What do you think?
Rate this book
Fearless and Free: How Smart Women Pivot — And Relaunch Their Careers
"...pithy, invaluable guidance to women stymied in the workplace" — O, The Oprah Magazine
We are in the midst of a wild job market. Technology has disrupted nearly every industry, blowing up many careers, but creating millions more. Many women feel forced to pivot to stay relevant, while others choose to pivot to keep engaged. Or we may be struggling to get back into the workforce after taking time off to raise kids.
We hear words like hustle and grit and are told we need to think strategically, cultivate our own brands, and sell ourselves. But how do we do that? How do we pivot or radically relaunch our careers? How do we become unapologetically bold and badass—the boss of our own future?
Getting ahead today requires the action-first, fake-it-'til-you-make-it ethos celebrated in the tech world. It’s the tech industry that’s redefined our culture, and perhaps not surprisingly, it’s those Silicon Valley lessons that can help all women in all stages of their careers succeed.
This mindset is not typically a female one. Women tend to be cautious. We overthink our next moves. We might be safer . . . but we're also stuck. What if women embraced the startup spirit? What if we had the confidence to take chances, even if we knew we may fail first? What if instead of agonizing over which step to take, we leapt forward quickly? Fearless and Free empowers women, showing us how to lean into our strengths, increase our confidence, and follow successful lessons from Silicon Valley that can help us pivot in any career—and unlock a world of possibilities.
Author Wendy Sachs talked to a wide range of women who faced down fears, roadblocks, and failures to reinvent themselves. The book weaves their insights and experiences together with current research and actionable advice. You'll learn how to:
Capitalize on your skills and expand them • Grow comfortable with being uncomfortable • Boost your confidence • Sell your story • Engineer serendipity • Nurture your network • Shake off setbacks • Brand yourself—without bragging • Build momentum • Compete with digital natives • Reposition yourself if you’re reentering the workforce • And more
Whether you want out of a shrinking industry or into a business of your own creation, Fearless and Free helps you dream big—and act now.
We are in the midst of a wild job market. Technology has disrupted nearly every industry, blowing up many careers, but creating millions more. Many women feel forced to pivot to stay relevant, while others choose to pivot to keep engaged. Or we may be struggling to get back into the workforce after taking time off to raise kids.
We hear words like hustle and grit and are told we need to think strategically, cultivate our own brands, and sell ourselves. But how do we do that? How do we pivot or radically relaunch our careers? How do we become unapologetically bold and badass—the boss of our own future?
Getting ahead today requires the action-first, fake-it-'til-you-make-it ethos celebrated in the tech world. It’s the tech industry that’s redefined our culture, and perhaps not surprisingly, it’s those Silicon Valley lessons that can help all women in all stages of their careers succeed.
This mindset is not typically a female one. Women tend to be cautious. We overthink our next moves. We might be safer . . . but we're also stuck. What if women embraced the startup spirit? What if we had the confidence to take chances, even if we knew we may fail first? What if instead of agonizing over which step to take, we leapt forward quickly? Fearless and Free empowers women, showing us how to lean into our strengths, increase our confidence, and follow successful lessons from Silicon Valley that can help us pivot in any career—and unlock a world of possibilities.
Author Wendy Sachs talked to a wide range of women who faced down fears, roadblocks, and failures to reinvent themselves. The book weaves their insights and experiences together with current research and actionable advice. You'll learn how to:
Capitalize on your skills and expand them • Grow comfortable with being uncomfortable • Boost your confidence • Sell your story • Engineer serendipity • Nurture your network • Shake off setbacks • Brand yourself—without bragging • Build momentum • Compete with digital natives • Reposition yourself if you’re reentering the workforce • And more
Whether you want out of a shrinking industry or into a business of your own creation, Fearless and Free helps you dream big—and act now.
