Book excerpt: Powerful, unvarnished advice for growing through the work challenges all aspiring leaders face The business world is full of catchphrases: follow your passion; think positive; be authentic; suck it up; take risks; network. All well-intentioned, but let’s be honest. This inch-deep advice just isn’t very helpful. How do real people succeed in the real world of work? That’s the question bestselling author Joanna Barsh sets out to answer—not by asking motivational gurus or well-established CEOs but by diving into the trenches with today’s boldest, brightest, up-and-coming leaders. Distilling the stories of important work challenges from more than 200 rising leaders in 120 companies, this hands-on guide helps you grow through the challenges you face—not despite them. You’ll learn how to: * Handle rising pressure and recover from colossal mistakes * Bounce back from poor performance reviews and use them to up your game * Get people on board with you and your mission * Deal with office villains like a superhero * Take uncomfortable risks and dare to challenge * Grow when everything is falling apart around you * Know when it’s time to find another position Packed with raw experiences and on-the-job coping strategies from a rich diversity of voices—immigrants and first-generation Americans; blacks, Hispanics, and Asians; Ivy League alums and high school grads; and parents, some of whom are single—from all industries, this book offers the kind of nuts-and-bolts, real-world insights you won’t find anywhere else. Using these proven strategies, you can accelerate your growth with every new challenge. Best of all, you’ll be able to take the lead in your own career and build a future that works for you. This is how ordinary people turn challenges into extraordinary opportunities for action—and how you can Grow Wherever You Work.