changing and innovating every day already. If everyone is
capable of innovating, the only thing stopping you from
getting ahead consistently is your own sense of perspective.
As we discovered, fear comes in seven flavors. Learn to
conquer them, and you’ll soon find out—the possibilities
are endless.
modern life skills like dynamic decision-making, entrepreneurship and problem-solving. And this is happening even
as the traditional system for professional advancement is
crumbling and competitive environment getting tougher.
Businesses, schools and even parent’s opinions should
adapt to match the new reality. ■
P: You argue that the ability to find courage is among the
most important new success skill sets today—why so?
S: The research is staggering: Organizations like Amazon
and Google create competitive advantage by consistently
experimenting with and learning from new ideas. Individuals
are proven to succeed more frequently by thinking fast on
their feet and resiliently forging ahead despite setbacks, not
possessing greater IQ or inborn talent. Constant, ongoing
change and evolution seem to be crucial ingredients for both
personal and professional success, and with a little strategic
thinking and forethought, anyone can make them work in
their favor. It’s amazing what you can achieve when you’re
persistent and open-minded.
According to Steinberg, when we’re frightened
to make mistakes, step out of our comfort zone,
and take chances, it directly affects our on-thejob performance. Fear can exert a powerful
force over the decisions that we make and risks
that we are willing to take. Based on his
research, he found seven types of fear:
P: What’s the one simple, practical piece of advice you
hope people take away from Make Change Work for You?
S: Innovation isn’t rocket science. I spoke with dozens of
experts and authorities for my research for the book, including leading executives, entrepreneurs, pop culture icons and
more. Some of their most common pieces of advice for
success in life and business are “don’t be afraid to fail,”
“think positive,” “take action” and “learn and improve from
your efforts.” You don’t need legions of case studies, journals, whitepapers, and others to transform a business,
transform a life, or transform a career. You just need to
change your mindset. Study after study shows that attributes
that anyone can learn and possess like improvisation, communications, strategy and resilience are keys to
success—nothing more, nothing less. In other words, anything is possible when you put your mind to it.
P: How important is it to educate others about what it
takes to succeed in the modern world?
S: We live in a world that celebrates entrepreneurs and risktakers like Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg. But very few
schools seem to be training future generations to practice
the qualities they possess, or providing education in vital
1. Failure. The possibility of being unable to
successfully achieve a goal or complete a task
set by yourself or others.
2. Embarrassment. The shame and self-consciousness felt when one feels humiliated,
unable to live up to expectations, or socially
conform.
3. Underperformance. Performing at a level
that you or others believe to be less than adequate, or not reflective of your full potential.
4. Rejection. When you, your company, or the
products or services you represent are refused,
turned away, or avoided by others.
5. Change and Uncertainty. The process of
acting or reacting differently—and the discomfort that accompanies these shifts or
surrounding risks and uncertainties.
6. Confrontation. Having a negative or hostile
personal or professional interaction with others.
7. Isolation. The feeling of being alone or left to
operate solo without others’ support.
November 2015
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PULSE 59