You Unstuck: Mastering the New Rules of Risk-taking in Work and Life

by Libby Gill

In You Unstuck, Libby Gill uses cases studies, client stories from her coaching work, and brain research to help readers understand the biological basis of fears that hold them back. She shows how to reframe what she calls Riskophobia, turn off the fear voices, and circumvent ancient defense systems. Readers can then create an Escalating Risk Hierarchy by "chunking down" their vision into small, actionable steps, ordered from least to most anxiety inducing. By combining stress-busting relaxation techniques with small action steps, the readers’ odds for realizing their vision greatly increase in this Relax, Risk, Repeat cycle. Gill also shows readers how to "Avoid Limiters & Embrace Liberators," keeping naysayers at bay while seeking influential supporters who can help free their creativity and productivity. Capitalizing on her business background, coaching expertise, and a personal history of risk-taking and resilience, Gill makes complex concepts relevant and accessible through immediately applicable tools, exercises, self-tests, and questionnaires that challenge readers to change.

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction

252 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Libby Gill is a former television executive who headed communications at Sony, Universal and Turner Broadcasting. Her first novel, MALIBU SUMMER, is published by Penguin Random House and debuts on May 21, 2024. Libby is an award-winning author of six non-fiction books, including You Unstuck, Traveling Hopefully, Capture the Mindshare, The Hope-Driven Leader, and Leadership Reckoning, (with co-authors Dr. Thomas Kolditz and Dr. Ryan Brown).

In addition to being a novelist, Libby is an executive coach, leadership expert, and international speaker, and has delivered keynotes on four continents and in 41 US states. She has appeared on the CBS Early Show, CNN, NPR, the Today Show and in Good Housekeeping, the New York Times, O Magazine, Self, Time Magazine, and the Wall Street Journal.

After many years living in Los Angeles—the center of the television industry— Libby and her husband relocated to Oregon’s Rogue Valley, where she hikes, gardens and attempts to learn golf.

Reviews

[Tanner Marcum · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a helpful, simple, book that can provide the opportunity for introspection and determining how you’d like to “level up” in life and get unstuck in your life (career, health, finances etc). There are likely better books on the topic in terms of content, but Libby writes in such a personable and approachable way that it’s worth the read!

[Tiffany Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had a lot of good ideas to get yourself "Unstuck" in a variety of areas including money, relationships and careers. The main idea of the book is that people get stuck through fear and that to get past that fear you must make small accomplishments toward your goal, therefore gaining confidence in that area and making the big goal easier and more attainable. I definitely gained some easy actions to take when something feels overwhelming to me. If you feel stuck or would like to improve in facing your fears, I would recommend this book.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I truly believe that it is because of this book and "Liberators" in my life that I am getting closer and closer to actually becoming "unstuck." I have read self help books in the past, but this one really makes you work at becoming unstuck and forced me to see myself for who I am, not what people think I am. The best is yet to come and this book was definitely a great part of the process.

[Troy Conant · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of those books that I don't totally regret reading because there were some good points that made me think. My criticism is that You Unstuck started off strong, but seemed to fizzle out towards the end.

[Nichelle Sifontes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read for those considering life changes