Book review, 22 August 2019

Be fearless, Jean Case

A good inspirational book to push yourself out of your comfort zone and take actions !

1. Clarity 3
2. Readability 4
3. Applicability 2
4. Energy 5

Average 3,5

Comment

“Be Fearless” sets five principles that the author claims to be the “secret sauce” that propels entrepreneurs to success.
These principles are said to be the fruits of some research studies but specific insights are not given on the rationals
for these studies. Basically, the message is that these five principles are consistently present when transformational
breakthroughs take place, and, therefore, the author invites the reader to implement them to move away from his/her
own comfort zone and unleash his/her appetite to change the world. The book is structured by the five principles, and
provide for each several case studies and sometimes a few insights on how to develop their related capabilities : to
make big bets, to take risks through increments, to learn from experience and failure, to connect with partners outside
the comfort zone, and to listen to the inner driving force and be more guttsy.

The book is really pleasing to read. It brings in good positive energy as you go through the different vivid case studies.
Reading it clearly grew my appetite to proceed to actions ! I found reading about these different leaders and their
stories definitly enjoyable and inspiring.

The five “Be fearless” principles are pretty high level, generic principles. Even if the author makes good efforts to
illustrate them, they may not always be very practical. I remain quite dubious I can directly translate some of them
into simple and specific actions to grow or secure my business. As a matter of facts, they fit well with the success
stories (especially once you know the full story), but they may not always have been the key drivers for these
successes... If they were present at all stages of major disruptive innovations, nothing says they are sufficient to lead
any venture to success (even if they are most certainly a good start). I also sometimes felt a bit of totology whilst
reading the book : the principles match well with the stories, but it may be due to a bias in selecting the case studies.
For example, it is no real suprise to me that a story about disruptive innovation required some disruptive mindset from
their leaders... I also found Part Four, dedicated to moving outside our comfort zone and reaching out to partners, a bit
weaker and less convincing than the rest of the book.

All that said, “Be fearless” is a good book, especially if you are looking for something inspirational, well written and
full of energizing stories. You will not find recipes here (no “secret sauce”), nor blueprint to kick off your ideas into
new startups or disruptive businesses, but the book is more about growing enough self-confidence to remove the little
fears that prevent each of us to take actions. It may definitly ignite or grow your entrepreuneurial fire !

Recommandations

I would definitly recommend this book to anybody who has ever had an inner voice pushing for an idea to implement
or an action to take, and censored it with good excuses rooted into personal fears and low self-confidence, and
eventually with a bit of frustration...

Tags

#entrepreneurs #entrepreneuria #entrepreneurial #business #befearless #innovation #disruption #change #startup

#success #businesscases #gutts #comfortzone #reachbeyond #risktaking #riskaverse #experience #learning
#businessbook #businessbookofthemonth #jeancase #casefondation #inspiration #motivation

Disclosure

I bought this book myself, and I have had no link with the author nor her editor prior to reading and reviewing it.