You can’t wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club.

<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">The title comes from her brother’s childhood story. Write bird by bird.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Big projects feel scary, but small steps make them doable.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Focus on writing one small piece at a time.</li></ul>

1. Start Small — “Bird by Bird”

<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Your first draft doesn’t need to be good. It just needs to exist.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Don’t aim for perfection right away.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Messy writing is how you find the good parts later.</li></ul>

2. First Drafts Are Supposed to Be Messy

<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Writing is like exercise. The more you do it, the better you get.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Even if you don’t feel like it, show up.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Consistency is the real secret to finishing anything.</li></ul>

3. Show Up Every Day

<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Everyone has an inner critic that says, This is bad.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Don’t listen. Write anyway.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">You can always fix it later, but you can’t fix what doesn’t exist.</li></ul>

4. Quiet the Negative Voices

<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Focus on small, real details from your life or imagination.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Good writing isn’t about sounding fancy. It’s about honesty.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">And if you ever feel stuck for ideas, I’ve created <a href="https://anupchouhan.gumroad.com/l/50Game-ChangingChatGPTPromptsforWriters">50 powerful ChatGPT prompts</a> to help you spark those first words and keep the ideas flowing.</li></ul>

5. Write What You See

<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Don’t copy other writers. Your voice matters.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Writing how you speak makes your work stronger.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">The more you write, the more your voice develops.</li></ul>

6. Find Your Own Voice

<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Trying to be perfect will stop you before you start.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Let go of needing to get it right.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Imperfect writing is how you reach great writing.</li></ul>

7. Tackle Perfectionism

<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Don’t worry about what others will think.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Write what you need to write.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">You can shape it for readers later, but start with your heart.</li></ul>

8. Write for Yourself First

<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">You don’t have to know exactly where you’re going.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">The story or idea will reveal itself as you write.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Take it one sentence at a time.</li></ul>

9. Trust the Process

<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Fame or money shouldn’t be the goal.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Writing itself is what brings meaning and growth.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">If you’re writing, you’re already winning.</li></ul>

10. Success Is the Writing, Not Fame

<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Stay connected with me on all platforms through my <a href="https://linktr.ee/anupchouhan">Linktree</a>.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Want access to high-value digital products, both free and premium?</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Subscribe to my  <a href="https://anupchouhan.gumroad.com/">Gumroad store</a> and be the first to grab exclusive releases straight to your inbox. Don’t miss out! Get the best offers before anyone else!</li></ul>

Thanks For Reading!

Break free from writer’s block and start writing today

‘Thirty years ago my older brother, who was ten years old at the time, was trying to get a report on birds written that he’d had three months to write. It was due the next day. We were out at our family cabin in Bolinas, and he was at the kitchen table close to tears, surrounded by binder paper and pencils and unopened books on birds, immobilized by the hugeness of the task ahead. Then my father sat down beside him, put his arm around my brother’s shoulder, and said, “Bird by bird, buddy. Just take it bird by bird.”’ Here, for the first time, is a local edition of the bible of writing guides — a wry, honest, down-to-earth book that has never stopped selling since it was first published in the United States in the 1990s. In Bird by Bird, Anne Lamott, a bestelling novelist and memoirist, distils what she’s learned over years of trial and error. Beautifully written, wise, and immensely helpful, this is the book for serious writers and writers-to-be.

productivity

Productivity

personaldevelopment

Personal Development

motivationandinspiration

Motivation & Inspiration

habits

Habits

books

Books

Anne Lamott is an accomplished writer whose work has resonated with readers around the world. Anne Lamott has published several books that explore a range of topics, from fiction to nonfiction, and has received critical acclaim for the ability to weave compelling narratives. Anne Lamott's writing style is known for its depth and authenticity, and has earned quite a loyal following of readers.