240 pages, Hardcover
Published February 7, 2017
64 people are currently reading
1093 people want to read
About the author
Wendy Sachs
4 books22 followersWendy Sachs is a master of the career pivot. An Emmy-award winning TV news producer, Wendy has worked at Dateline NBC, Fox, and CNN. She was also a Capitol Hill press secretary, public relations executive, media and content strategist, CNN contributor, and editor-in-chief of Care.com. A frequent speaker, she has also written about work/life and women’s issues for multiple publications, and appeared on dozens of radio and TV shows, including Good Morning America, Today, and CNN’s Headline News.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
April 23, 2017
A few years ago, I was stuck. I couldn't figure out the next step I wanted to take with my career. Luckily, I found a great business coach to work with and she helped me find my path through. For those of you in a similar situation, Wendy Sachs' book, "Fearless and Free," is like sitting with a good friend who is reassuring you that you are not alone with your struggle, and is cheering you on with inspirational tales from other women who've been in the same boat. Because of that, it's not a "here's a list of specific action steps to take" kind of book so look elsewhere if you're hoping for that.
Sachs offers this in the opening chapter to sum up her goal:
At times, it felt like Sachs was covering well-trodden ground. If you've already read "Lean In," "Playing Big,""Grit" "Give and Take," and "Presence," Sachs references these books and reiterates their core points so you won't find many new ideas. Having said that, I did discover one new book, an article, and an interesting career service through "Fearless and Free." And if you haven't read these books, this is a great way to get introduced to some great ideas.
Ultimately, reading this book is all about encouraging you to move through fear and take action. For those of you who may be in the in-between stage (you know you want to do something different, but you don't know what yet), Sachs shares reassuring perspective from Meredith Sinclair:
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free copy for review. All opinions are my own.
Sachs offers this in the opening chapter to sum up her goal:
The celebrated start-up model of disruption that embraces failing fast and pivoting is not a typically female one. Women tend to be more risk averse. We can overthink our next move and not act until we are 100 percent ready. We may feel like frauds when we're trying something new. Instead of being disruptive, women tend to be more disciplined. And we're often not pivoting--because we're stuck.
At times, it felt like Sachs was covering well-trodden ground. If you've already read "Lean In," "Playing Big,""Grit" "Give and Take," and "Presence," Sachs references these books and reiterates their core points so you won't find many new ideas. Having said that, I did discover one new book, an article, and an interesting career service through "Fearless and Free." And if you haven't read these books, this is a great way to get introduced to some great ideas.
Ultimately, reading this book is all about encouraging you to move through fear and take action. For those of you who may be in the in-between stage (you know you want to do something different, but you don't know what yet), Sachs shares reassuring perspective from Meredith Sinclair:
"The uncomfortable pauses where you think nothing is happening is often where things are brewing," Meredith says. "If we can get friendly with a little bit of discomfort and the process, then it's not as scary. I wanted to know where I was going and see the light in the path. But you have to give stuff a minute to let it noodle. We get too afraid of these unclear places and don't realize that they're a valuable piece of the pie. It would take a lot of fear out of people if they understood that this time is valuable, even if there is not final product yet."
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free copy for review. All opinions are my own.
February 21, 2017
This book is a must read for any woman who constantly thinks of ways to reinvent herself.
Wendy touches multiple subjects in this book including the "double bind" women face, the fear of speaking up, opportunities to pivot careers and consistently equipping ourselves.
Y'all know I like books with stories. This one has a number of real life stories that many women can relate to.
Rating: 4/5
Favourite quote: "Make no mistake—inertia kills confidence. Studies find that the most effective way to push back against self-doubt is to act."
This book is a must read for any woman who constantly thinks of ways to reinvent herself.
Wendy touches multiple subjects in this book including the "double bind" women face, the fear of speaking up, opportunities to pivot careers and consistently equipping ourselves.
Y'all know I like books with stories. This one has a number of real life stories that many women can relate to.
Rating: 4/5
Favourite quote: "Make no mistake—inertia kills confidence. Studies find that the most effective way to push back against self-doubt is to act."
November 20, 2018
Stories of wealthy, highly educated and well-placed women who are successful but would have landed on their feet regardless. I want to read the stories of REAL women who have come back from adversity.
