Quindlen, journalist Jane Pauley, CNBC financial maven Jim Cramer, thought leader Po Bronson, and Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg. Timely and insightful, Risk/Reward is a unique blend of practical and inspirational wisdom that even the most risk-averse person can harness on the path toward success and fulfillment. Praise for Anne Kreamer’s It’s Always Personal: Navigating Emotion in the New Workplace “A stimulating read bolstered by . . . some of the best recent work on emotional intelligence and the science of happiness.”—The Wall Street Journal “So what should be the rules and boundaries for showing how you feel while you work? That’s a question asked and answered in Anne Kreamer’s fascinating . . . look at an issue that rarely gets discussed.”—The Washington Post “Finally, someone is willing to unpack the morass of anger, anxiety, sadness, and joy that drives the workday. . . . [Kreamer] has hit the ‘It’s about time!’ button.”—Elle “[A] lively, well-researched exploration of emotions on the job.”—Oprah.com “Explores how to be true to your ‘emotional flashpoints—anger, fear, anxiety, empathy, happiness and crying’—without sabotaging your career.”—The New York Times Book Review

An inspirational, practical, and research-based guide for standing up and speaking out skillfully at work. Have you ever wanted to disagree with your boss? Speak up about your company's lack of diversity or unequal pay practices? Make a tough decision you knew would be unpopular? We all have opportunities to be courageous at work. But since courage requires risk—to our reputations, our social standing, and, in some cases, our jobs—we often fail to act, which leaves us feeling powerless and regretful for not doing what we know is right. There's a better way to handle these crucial moments—and Choosing Courage provides the moral imperative and research-based tactics to help you become more competently courageous at work. Doing for courage what Angela Duckworth has done for grit and Brene Brown for vulnerability, Jim Detert, the world's foremost expert on workplace courage, explains that courage isn't a character trait that only a few possess; it's a virtue developed through practice. And with the right attitude and approach, you can learn to hone it like any other skill and incorporate it into your everyday life. Full of stories of ordinary people who've acted courageously, Choosing Courage will give you a fresh perspective on the power of voicing your authentic ideas and opinions. Whether you’re looking to make a mark, stay true to your values, act with more integrity, or simply grow as a professional, this is the guide you need to achieve greater impact at work.

Straightforward advice for navigating the challenges facing professionals who are underrepresented in the leadership of today’s organizations Michael Hyter is one of the nation’s highest regarded executives of color, and a widely respected thought leader in the area of talent development and leadership succession. To get there, he worked hard and made his work count through Efficacy. In The Power of Choice he reveals the lessons he learned along the way—putting you on the fast track to career success. This book provides answers to the questions you might face as you immerse yourself in an often confusing and challenging workplace culture. It is about how to take informed personal responsibility for your career. Inside, you’ll find an open and frank discussion of how you can—and must, if you want to succeed!—make deliberate choices about who you are and how to represent yourself in your career. You’ll learn how to open doors for yourself (rather than waiting for others to open them for you), choose what’s important to you, and decide how you will achieve your goals. Learn how to choose greatness by embracing efficacy to make the most of your time and energy Take your career into your own hands with inspiration from others who have made it Discover how embracing personal responsibility can create the opportunities you’ve dreamed of Gain deep insights into your own mind and make the right decisions to get where you’re going Yes, for those of us who are underrepresented talent, there are tradeoffs to finding success in today’s workplace culture. If you rise to the challenge, you stand a good chance of reaching your full potential—both professionally and personally.

The Entrepreneurial Adventure is perfect for anyone with an interest in business or with aspirations to start their own business. The author outlines key principles of the entrepreneurial adventure and the business world, bringing it to life using case studies. This book contains useful and practical information about business and entrepreneurship gives a robust understanding of the theory and real-world implications of running a successful business. It describes and explains the whole process from understanding the implications and risks, the start-up stage through to future expansion. The authors clearly demonstrate that if the good business habits and practices described in this book are followed consistently, you really will achieve entrepreneurial success and the opportunities that come with it.

