Beyond the To-Do List - Productivity for Work and Life

Jenny Wood on Wild Courage: How to Overcome Fear and Unlock Your Potential

Mar 17, 2025

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In this episode, we welcome Jenny Wood, a former Google executive, founder of Own Your Career, and author of Wild Courage: Go After What You Want and Get It. Jenny shares powerful insights into overcoming fear, taking bold risks, and navigating personal and professional growth with courage.

In this conversation, we explore:

The Courage to Overcome Fear: Jenny opens up about how fear, in various forms, often holds us back from achieving our goals and how Wild Courage provides a practical roadmap to take action despite that fear.
Reclaiming "Negative" Traits: Jenny discusses how traditionally negative traits like being "selfish" or "shameless" can actually be powerful tools for personal empowerment when reframed positively.
Taking Action Despite Uncertainty: We dive into how fear of failure can paralyze us, and Jenny shares her journey of making bold career decisions, including leaving Google to become a writer and keynote speaker.
The Power of Bold Decisions and Risk-Taking: Jenny explains the concept of "reckless courage" and how making decisions quickly and confidently, even when outcomes are uncertain, can lead to powerful growth and learning.
Saying "No" and Setting Boundaries: Jenny offers practical advice on how to protect your time, energy, and priorities by saying "no" to small distractions and focusing on what truly matters.

Jenny’s insights on courage, fear, and bold action are sure to inspire anyone feeling stuck or uncertain about their next step. If you’ve ever struggled with self-doubt or fear of judgment, this episode provides actionable steps to help you take charge of your life.