Anne Lamott

Bird by Bird

• The world keeps changing, so we need to keep updating our thinking• Smart people don’t always have the right answers• Being open to change helps you grow

1. Rethinking is a Superpower

• Many people hold on to their old beliefs just to feel smart• It’s okay to say “I was wrong”• Real learning begins when you let go of being too sure

2. Don’t Act Like a Know-It-All

• Test your ideas like scientists do• Look for proof, not just what feels right• Be ready to change your mind when new facts come

3. Be Like a Scientist

• Don’t act like a preacher trying to prove you're always right• Don’t attack others just to win an argument• Don’t say things just to make people like you

4. Don’t Preach, Fight, or Fake

• Being wrong means you’re learning something new• Don’t feel bad—feel proud when you learn• People respect those who admit mistakes

5. It's Good to Be Wrong

• Ask gentle questions instead of forcing your opinion• Find something you both agree on• Let people come to their own decision

6. How to Help Others Rethink

• Make it okay to ask questions and share new ideas• Leaders and teachers should say “I don’t know” sometimes• Reward people for learning, not just for being right

7. Build a Rethinking Environment

• Your thoughts can change, and that’s normal• You’re not weak if you change your mind• Let go of bad ideas without feeling like you're losing yourself

8. You Are Not Your Ideas

• Talk things out with an open mind• Listen more, assume less• Don’t try to win—try to understand

9. Rethink in Friendships and Relationships

• Spend time with people who challenge your thinking• Ask yourself, “What if I’m wrong?” often• Keep learning new things your whole life

10. Stay a Lifelong Learner

#1 New York Times Bestseller “THIS. This is the right book for right now. Yes, learning requires focus. But, unlearning and relearning requires much more—it requires choosing courage over comfort. In Think Again, Adam Grant weaves together research and storytelling to help us build the intellectual and emotional muscle we need to stay curious enough about the world to actually change it. I’ve never felt so hopeful about what I don’t know.” —Brené Brown, Ph.D., #1 New York Times bestselling author of Dare to Lead The bestselling author of Give and Take and Originals examines the critical art of rethinking: learning to question your opinions and open other people's minds, which can position you for excellence at work and wisdom in life Intelligence is usually seen as the ability to think and learn, but in a rapidly changing world, there's another set of cognitive skills that might matter more: the ability to rethink and unlearn. In our daily lives, too many of us favor the comfort of conviction over the discomfort of doubt. We listen to opinions that make us feel good, instead of ideas that make us think hard. We see disagreement as a threat to our egos, rather than an opportunity to learn. We surround ourselves with people who agree with our conclusions, when we should be gravitating toward those who challenge our thought process. The result is that our beliefs get brittle long before our bones. We think too much like preachers defending our sacred beliefs, prosecutors proving the other side wrong, and politicians campaigning for approval--and too little like scientists searching for truth. Intelligence is no cure, and it can even be a curse: being good at thinking can make us worse at rethinking. The brighter we are, the blinder to our own limitations we can become. Organizational psychologist Adam Grant is an expert on opening other people's minds--and our own. As Wharton's top-rated professor and the bestselling author of Originals and Give and Take, he makes it one of his guiding principles to argue like he's right but listen like he's wrong. With bold ideas and rigorous evidence, he investigates how we can embrace the joy of being wrong, bring nuance to charged conversations, and build schools, workplaces, and communities of lifelong learners. You'll learn how an international debate champion wins arguments, a Black musician persuades white supremacists to abandon hate, a vaccine whisperer convinces concerned parents to immunize their children, and Adam has coaxed Yankees fans to root for the Red Sox. Think Again reveals that we don't have to believe everything we think or internalize everything we feel. It's an invitation to let go of views that are no longer serving us well and prize mental flexibility over foolish consistency. If knowledge is power, knowing what we don't know is wisdom.

Adam Grant is an accomplished writer whose work has resonated with readers around the world. Adam Grant has published several books that explore a range of topics, from fiction to nonfiction, and has received critical acclaim for the ability to weave compelling narratives. Adam Grant's writing style is known for its depth and authenticity, and has earned quite a loyal following of readers.

Adam Grant

Think Again

The way to develop self-confidence is to do the thing you fear and get a record of successful experiences behind you.

<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Bragging isn’t about being arrogant.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">It’s about sharing your success with confidence.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">If you don’t speak up, people won’t know your value.</li></ul>

1. Bragging Is Not a Bad Thing

<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">You can learn how to talk about yourself well.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">It takes practice, just like any other skill.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">The goal is to sound natural, not boastful.</li></ul>

2. Self-Promotion is a Skill

<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">A "Brag Bag" is a list of your wins and strengths.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Write down your accomplishments, big or small.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Use them to help you talk confidently about yourself.</li></ul>

3. Create Your "Brag Bag"

<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Brag Bites are short, personal success stories.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">They should be easy to remember and share anytime.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Keep them clear, quick, and to the point.</li></ul>