December 30, 2016
Often these days we see books with catchy covers that are entitled to one half of our species. Then many of us from the other half disown the notion of reading that book even though we know that it will do good to us, we will gather some better thoughts for our intellectual and conscience from that book. There isn’t any gender gap at start when we are naive. It’s a seed sown inside our heads. This is what we teach and preach from then on and that’s how our children begin to differ. And then it becomes a problem.
Both women and men are human beings. One species! How can someone differentiate between the workings of the two? I tell you to disown the “disowning notion” right now. Start it today. Start by reading some books like Wendy Sachs’s Fearless and Free: How Smart Women pivot & relaunch their careers.
In this book Wendy suggests that we all need to think more like entrepreneurs to seek and seize opportunities. Take risks. Don’t overthink each and every decision you take or make. Simply, just act. Wendy Sachs encounters a wide range of women in this book who have overcome their fears and failures to reinvent themselves and their lives around themselves. Some of the encounters include Jill Ambramson, Aminatou Sow, Naama Bloom of HelloFlo.
On seeing the book cover, I got hooked and knew this book would be a good read. From the title or the cover of the book you may think this book is intended towards women and it is, but this book has a general outlook of coping in today’s ever changing surroundings. I would recommend this book to wives and their husbands, to all those people in management and to women in general, to think about Wandy Sachs written words, to manage consistently developing your skill-set and integrating them in your work and life.
Both women and men are human beings. One species! How can someone differentiate between the workings of the two? I tell you to disown the “disowning notion” right now. Start it today. Start by reading some books like Wendy Sachs’s Fearless and Free: How Smart Women pivot & relaunch their careers.
In this book Wendy suggests that we all need to think more like entrepreneurs to seek and seize opportunities. Take risks. Don’t overthink each and every decision you take or make. Simply, just act. Wendy Sachs encounters a wide range of women in this book who have overcome their fears and failures to reinvent themselves and their lives around themselves. Some of the encounters include Jill Ambramson, Aminatou Sow, Naama Bloom of HelloFlo.
On seeing the book cover, I got hooked and knew this book would be a good read. From the title or the cover of the book you may think this book is intended towards women and it is, but this book has a general outlook of coping in today’s ever changing surroundings. I would recommend this book to wives and their husbands, to all those people in management and to women in general, to think about Wandy Sachs written words, to manage consistently developing your skill-set and integrating them in your work and life.
February 27, 2018
I really enjoyed this book. I read it in one day and it resonated with me on several levels. It included many examples of how women of different ages and stages had pivoted and relaunched new and inspirational careers. Would recommend
February 7, 2017
Read my full review here: http://mimi-cyberlibrarian.blogspot.c...
The subtitle of Wendy Sachs' excellent look at women and their careers is: How Smart Women Pivot and Relaunch Their Careers. In it, Sachs tells her own story of the multiple iterations of her career and encourages her women readers to be creative, resilient, and passionate about their career choices and career plans.
In story after story, Sachs shows how women create opportunities for themselves—or seize opportunities—and shine in whatever career they choose. She suggests that in today's world, opportunities abound for the determined, creative woman. She also asserts that most women will have several careers in their lifetimes, with agility being a must-have skill. She says:
"This book is for women at all stages of their professional journeys. Some may be looking for a total relaunch. Others are trying to reposition themselves to stay relevant. Still more may be looking to get back into the game after taking time off to raise kids and need the confidence and direction to take the first step."
I kept seeing my daughters, step-daughters, and daughters-in-law in the context of the book. They are all attempting to be resilient, relevant, and challenged. Actually, I saw myself as I figured out what career would best meld with my life as a widowed mother of three. Then, what I would do after I retired from my education career. Actually, I have made 4 different career moves in the years since I retired.
At the same time that Sachs is telling all these wonderful and inspiring stories, she is also telling women about how to be successful in a male-dominated world. Her story about Hilary Clinton is a case in point, and it is certainly something that all the women in the country observed in this last election. The question kept coming up, "How is a woman supposed to act?" I appreciated her advice, for example, to stop apologizing all the time. Just tell it how it is.
Well, for sure, the world of women is changing rapidly, and Wendy Sachs and her book should prove inspiration for an entire new generation of women who must be agile enough to take advantage of the change as it happens.
