Daring Greatly

When I first saw Brené Brown’s viral TED talk on vulnerability in the early 2010s, it challenged my understanding of the term and opened a whole new world for me, as it did for millions of others. At the time, I was a senior editor at Business Insider, and Brown’s work became a model that helped me navigate life inside a demanding, fast-paced media startup—and the complex human challenges of being a new manager. In Daring Greatly, she redefines vulnerability as a strength, upending traditional beliefs and reshaping how leadership is understood.

Brown argues that vulnerability is a critical skill… show more.

Engaging with this book, I recognized how fear of imperfection often held me back, not just in my art but in various aspects of life. I feel like the importance of showing up and being seen, even when there are no guarantees, is a reminder that I can continue to revisit time and time again.

This book has empowered me to approach my art practice with a heart open to risks and imperfections, which transforms not just the art I produce, but also how I lead, love, and connect with the world around me.

A sense of adventure takes vulnerability.

Brené Brown’s writings on courage and vulnerability have transformed how I interact with the people around me in asking for help with everything from the smallest of tasks, like getting dressed, to conquering the challenge of writing a memoir.

Come be courageous and get vulnerable. I’m right there with you.

Brené is a master at being vulnerable, and she teaches us to connect with our vulnerability in order to live an authentic life.

There’s nothing like sharing your most vulnerable moments with others to uncover that everyone has them. Peeling away layers helps us get to the core of who we are. She is living proof that practicing what you preach reaps far-reaching benefits. Early on in my career, I was searching for purpose, and I found it in being vulnerable and sharing my vulnerability with others, only to discover that it sets you free.

Brene will convince you… show more.

Every day, when I turn on the news or check social media, it feels like a dumpster fire.

Seeing and hearing so much negativity and hatred gives me anxiety and a feeling that my voice doesn’t matter. That’s not who I want to be at my core and Daring Greatly has reminded me that the very thing I hide when life feels like a scary place, is the exact thing that is going to allow me to successfully navigate through these challenging times.

“What we know matters, but who we are matters more.” “The willingness to show up changes us,… show more.

While not a book about money per se, it was the book that helped me let go of the shame I felt from destroying my finances as a young adult.

Unfortunately, money is still a subject that isn’t discussed openly. So many people can feel shame, guilt, and anxiety from money missteps. It can be easy to get trapped in a spiral of negative thinking regarding how we have been managing our finances. And without healthy outlets to learn and grow, we may look for solace in retail therapy or other destructive habits.  

Daring Greatly gave me the inspiration and… show more.

This book challenges us to be brave and backs it up with ample research to show us how our lives can be so much bigger than we ever thought possible when we dare to step into the arena and get dirty with our lives. Not only does this book resonate deeply in my soul and wake me up to the possibility that my life is just as valuable and worthy as anyone else’s but she has a Netflix talk about this work and it is guaranteed to fire you up and light a spark under you to get moving! There… show more.

A few years ago, I had just come off stage after delivering a keynote and was grabbing my luggage to rush to the airport to catch my flight. Well, I missed my flight, and it was worth it. The moment I heard the speaker after me, I was riveted. I’d never heard of her, but I had to stay. I had to listen. I had to meet her backstage in the greenroom. The speaker? Brené Brown. 

Brené Brown’s Daring Greatly perfectly defines the shift we have seen in recent generations. Where vulnerability was once perceived as weakness, Brown portrays how… show more.

In this book, Brené Brown blends her personal experience with extensive clinical research to give us a roadmap for making courageous choices, specifically around vulnerability. If you missed her TedX talk, go watch it immediately. You’ll instantly get a sense of how wickedly smart and acutely aware she is of her own humanity. And that’s what I love about her and this book because she does the same thing here. I found myself often nodding my head, smiling, with her observations, and inspired to live more courageously. She gave me permission and, in fact, enthusiastic encouragement to play an even… show more.

As a newbie psychologist, I was once in a workshop with much more advanced therapists. One of them (Jack, whom I revered) volunteered to do some personal work, and he laid down on the floor, literally supported by others—hands under his head, under his feet… I got assigned to support his elbow, because I was too chicken to volunteer early, ashamed of my inexperience, afraid of the potential vulnerability—his and mine.

Jack did some profound emotional work, and I was so moved that I (silently, embarrassedly) bawled. Like, a river of snot running down my face, red swollen eyes.... as… show more.