4. Be Ready with Your Brag Bites

<ul><li>Don’t just list your achievements—tell them as interesting stories.</li><li>Keep it natural and easy to follow in a chat.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">I’m about to share some amazing book summaries on my insta account <a href="https://www.instagram.com/fastreadsclub/">fastreadsclub </a>— you definitely don’t want to miss what’s coming! </li><li class="ql-align-justify">Follow my account to get book summaries everyday.</li></ul>

5. Make It a Conversation, Not a Speech

<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Change how you brag depending on who you're talking to.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Use examples that make sense to them.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Make it about connection, not showing off.</li></ul>

6. Know Your Audience

<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Say your brag stories aloud until they feel comfortable.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">This helps you sound smooth and confident.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Record yourself or practice with a friend.</li></ul>

7. Practice Out Loud

<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Smile, stand tall, and speak clearly.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Your tone and posture should match your words.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Confidence is shown as much as it is spoken.</li></ul>

8. Use Body Language and Voice

<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">You don’t need a stage to promote yourself.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Use casual moments to share your success naturally.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">It could be during lunch, meetings, or chats.</li></ul>

9. Brag in Everyday Moments

<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Celebrate other people’s wins as well.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">It shows you’re confident and not self-centered.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Mutual support builds trust and respect.</li></ul>

10. Support Others, Too

<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Stay connected with me on all platforms through my <a href="https://linktr.ee/anupchouhan">Linktree</a>.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Want access to high-value digital products, both free and premium?</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Subscribe to my <a href="https://anupchouhan.gumroad.com/">Gumroad store</a> and be the first to grab exclusive releases straight to your inbox. Don’t miss out! Get the best offers before anyone else!</li></ul>

How to confidently brag and get noticed instantly!

It is well-documented that working hard isn't enough to keep your professional star rising: Self-promotion is recognized as one of the most important attributes for getting ahead.

Understand yourself and those around you.

psychology

Psychology

communication

Communication

leadershipandmanagement

Leadership & Management

Peggy Klaus

Brag!

You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.

<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Life has luck involved, just like poker.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Even good decisions can have bad outcomes.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">We need to focus on how we decide, not just the results.</li></ul>

1. Life is Like Poker, Not Chess

<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">A bad result doesn't mean you made a bad choice.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">A good result can come from a poor decision (just lucky).</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Judge your thinking, not only the outcome.</li></ul>

2. Result ≠ Decision Quality

<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">We rarely know everything when making choices.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Accept that we might be wrong.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Use words like "probably" or "I'm 70% sure" to show confidence levels.</li></ul>

3. Embrace Uncertainty

<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">A "bet" means you're choosing based on the chances of being right.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Ask yourself, "Would I bet money on this belief?"</li><li class="ql-align-justify">This helps you become more honest with yourself.</li></ul>

4. Think in Bets

<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">"Resulting" means judging a decision only by its result.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Don’t say someone was smart just because things worked out.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Look at the reasoning behind the choice.</li></ul>

5. Avoid “Resulting”

<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Talk with people who challenge your ideas kindly.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Good friends help you see your blind spots.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Avoid echo chambers where everyone agrees with you.</li></ul>

6. Form a Truth-Seeking Group

<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Ask: “What could I have done differently?”</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Think through different paths the decision could have taken.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Learn from the process, not just the final result.</li></ul>

7. Use “What If” Thinking

<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Write down your decisions and why you made them.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Later, compare the outcomes to your original thinking.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">This helps you improve over time.</li></ul>

8. Track Your Decisions

<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">You can’t control luck, but you can control your choices.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Focus on improving your decision-making process.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Don't beat yourself up over bad luck.</li></ul>

9. Separate Luck from Skill

<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">One bad result doesn’t define your future.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Think about how you’ll feel about this in a year.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Make choices that are good for the long run.</li></ul>

10. Keep a Long-Term View

<ul><li>Stay connected with me on all platforms through my <a href="https://linktr.ee/anupchouhan">Linktree</a>.</li><li>Want access to high-value digital products, both free and premium?</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Subscribe to my <a href="https://anupchouhan.gumroad.com/">Gumroad store</a> and be the first to grab exclusive releases straight to your inbox. Don’t miss out! Get the best offers before anyone else!</li></ul>