The subtitle of Wendy Sachs' excellent look at women and their careers is: How Smart Women Pivot and Relaunch Their Careers. In it, Sachs tells her own story of the multiple iterations of her career and encourages her women readers to be creative, resilient, and passionate about their career choices and career plans.
In story after story, Sachs shows how women create opportunities for themselves—or seize opportunities—and shine in whatever career they choose. She suggests that in today's world, opportunities abound for the determined, creative woman. She also asserts that most women will have several careers in their lifetimes, with agility being a must-have skill. She says:
"This book is for women at all stages of their professional journeys. Some may be looking for a total relaunch. Others are trying to reposition themselves to stay relevant. Still more may be looking to get back into the game after taking time off to raise kids and need the confidence and direction to take the first step."
I kept seeing my daughters, step-daughters, and daughters-in-law in the context of the book. They are all attempting to be resilient, relevant, and challenged. Actually, I saw myself as I figured out what career would best meld with my life as a widowed mother of three. Then, what I would do after I retired from my education career. Actually, I have made 4 different career moves in the years since I retired.
At the same time that Sachs is telling all these wonderful and inspiring stories, she is also telling women about how to be successful in a male-dominated world. Her story about Hilary Clinton is a case in point, and it is certainly something that all the women in the country observed in this last election. The question kept coming up, "How is a woman supposed to act?" I appreciated her advice, for example, to stop apologizing all the time. Just tell it how it is.
Well, for sure, the world of women is changing rapidly, and Wendy Sachs and her book should prove inspiration for an entire new generation of women who must be agile enough to take advantage of the change as it happens.
May 26, 2017
Fearless & Free focuses on the female in business and demonstrates how to shift our usual cautious thinking into ways that will be profitable in business, both for females as the employee and for the bottom line.
This book was amazing and truly inspiring in helping one move towards being fearless and free as a woman in a business world or as a female entrepreneur. My story is varied, much like some of the stories in this book. As a result, I learned, I was inspired, and I breathed a huge sigh of relief that others were also in the same boat with me.
The writing was clear and easy to read quickly. The stories and examples were relevant and kept the book moving forward. One of the best business books I've read yet!
This book was amazing and truly inspiring in helping one move towards being fearless and free as a woman in a business world or as a female entrepreneur. My story is varied, much like some of the stories in this book. As a result, I learned, I was inspired, and I breathed a huge sigh of relief that others were also in the same boat with me.
The writing was clear and easy to read quickly. The stories and examples were relevant and kept the book moving forward. One of the best business books I've read yet!
February 25, 2017
She shares some great tips but it was over powered by her political statements. Disappointing since this could have been a great book. Wendy also recognizes some great accomplishments from other women that I researched after reading the book.
I received this book from Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review.
You can see my full review at More Than a Review dot com where I rate the level of sex, violence, language and drug/alcohol use in books.
I received this book from Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review.
You can see my full review at More Than a Review dot com where I rate the level of sex, violence, language and drug/alcohol use in books.
August 20, 2017
Good for younger women with big resumes
Well written and interesting, but all the women discussed have big time resumes and connections out the wazoo. I learned some good things, but as a 58 year old teacher, didn't feel I fit her target audience. I also wanted practical tools and concrete examples. For example when she discussed resumes, it would have been great to have had examples.
Well written and interesting, but all the women discussed have big time resumes and connections out the wazoo. I learned some good things, but as a 58 year old teacher, didn't feel I fit her target audience. I also wanted practical tools and concrete examples. For example when she discussed resumes, it would have been great to have had examples.
January 31, 2017
I really enjoyed Wendy Sachs take on "thinking outside the box," and reinventing your career. Read my full review here https://journalingonpaper.com/2017/01...
August 9, 2017
In the time of adversity this book gave me great encouragement.
July 3, 2022
Often these days we see books with catchy covers that are entitled to one half of our species. Then many of us from the other half disown the notion of reading that book even though we know that it will do good to us, we will gather some better thoughts for our intellectual and conscience from that book. There isn’t any gender gap at start when we are naive. It’s a seed sown inside our heads. This is what we teach and preach from then on and that’s how our children begin to differ. And then it becomes a problem.
