Do your dreams feel just out of reach, like something you can never quite grab? If you're constantly held back by fear—fear of failure, judgment, or uncertainty—then it's time to embrace wild courage. Jenny Wood, a New York Times bestselling author, former Google executive, and Harvard Business School researcher, offers a refreshing approach to overcoming these barriers and achieving your goals. Her powerful method teaches you how to turn fear into fuel and go after what you want, without waiting for the "perfect" moment.
Wild courage isn't just about acting bravely in the face of fear—it’s about intentionally choosing to act despite fear. According to Jenny Wood, wild courage is the "process of feeling that fear and taking action anyway." She emphasizes that we all face obstacles in the pursuit of our goals, whether it's a career ambition, a personal relationship, or a creative project. What often holds us back is our relationship with fear. Fear of failure, fear of uncertainty, and fear of what others might think can paralyze us from moving forward.
Instead of letting these fears dictate your actions, wild courage empowers you to move forward, step by step, even when the path seems unclear. By embracing this mindset, you equip yourself with the tools to break through those barriers and push towards the success you deserve.
Wood’s approach helps people reclaim nine key traits that might feel out of reach but can be pivotal for success. These traits, when applied mindfully, can supercharge your personal and professional growth:
Weird: Embrace your individuality, even if it seems unconventional. Be true to yourself, even when it’s not the "norm."
Selfish: Prioritize your needs and goals. Be your own champion.
Shameless: Let go of imposter syndrome. Embrace self-promotion and stand tall in your achievements.
Obsessed: Stay focused and push yourself to perform at your highest level.
Nosy: Cultivate curiosity and network with confidence. Learn from others’ experiences.
Manipulative: Build influence by showing empathy and leadership, even if you're not in charge.
Brutal: Learn to say “no” and protect your time and boundaries.
Reckless: Take healthy risks and make bold moves toward your goals.
Bossy: Lead others towards success, even if you’re not in a leadership role yet.
These traits are about overcoming the inner blocks that keep us stuck. By channeling them, you can accelerate your journey toward success and fulfillment.
The world is changing faster than ever, and fear is a natural response. Whether it’s political upheaval, economic shifts, or rapid technological advancements like AI, fear is everywhere. But Jenny Wood suggests that fear is actually something you can work with, not something that should hold you back. Wild courage is about harnessing that fear and turning it into motivation, knowing that on the other side of fear lies the life you truly want.
One of Wood’s most effective strategies is what she calls the What I Need Now (WINN) mindset. This approach helps you align your short-term goals with your long-term vision. Wood believes that career success isn’t about sticking rigidly to old plans, but about adapting to new circumstances as they arise.
For example, if your personal circumstances change—like your partner shifting to remote work while you’re still commuting—then it’s time to renegotiate how household responsibilities are divided. Similarly, if you find yourself questioning a previous career decision, like whether you still want a managerial role, it’s okay to change course. The WINN mindset encourages you to continuously adjust your daily actions to stay aligned with your evolving vision.
At work, there are often tasks that keep you busy but don’t necessarily help advance your career—these are called NAP (Not Actually Promotable) tasks. Jenny Wood suggests that you limit these non-essential tasks to no more than 15% of your time. Examples of NAP tasks include organizing team events or taking notes during meetings. While these tasks are important, they aren’t directly contributing to your career advancement.
To avoid being trapped in NAP work, Wood recommends evaluating your daily tasks and being strategic about your time. Politely decline tasks that don’t contribute to your goals, and instead, focus on higher-impact work that aligns with your long-term success.
Jenny Wood admits that throughout her 18 years at Google, she often struggled with the fear of judgment. The truth is, everyone has their own internal spotlight—they’re too focused on their own lives to dwell on your mistakes. By acknowledging your fears in the moment and remembering the Spotlight Effect, you can push past them and take bold action toward success.
The key takeaway here is that the road to success isn’t about waiting for the fear to subside. It’s about acting in spite of fear. Wild courage is the tool you need to tackle your goals head-on and reclaim your confidence. Whether you’re chasing a career goal, pursuing a passion, or navigating personal challenges, embracing wild courage will get you closer to the success and fulfillment you desire.
Start applying these principles today, and see how wild courage can transform your journey.
Access our platform effortlessly on-the-go through our user-friendly mobile apps.
𝗦𝗲𝗺𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁, 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴. We’re more than just a social platform — from jobs and blogs to events and daily chats, we bring people and ideas together in one simple, meaningful space.