By avoiding risk, are you also avoiding your life's full potential? Join acclaimed neurosurgeon Dr. Ben Carson as he explores the life-changing power of taking the risk, even if you're afraid. In our risk-avoidant culture, we place a high premium on safety. We insure our vacations. We check crash tests on cars. We extend the warranties on our appliances. But by insulating ourselves from the unknown--the natural risks of life--we miss the great adventure of living our lives to their fullest potential. Dr. Ben Carson spent his childhood as an at-risk child on the streets of Detroit, and he took big risks in performing complex surgeries on the brain and the spinal cord. Now, offering inspiring personal examples, Dr. Carson invites us to embrace risk in our own lives. In Take the Risk, Dr. Carson examines our safety-at-all-costs culture and the meaning of risk and security in our lives. Take the Risk guides you through an extensive examination of risk, including: Risk-taking in history An assessment of the real costs and rewards of risk Learning how to assess and accept risks Understanding how risk reveals the purpose of your life From a man whose life dramatically portrays the connection between great risks and greater successes, the insights Dr. Carson shares in Take the Risk will help you dispel your fear of risk in order to dream big, aim high, move with confidence, and reap the rewards of wise risk-taking. Praise for Take the Risk: "Whether you are a world-renowned neurosurgeon, a CEO, or a teacher, this book applies to anyone who ever wondered about the difference between the pacesetters and those who struggle to keep up. It is the pacesetters who Take the Risk, and this book explains when and why to take risks to empower everyone to become a trailblazer rather than a mere spectator. For anyone who wants to rise above mediocrity, this book is a must-read." --Armstrong Williams, author and radio host, The Armstrong Williams Show

The overwhelming majority of a software system’s lifespan is spent in use, not in design or implementation. So, why does conventional wisdom insist that software engineers focus primarily on the design and development of large-scale computing systems? In this collection of essays and articles, key members of Google’s Site Reliability Team explain how and why their commitment to the entire lifecycle has enabled the company to successfully build, deploy, monitor, and maintain some of the largest software systems in the world. You’ll learn the principles and practices that enable Google engineers to make systems more scalable, reliable, and efficient—lessons directly applicable to your organization. This book is divided into four sections: Introduction—Learn what site reliability engineering is and why it differs from conventional IT industry practices Principles—Examine the patterns, behaviors, and areas of concern that influence the work of a site reliability engineer (SRE) Practices—Understand the theory and practice of an SRE’s day-to-day work: building and operating large distributed computing systems Management—Explore Google's best practices for training, communication, and meetings that your organization can use

A practical way to build the network you need to succeed You're only as good as the people you surround yourself with. But when did you last think about who exactly that is, and whether you've got the right people around you? How do you know how to select, from your network, the right combination of people to help your be truly effective as a leader and in your career. Drawing on their work with executives and on academic research on the networks of high performers, Zella King and Amanda Scott show how to home in on the 6-12 relationships that drive and sustain success. What you'll find in this book Discover the five steps to designing a Personal Boardroom. Learn how to choose 6-12 members from across your network. Discover the 12 roles you need in your Personal Boardroom, and decide who can play those roles for you. Find out how to make your Personal Boardroom stronger. Act on practical advice to start conversations with a purpose. Enabled by your own Personal Boardroom, use the same framework to provide help to others. Start choosing people, assigning roles and having purposeful conversations today! Reviews of Who is in your Personal Boardroom? "In this thoughtful book Zella and Amanda encourage us to think about what they elegantly describe as our 'Personal Boardroom'--our current and potential connections and how they may support us in what we want to achieve. Well worth reading." Piers Fallowfield-Cooper, Executive Chairman, Greycon Ltd "Zella King and Amanda Scott have nailed the secret of modern career success: having the right connections and knowing who to ask for help from and how to help others in equal measure. Who is in your Personal Boardroom? should become something of a corporate classic." Julia Hobsbawm, Honorary Visiting Professor in Networking, Cass Business School, and founder, Editorial Intelligence "A brilliant, simple and intuitive way to set about personal and career development." Matt Brittin, Vice President, Northern and Central Europe Operations, Google A powerful tool to create a culture of give and take, of collaboration, sponsorship, and mutual support, focused not just on individual performance but also on team and organisation success. Maria O'Donogue, Vice President, Global Learning and Talent Management, The Hertz Corporation At last, some practical advice on networking! We know good networking drives success, but how do we get better at it? Simply trying harder is not the answer. We need a clear goal and a strategy for achieving it. The Personal Boardroom is a simple but powerful framework for doing just that. For anyone looking for a more effective network, this is essential reading John Wells, Professor of Management Practice, Harvard Business School