Both women and men are human beings. One species! How can someone differentiate between the workings of the two? I tell you to disown the “disowning notion” right now. Start it today. Start by reading some books like Wendy Sachs’s Fearless and Free: How Smart Women pivot & relaunch their careers.
In this book Wendy suggests that we all need to think more like entrepreneurs to seek and seize opportunities. Take risks. Don’t overthink each and every decision you take or make. Simply, just act. Wendy Sachs encounters a wide range of women in this book who have overcome their fears and failures to reinvent themselves and their lives around themselves. Some of the encounters include Jill Ambramson, Aminatou Sow, Naama Bloom of HelloFlo.
On seeing the book cover, I got hooked and knew this book would be a good read. From the title or the cover of the book you may think this book is intended towards women and it is, but this book has a general outlook of coping in today’s ever changing surroundings. I would recommend this book to wives and their husbands, to all those people in management and to women in general, to think about Wandy Sachs written words, to manage consistently developing your skill-set and integrating them in your work and life.
Both women and men are human beings. One species! How can someone differentiate between the workings of the two? I tell you to disown the “disowning notion” right now. Start it today. Start by reading some books like Wendy Sachs’s Fearless and Free: How Smart Women pivot & relaunch their careers.
In this book Wendy suggests that we all need to think more like entrepreneurs to seek and seize opportunities. Take risks. Don’t overthink each and every decision you take or make. Simply, just act. Wendy Sachs encounters a wide range of women in this book who have overcome their fears and failures to reinvent themselves and their lives around themselves. Some of the encounters include Jill Ambramson, Aminatou Sow, Naama Bloom of HelloFlo.
On seeing the book cover, I got hooked and knew this book would be a good read. From the title or the cover of the book you may think this book is intended towards women and it is, but this book has a general outlook of coping in today’s ever changing surroundings. I would recommend this book to wives and their husbands, to all those people in management and to women in general, to think about Wandy Sachs written words, to manage consistently developing your skill-set and integrating them in your work and life.
December 9, 2021
On the fence between 3 and 4 stars. I do agree with reviewers who are rubbed by the powerful background of the women featured. Majority have Harvard/Yale/Princeton education, and who are pretty successful already. No one in here is trying to jump into entry level management or into middle/upper management, like I am guessing the audience reading it will be in (present reviewer included). It's: how can you reach CEO by 26, with corner office, and/or start your billion dollar company and work 4 hours a week. Hard to relate to the examples. And, how many, who reads this, will have any shot at being invited to TheLi.st or making it into one of their gatherings? But- I do like to see that women are finally helping other women. As Sandberg said in Lean In, which I realized was exactly what was happening, women who climbed the ladder had a tendency to use their stiletto to push down any other women trying to climb the ladder behind. Men help other men. Women tend not to.
I did like the stop the mommy wars chapters between the stay at home and the stay at work. Also appreciated the recognition of how hard it is to jump back into the workforce- how to show your gap in working was really no gap at all.
Also appreciated that this was written by a Gen X'er. We are lost in the generational sandwich.
Took one or two pieces of advice from here. For example: look at those that have the job you desire, what does their resume and bio look like? What have they done? That can help you. Also look at what they have published- articles and so forth. Shows what is important in said field.
Curious as we are all stirred up from COVID/shut down and the great Resignation, what will change? Will things be easier to pivot? Better?
I did like the stop the mommy wars chapters between the stay at home and the stay at work. Also appreciated the recognition of how hard it is to jump back into the workforce- how to show your gap in working was really no gap at all.
Also appreciated that this was written by a Gen X'er. We are lost in the generational sandwich.
Took one or two pieces of advice from here. For example: look at those that have the job you desire, what does their resume and bio look like? What have they done? That can help you. Also look at what they have published- articles and so forth. Shows what is important in said field.
Curious as we are all stirred up from COVID/shut down and the great Resignation, what will change? Will things be easier to pivot? Better?