A Wall Street Journal bestseller, now in paperback. Poker champion turned decision strategist Annie Duke teaches you how to get comfortable with uncertainty and make better decisions. Even the best decision doesn't yield the best outcome every time. There's always an element of luck that you can't control, and there's always information hidden from view. So the key to long-term success (and avoiding worrying yourself to death) is to think in bets: How sure am I? What are the possible ways things could turn out? What decision has the highest odds of success? Did I land in the unlucky 10% on the strategy that works 90% of the time? Or is my success attributable to dumb luck rather than great decision making? Annie Duke, a former World Series of Poker champion turned consultant, draws on examples from business, sports, politics, and (of course) poker to share tools anyone can use to embrace uncertainty and make better decisions. For most people, it's difficult to say "I'm not sure" in a world that values and, even, rewards the appearance of certainty. But professional poker players are comfortable with the fact that great decisions don't always lead to great outcomes, and bad decisions don't always lead to bad outcomes. By shifting your thinking from a need for certainty to a goal of accurately assessing what you know and what you don't, you'll be less vulnerable to reactive emotions, knee-jerk biases, and destructive habits in your decision making. You'll become more confident, calm, compassionate, and successful in the long run.

mentalhealth

Mental Health

Annie is the co-founder of The Alliance for Decision Education, a non-profit whose mission is to improve lives by empowering students through decision skills education. She is also a member of the National Board of After-School All-Stars and the Board of Directors of the Franklin Institute. In 2020, she joined the board of the Renew Democracy Initiative.

Annie Duke

Thinking in Bets

You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.

<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Resistance is the force inside you that stops you from doing your work.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">It tries to trick you with excuses and distractions.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">The more important the work, the stronger Resistance gets.</li></ul>

1. Resistance is Your Enemy

<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Waiting for the perfect moment or idea is a trap.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Action creates momentum and helps you figure things out.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Don’t wait for motivation — just start moving.</li></ul>

2. Start Before You’re Ready

<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Feeling scared means you are pushing boundaries.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Fear shows you that your work matters.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Use fear as a signal to keep going, not to stop.</li></ul>

3. Fear is a Sign of Progress

<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Make a simple plan to guide your work.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Avoid over-planning, which leads to procrastination.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Plans should help you start, not stop.</li></ul>

4. Plan, But Don’t Overthink

<ul><li>Big projects can feel overwhelming.</li><li>Dividing your work into smaller, doable parts makes it easier to start.</li><li>To make this even simpler, I created 10 free ChatGPT prompts that help you slice through overwhelm and get moving fast — like having a personal coach ready to push you into action anytime.</li><li class="ql-align-justify"> <a href="https://anupchouhan.gumroad.com/l/10ChatGPTPromptsThatKillProcrastination">Grab your free prompts here</a> →</li></ul>

5. Break the Work Into Small Steps

<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">People may try to discourage or distract you.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Resistance uses their voices to create self-doubt.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Trust yourself and your process.</li></ul>

6. Ignore Critics and Doubters

<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Show up every day, even when it’s hard.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Consistency beats bursts of motivation.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Commitment helps you overcome Resistance.</li></ul>

7. Be Committed and Consistent

<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Inspiration comes from doing the work, not before it.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Action feeds creativity and motivation.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Keep working even when you don’t “feel” like it.</li></ul>

8. Don’t Wait for Inspiration

<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Your work won’t be perfect at first.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Perfectionism is another form of Resistance.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Focus on progress, not perfection.</li></ul>

9. Accept Imperfection

<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Completion is the true victory over Resistance.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Don’t stop until you finish your project.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Finishing builds confidence and momentum for the next work.</li></ul>

10. Finish What You Start

Overcome procrastination and start taking action today

Could you be getting in your way of producing great work? Have you started a project but never finished? Would you like to do work that matters, but don't know where to start?The answer is Do the Work, a manifesto by bestselling author Steven Pressfield, that will show you that it’s not about better ideas, it’s about actually doing the work. Do the Work is a weapon against Resistance – a tool that will help you take action and successfully ship projects out the door.“There is an enemy. There is an intelligent, active, malign force working against us. Step one is to recognize this. This recognition alone is enormously powerful. It saved my life, and it will save yours.”Do the Work may be just what you need to get out of your own way.

