Change Proof

About the Author

Adam Markel is a renowned author, speaker, and transformational leader. His book, Pivot, became a #1 bestseller in the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Los Angeles Times, and Publisher’s Weekly. He is the CEO of More Love Media and hosts the podcast The Conscious PIVOT, where he shares insights on resilience and adaptation in a rapidly changing world. Markel’s work is centered on helping individuals and organizations thrive through change, leveraging his extensive experience and profound insights into personal and professional development.

Main Idea

In Change Proof: How to Thrive On Uncertainty, Adam Markel explores the inevitability of change and the necessity of resilience in navigating it. Drawing on personal anecdotes, professional experiences, and psychological research, Markel presents a comprehensive guide to becoming "change-proof"—resilient and adaptive to any situation. He introduces the "change-proof model" of pausing, asking, and choosing, which empowers individuals to face change with confidence and leverage it for personal and professional growth.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. The Suck & Lifeguard Lessons
3. Pause, Ask, Choose
4. Resilient Bodies, Hearts, and Minds
5. Change-Proof
6. Conclusion

Introduction

Markel begins with a reflection on the concept of resilience, comparing it to his previous work in Pivot. He emphasizes the importance of commitment, advising readers to "stick things out" for at least 100 pages, whether it’s a book, a project, or a life change. This sets the stage for the book’s primary message: resilience and adaptability are crucial in a world of constant change.

The Suck & Lifeguard Lessons

Markel uses his experience as a lifeguard to illustrate the concept of "the suck"—a term lifeguards use to describe the forceful pull of water that can drag swimmers away from shore. He likens this to the inevitable changes in life that can leave us feeling overwhelmed and out of control. Through a poignant story about losing a swimmer, Markel highlights the importance of teamwork and resilience in the face of tragedy. His lifeguard leader, Bob, emphasized the need to support each other and move forward, a lesson Markel carries into his teachings on resilience.

"Just because something tragic happened, just because the unthinkable happened, we still had a job to do. If we were going to do it to the best of our ability, we had to choose to move forward together." — Adam Markel

Bob’s lesson is a powerful reminder that, despite the inevitability of change and sometimes tragedy, we must continue to push forward and support one another. The idea of "no one goes down on our watch" is a rallying cry for resilience and teamwork in the face of adversity. This concept underpins much of Markel's advice on how to become change-proof.