October 19, 2022
I have found the pandemic to cause me to evaluate the different parts of my life personal and professional. For the last few years, my career has been turbulent. I found the courage to make job changes, where I would never have done that.
This book helps you find the courage to act. You can’t give in to the fear of making a move. Inertia isn’t you friend. It is your enemy.
Take the time to figure out what makes you happy. Figure out a way to do more of it. Network. Keep trying. It is possible to find a new career path later in life. Act. Move. Do.
This book helps you find the courage to act. You can’t give in to the fear of making a move. Inertia isn’t you friend. It is your enemy.
Take the time to figure out what makes you happy. Figure out a way to do more of it. Network. Keep trying. It is possible to find a new career path later in life. Act. Move. Do.
November 29, 2022
Although the books’ references and stories feel a little dated now, (it was written in 2016) the takeaways are still very much relevant and useful. I loved the book and found it inspiring. I’m going to recommend it to my sister - even though she couldn’t be further from a career change. As a coach and someone who is actively trying to have a positive impact on all school aged girls, I believe she’ll also get many nuggets of wisdom from this book for herself as a leader and the girls she works with.
June 8, 2021
I was already familiar with many of the concepts and individuals covered in this book, via podcasts, online articles, or their own books. That said, this would make a concise introduction to many topics for a new graduate or a woman re-entering the workforce after a long absence. I would love an updated addendum to this edition, as I am curious to see how the author’s predictions of the future of the labor market may have evolved post-2020 and the repercussions of the pandemic.
December 12, 2018
This book mirrored the other books of the same subject (women in the workplace) I've read, but it was still a pleasant, quick airport read. Women's personal stories of failure and resilience spanned from the media veteran who rubbed someone the wrong way and got fired, to the new grad just starting out, but not knowing where to start. Note: It was more story-based than tactical.
January 2, 2021
Some good tips. I thought the author could have steered away from political opinions. She could have made it a bit more about tactics and positive change in oneself. But maybe my expectation of the book was different than the authors intent.
January 11, 2021
Brilliant!
This book has such fabulous advice and amazing examples- it WILL inspire you to forge ahead! My favorites are engineering your own serendipity and crafting your own narrative. Definitely added to my recommendation list.
This book has such fabulous advice and amazing examples- it WILL inspire you to forge ahead! My favorites are engineering your own serendipity and crafting your own narrative. Definitely added to my recommendation list.
October 31, 2021
I love this book! It totally pumps me up for pivoting in life vs. being fearful that I'll 'fizz out' eventually. Thank you for this insight and the personal stories. Really inspiring, my book is not legible because of all the notes.
October 2, 2022
It's fun reading this in a post covid world. Ideas in here have accelerated and others have been put on pause. In general, this book is a good reminder that when it's time to pivot (by choice or not), you are not alone.
June 5, 2017
I haven't yet put any of the tips into practice, but book does provide several tips that appear to be useful in career transitioning.
October 14, 2017
Interesting real world examples of how women reinvented themselves and pivoted in their careers, but not much new I haven't heard before.
May 30, 2018
Lots of good resources and stories. This book made me excited about my career and the possibilities.
October 31, 2021
Inspirational! I love to read all these amazing stories from women and how they rised from their failures and refused to giving up.
July 11, 2022
very informative and empowering
May 10, 2024
Reassuring - Relevant - Real stories
September 5, 2018
I listened to this through audible but I still loved the premise. Many women fail to try because we are afraid to fail. This book is full women, who run the gambit from middle class to rich, failing forward and finding a way to succeed. I couldn’t stop listening!
February 23, 2017
I have been really interested in reading more of these guidance types of books lately. I often find myself taking notes, taking photos of the screen so I can reference it for later, and chatting with others in the business community about what I’m learning. I’m happy to say I did the same with Fearless and Free. There was a lot of good information in here and I really enjoyed hearing about so many women and their journeys. I wrote down several women to follow up on, research more, and took away many great quotes. There were moments where the book dragged a bit for me, and it got a little too political for my liking, but overall still a very interesting and useful resource.
I received a review copy
I received a review copy
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews