Margie Warrell - Stop Playing Safe: Rethink Risk. Unlock the Power of Courage. Achieve Outstanding Success

About the Author

A Forbes columnist, best-selling author and media commentator, Margie Warrell is an internationally recognised thought leader in human potential who is passionate about challenging people to live and lead with greater courage.

Drawing from her background in business, psychology and coaching, along with her diverse personal experiences, Margie supports individuals and organisations globally to expand their vision, engage in bigger conversations and make a more meaningful contribution. Her clients include Hitachi, Accenture, United Healthcare, NASA, Bechtel, British Telecom, ExxonMobil, Best Buy, and Wells Fargo Bank. She has also been a regular guest lecturer at the Georgetown University in Washington DC and Southern Methodist University in Texas.

The best-selling author of Find Your Courage: 12 Acts for Becoming Fearless in Work and Life , Margie is a sought-after media commentator who regularly contributes her expertise on leading media outlets including The Today Show, FOX News, CNN and CNBC. Her advice has been featured in The New York Times, The Week, Washington Post, Sunday Telegraph and Cosmopolitan magazine. Margie has also contributed to two other books with renowned experts Stephen Covey, Ken Blanchard, John Gray and Jack Canfield.

Margie is the founder of Global Courage, an organisation focused on empowering women to become more powerful catalysts for change and leaders within their organisations, community and society.

As a mother of four busy (and noisy) children and an intrepid traveller who grew up on a dairy farm in rural Victoria, Margie walks her talk when it comes to living boldly and challenging whats possible. In 2012 Margie returned to Australia after a decade based in the United States so her children could spend more time on Grandpas farm. A popular keynote speaker, she travels widely with her work and still enjoys returning to the US regularly where she is getting to know the immigration officials at LA airport on a first-name basis.

Acknowledgements

Ive often heard it said that writing a book is a bit like having a baby. While the writing process is a solitary pursuit, it takes a team of people to deliver a book safely into the world. Ive been blessed to have worked with some of the finest over the process of researching, writing, editing and publishing the book you now hold in your hands.

Firstly, thank you to all the team at Wiley. Lucy, Elizabeth, Alice, Keira, Gretta, Katie and everyone involved in the many steps along the way. Thank you for working with me as the shape of this book has evolved and my writing has progressed. In particular, thank you to my editor, Sandra Balonyi. You have been an absolute pleasure to work with. Im so delighted that your enthusiasm for what you were editing inspired your husband to ask for a pay rise!

Thank you also to the league of courageous leaders and entrepreneurial trailblazers who generously gave of their time to share with me their insights on the importance of acting with courage in business and beyond. The opportunity to spend time with so many incredibly smart, brave and thoughtful people was a gift all of its own. While passages in this book share your experiences, your wisdom threads through every page. My thanks also to Nanette and Winston Moulton for all youve done to help me get on my way since arriving in Australia.

Of course, with four children I could never have written this book without the support on the home front (or at least not in the same time frame.) So the person who deserves the greatest debt of gratitude is my incredibly supportive husband, Andrew. Thank you for always providing a listening ear and an encouraging word, for reading over draft chapters at the end of your long work day, and for your constructive yet candid feedback. As we near 20 years of marriage, I feel more blessed than ever to be sharing my days and life with you.

Id also like to acknowledge my children Lachlan, Maddy, Ben and Matthew. As the deadline for completing my manuscript drew near, you rallied behind me as I closed my office door and sent you out of earshot when your sibling antics grew too loud (which was often). As Ive written in this book, there is nothing more rewarding than working hard at work worth doing. Its my prayer that you will gain the same fulfilment in your work one day as I gain from mine and that you will pursue it with the courage I know you each possess.

I must also include a note of appreciation to Margie Edmonds my very own Alice from the Brady Bunch! Thank you for the cups of tea that magically appeared on my desk as my energy waned near days end. You truly dropped straight from heaven into our home on our arrival back in Australia. As my dad likes to say, Your bloods worth bottling.

Finally, heartfelt thanks to my dear family and friends near and far, new and old who I can count on for good company, wonderful humour and encouragement when its needed. There are more names to list than space allows but you know who you are and I hope you know how highly I value your friendship over the many miles and years. Mum and Dad, you top that list thank you for always telling me how proud you are of me. Im so proud of you too.

With gratitude to all with whom I have shared my journey so far.

Margie

Introduction

Imagine yourself 20 years from now, looking back on the intervening time. What would you love to have accomplished in your career and life? What impact would you like to have made? What kind of person would you like to have become by making it?