Steven Pressfield is an accomplished writer whose work has resonated with readers around the world. Steven Pressfield has published several books that explore a range of topics, from fiction to nonfiction, and has received critical acclaim for the ability to weave compelling narratives. Steven Pressfield's writing style is known for its depth and authenticity, and has earned quite a loyal following of readers.

Steven Pressfield

Do the Work!

Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.

<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">You are not your inner monologue.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Thoughts feel real, but many are just echoes from the past.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Pause before reacting. Observe your thoughts like passing clouds.</li></ul>

1. Your Thoughts Are Just Thoughts, Not Facts

<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Forcing yourself to “stay positive” often suppresses real emotions.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Emotional agility means feeling everything — and choosing how to respond.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Authenticity is far more powerful than fake optimism.</li></ul>

2. Avoid the Trap of Toxic Positivity

<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Saying “I feel anxious” is less helpful than “I notice anxiety.”</li><li class="ql-align-justify">This slight shift creates space between you and the feeling.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Naming your emotion = taming your emotion.</li></ul>

3. Labeling Emotions Reduces Their Power

<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Just because you feel something doesn't mean you should act on it.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Emotions are data, not directives.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Align actions with long-term values, not short-term moods.</li></ul>

4. Don't Let Emotions Hijack Your Values

<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Susan teaches that emotional skill is like a muscle — the more you practice, the stronger you get.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">I use a simple tool: 10 minimalist ChatGPT prompts designed to help me process stress, reframe tough moments, and reset my mindset in 5 minutes.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Think of it as a therapist in your pocket. [<a href="https://anupchouhan.gumroad.com/l/10ChatGPTPromptsThatMakeYouEmotionallyUnshakable">Click here to get it</a>]</li></ul>

5. You Can Train Emotional Agility with AI

<ul><li>Getting hooked means reacting automatically to triggering thoughts</li><li>Practice unhooking by pausing naming and choosing</li><li class="ql-align-justify">You can't control every thought but you can choose what you attach to</li></ul>

6. Hooks Keep You Stuck Learn to Unhook

<ul><li>Emotional agility isn’t about feeling better it’s about doing better</li><li>Stop waiting to feel ready</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Move forward with the fear and stay grounded in your values</li></ul>

7. Courage Is Feeling the Emotion and Acting Anyway

<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Harsh self-talk doesn't build resilience it builds shame</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Compassion gives you the safety to grow</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Be the guide your younger self needed not the critic they feared</li></ul>

8. Self-Compassion Is Not Weakness It's Fuel

Change doesn’t require a dramatic breakthroughOne reframe one better reaction one calm moment is enoughEmotional agility is built in small consistent choices

9. Tiny Tweaks Create Massive Shifts

<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Mastering your emotions gives you power over your reactions</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Life becomes less reactive and more intentional</li><li class="ql-align-justify">You stop chasing peace and start choosing it</li></ul>

10. Emotional Agility Equals Freedom

Master your emotions before they master you

#1 Wall Street Journal Best Seller USA Today Best Seller Amazon Best Book of the Year TED Talk sensation - over 3 million views! The counterintuitive approach to achieving your true potential, heralded by the Harvard Business Review as a groundbreaking idea of the year.   The path to personal and professional fulfillment is rarely straight. Ask anyone who has achieved his or her biggest goals or whose relationships thrive and you’ll hear stories of many unexpected detours along the way. What separates those who master these challenges and those who get derailed? The answer is agility—emotional agility. Emotional agility is a revolutionary, science-based approach that allows us to navigate life’s twists and turns with self-acceptance, clear-sightedness, and an open mind. Renowned psychologist Susan David developed this concept after studying emotions, happiness, and achievement for more than twenty years. She found that no matter how intelligent or creative people are, or what type of personality they have, it is how they navigate their inner world—their thoughts, feelings, and self-talk—that ultimately determines how successful they will become. The way we respond to these internal experiences drives our actions, careers, relationships, happiness, health—everything that matters in our lives. As humans, we are all prone to common hooks—things like self-doubt, shame, sadness, fear, or anger—that can too easily steer us in the wrong direction. Emotionally agile people are not immune to stresses and setbacks. The key difference is that they know how to adapt, aligning their actions with their values and making small but powerful changes that lead to a lifetime of growth. Emotional agility is not about ignoring difficult emotions and thoughts; it’s about holding them loosely, facing them courageously and compassionately, and then moving past them to bring the best of yourself forward. Drawing on her deep research, decades of international consulting, and her own experience overcoming adversity after losing her father at a young age, David shows how anyone can thrive in an uncertain world by becoming more emotionally agile. To guide us, she shares four key concepts that allow us to acknowledge uncomfortable experiences while simultaneously detaching from them, thereby allowing us to embrace our core values and adjust our actions so they can move us where we truly want to go. Written with authority, wit, and empathy, Emotional Agility serves as a road map for real behavioral change—a new way of acting that will help you reach your full potential, whoever you are and whatever you face.

