Melody Jacob

Some workplaces honestly feel like movie sets where everyone is performing a version of themselves instead of showing who they really are. Some people spend the whole day acting, and some dramatize everything, while only a few people remain their real selves in a work environment.

One thing I have noticed about certain workplaces is how emotionally exhausting they can become. You see people smiling, but you can sense that the kindness is more of a workplace courtesy than something genuine. Everyone becomes extremely polite in a way that feels scripted, almost like watching actors perform instead of human beings connecting naturally.

To me, that is one of the most toxic environments to be in because it slowly removes honesty, warmth, and authenticity from everyday interactions.

Maybe that’s why Wild Courage: Go After What You Want and Get It by Jenny Wood resonated with me so deeply. I have spent years trying to stay professional, avoid conflict, and fit into workplace environments that often felt emotionally performative rather than authentic.

I picked up Wild Courage expecting another career book filled with predictable advice about leadership, networking, and productivity.

What I didn’t expect was a book that would challenge the way I think about confidence, ambition, risk, and even the parts of myself I’ve spent years trying to tone down.

This book felt personal.

Jenny Wood writes with the kind of clarity that only comes from real-world experience. You can tell she has spent years observing how people succeed, why talented people stay invisible, and what separates those who move forward from those who remain stuck waiting for permission.

The core message of Wild Courage is surprisingly simple:

Many of the traits we are taught to suppress are actually the exact traits we need to succeed.

That idea alone makes this book stand out.

Instead of telling readers to become more polished, more agreeable, or more “professional” in the traditional sense, Jenny Wood argues that success often comes from reclaiming traits that society labels negatively.

Traits like being:

• Shameless

• Weird

• Obsessed

• Selfish

• Nosy

• Manipulative

• Brutal

• Reckless

• Bossy

At first glance, those words sound uncomfortable. Some even sound wrong.

But that’s exactly the point.

The book carefully reframes each trait, showing how these characteristics, when used with self-awareness and integrity, can become powerful tools for growth, leadership, opportunity, and personal success.

And honestly, reading it forced me to reflect on how often people shrink themselves to fit expectations.

One of my favorite parts of the book was the chapter about being “shameless.”

For years, many of us have been taught that promoting ourselves is arrogance. That asking for opportunities is pushy. That visibility should come naturally if our work is good enough.

But real life rarely works that way.

Jenny Wood explains that being shameless is not about ego. It’s about refusing to disappear. It’s about speaking up, advocating for yourself, sharing your ideas confidently, and allowing people to see your value instead of quietly hoping someone notices.

That chapter stayed with me because I recognized how often fear of judgment keeps people silent.

Another trait that deeply resonated with me was “obsessed.”

We live in a culture that praises passion but often becomes uncomfortable when someone is truly consumed by a goal. Yet the people who create extraordinary work are rarely casual about what they do.

Obsession, when directed properly, creates mastery.

That idea challenged me in the best possible way because it made me question where I’ve been holding back my energy or commitment just to appear balanced or socially acceptable.

The chapter on being “weird” was also refreshing. Jenny Wood makes a strong case that originality often comes from people willing to think differently instead of constantly trying to blend in. In many careers and creative spaces, standing out matters more than fitting perfectly into expectations.

The more I read, the more I realized this book is not really about career advice alone.

It’s about permission.

Permission to stop apologizing for ambition.
Permission to stop minimizing yourself.
Permission to take risks before you feel fully ready.
Permission to ask boldly for what you want.

What I appreciated most is that the book never promotes arrogance or selfishness without purpose. Jenny Wood consistently balances courage with awareness, confidence with competence, and ambition with humanity.

That balance gives the book credibility.

It doesn’t read like empty motivation. It reads like practical insight from someone who understands how careers actually work behind closed doors.

Out of the nine traits, the one I’m consciously reclaiming after reading Wild Courage is being shameless.

Not shameless in a careless way.

But shameless about sharing my work, expressing my ideas, pursuing opportunities directly, and allowing myself to be visible without constantly second-guessing whether I’m “too much.”

Because silence rarely creates opportunity.

Reading this book reminded me that many people spend years trying to become acceptable when they should be becoming courageous.

And maybe that’s why Wild Courage feels so relevant right now.

It challenges the invisible rules many of us grew up believing:

• Don’t stand out too much.

• Don’t ask for more.

• Don’t be difficult.

• Don’t take risks.

• Don’t want too much success.

But the people who change their lives usually stop following those rules at some point.

This book is bold, practical, honest, and deeply thought-provoking. It’s one of the rare career books that doesn’t just tell you how to succeed — it forces you to confront what fear, insecurity, and social conditioning might be preventing you from doing.

If you read Wild Courage, don’t just read it passively.

Ask yourself which of the nine traits you’ve suppressed the most.

Then ask yourself what your life or career might look like if you stopped treating that trait like a flaw.

For me, this book wasn’t just about professional growth.

It was about reclaiming parts of myself I didn’t realize I had been hiding.

And that’s what made it memorable.

And as I held the Wild Courage paperback after finishing the final chapter, I realized this book is more than a guide for career growth. It’s a reminder that courage is not always loud. Sometimes courage is simply allowing yourself to be seen fully, honestly, and unapologetically.

What an Emergency Fund Really Is

At its core, an emergency fund is your financial safety net. It covers the things you can’t plan for losing your job, a sudden medical bill, car trouble, or urgent home repairs. Without it, those situations can quickly turn into bigger financial problems.

This money should always be easy to access. It’s not for treating yourself or covering everyday spending. It’s strictly for when something goes wrong. If you need to use it, try to rebuild it as soon as you get the chance.

Why It Matters

Not having an emergency fund can leave you exposed. One unexpected expense can throw off your entire financial plan, force you to drain other savings, or push you into debt.

Having even a small emergency fund provides you with some financial flexibility. It means you’re not scrambling when something happens; you’re prepared.

Most people aim for three to six months’ worth of living expenses. That number isn’t fixed, though. It depends on your situation, your income stability, and what makes you feel secure.

This condition is known as paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT). While it sounds frightening, it usually isn't life-threatening. Dr. Paul Zei, a specialist at the Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women’s Hospital, notes that patients often describe it as a sudden fluttering or pounding in the chest. These episodes can occur unexpectedly, but they can also be triggered by stress, exercise, stimulants like caffeine, or even something as simple as bending over.

What exactly is PSVT?

Your heart’s rhythm is usually controlled by its natural pacemaker, the sinoatrial node. In PSVT, an "errant" electrical signal from above the ventricles takes over, forcing a series of rapid-fire beats. Because the heart is beating so fast, it doesn't have enough time to fill with blood between contractions. This can lead to a drop in blood flow to the rest of the body, causing lightheadedness, shortness of breath, or even fainting.

The timing of these episodes is unpredictable. Some people experience them daily, while others go years between bouts. The racing might last only a few seconds, though in rare cases, it can persist for days.

Why it is often misdiagnosed

PSVT is relatively rare, affecting about three in every 1,000 people. It strikes all ages, but half of those diagnosed are between 50 and 64, and women make up about two-thirds of cases.

Because the symptoms, racing heart and breathlessness, mimic anxiety, many primary care doctors misdiagnose it, particularly in female patients. To get an accurate diagnosis, a doctor needs an electrocardiogram (ECG) while the episode is actually happening. Since the racing often stops before a patient can get to a clinic, doctors usually suggest wearing a portable monitor for a few weeks or using a smartwatch with ECG capabilities to catch the rhythm in the act.