Susan David, Ph.D. is one of the world’s leading management thinkers and an award-winning Harvard Medical School psychologist. Her TED Talk on the topic of emotional agility has been seen by more than 10 million people. She is a frequent contributor to the New York Times, Washington Post, and Wall Street Journal and often appears on national radio and television.

#1 Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author
Thinkers50 Breakthrough Idea Award Winner
Harvard Business Review Management Idea of the Year
Cofounder of the Institute of Coaching (a Harvard Medical School/McLean affiliate)

Susan David

Emotional Agility

"It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change."

<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">The book uses a story about mice and tiny people in a maze.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">They search for cheese, which stands for happiness and success.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">The maze is life, where we look for things like love, work, or peace.</li></ul>

1. The Story is a Metaphor for Change

<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Sniff and Scurry are mice who quickly adapt to change.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Hem resists change and fears losing control.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Haw learns to adapt and moves forward after struggle.</li></ul>

2. The Characters Represent Different Attitudes

<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">The cheese gets moved one day—just like life changes unexpectedly.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">We can't always control what happens to us.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Accepting this helps us prepare better.</li></ul>

3. Change is Inevitable

<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Sniff and Scurry immediately move on to find new cheese.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">They don't overthink or get emotional.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Being flexible helps you move forward faster.</li></ul>

4. Adapt Quickly to Change

<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Hem is too scared to leave the old cheese station.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">He misses chances because of his fear.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Fear of change can keep us stuck in bad situations.</li></ul>

5. Fear Can Hold You Back

<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Haw learns that holding on to the old cheese brings no results.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">He accepts that the cheese is gone.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Moving on is the only way to find new opportunities.</li></ul>

6. Let Go of the Past

<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Haw imagines himself enjoying new cheese.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">This positive thinking motivates him to act.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Picture good outcomes to build courage.</li></ul>

7. Visualize Success

<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Haw writes messages on the maze walls as lessons.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Each step teaches something new about dealing with change.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Learning helps you grow stronger.</li></ul>

8. Learn from the Journey

<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Don’t wait too long in one spot hoping things will return.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Keep moving even if it’s uncertain at first.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Exploration leads to new discoveries.</li></ul>

9. Keep Exploring

<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Haw finds better cheese and feels proud of adapting.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">He understands change brings new chances.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Change isn't the end—it's a new beginning.</li></ul>

10. Change is a Gift

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THE #1 INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER WITH OVER 28 MILLION COPIES IN PRINT! A timeless business classic, Who Moved My Cheese? uses a simple parable to reveal profound truths about dealing with change so that you can enjoy less stress and more success in your work and in your life. It would be all so easy if you had a map to the Maze. If the same old routines worked. If they'd just stop moving "The Cheese." But things keep changing... Most people are fearful of change, both personal and professional, because they don't have any control over how or when it happens to them. Since change happens either to the individual or by the individual, Dr. Spencer Johnson, the coauthor of the multimillion bestseller The One Minute Manager, uses a deceptively simple story to show that when it comes to living in a rapidly changing world, what matters most is your attitude. Exploring a simple way to take the fear and anxiety out of managing the future, Who Moved My Cheese? can help you discover how to anticipate, acknowledge, and accept change in order to have a positive impact on your job, your relationships, and every aspect of your life.

Spencer Johnson, M.D. left behind a medical career to write short books about life. The most famous was “Who Moved My Cheese?" published in 1998. The book became a publishing phenomenon and a workplace manual. Over 50 million copies of Spencer Johnson’s books are in use worldwide in 47 languages.Dr. Johnson's education included a psychology degree from the University of Southern California, a M.D. from the Royal College of Surgeons and medical clerkships at Harvard Medical School and the Mayo Clinic.

Bird by Bird

Think Again

Brag!

Thinking in Bets

Do the Work!

Anup Chouhan