899: Jennifer Cohen | Live the Life You Want, Not the Life You Get

Acquiring Boldness

Jennifer Cohen emphasizes that boldness is an acquired skill, much like fitness, requiring consistent practice to develop. She believes that anyone can cultivate boldness by taking small, daily actions, similar to building muscle through regular exercise 1. Jordan Harbinger shares his own journey from shyness to confidence, illustrating that boldness can transform one's life and career 1. Jennifer also highlights the importance of teaching children to be bold, encouraging them to ask for what they want and stand up for themselves 2.

Boldness can have a negative connotation, right? You could be called pushy, too aggressive. Those are euphemisms that are pretty negative.

--- Jennifer Cohen

She argues that boldness should not be seen negatively, especially for women, and encourages designing a life that aligns with one's true desires 2.

   

Overcoming Resistance

Overcoming resistance is crucial in developing boldness, according to Jennifer. She suggests tackling difficult tasks first to build momentum and increase productivity throughout the day 3. This approach aligns with the concept of "Eat That Frog," where completing the hardest task first can lead to a sense of accomplishment and free up mental energy for later tasks 3. Jordan shares how his mother inadvertently taught him boldness by making him return items at stores, a practice that helped him become more assertive 4.

If you walk into a room differently, you get the different response.

--- Jennifer Cohen

Jennifer stresses the importance of action over overthinking, as overthinking can lead to paralysis, while boldness opens up possibilities 4.

   

Seeking Bold Advice

Choosing the right people for advice is essential in fostering boldness. Jennifer advises forming a "bold of directors," a supportive circle of experienced individuals who encourage bold actions 5. Jordan reflects on how advice from Gary Vaynerchuk inspired him to pursue podcasting despite skepticism from others 6. Jennifer underscores the value of curiosity in conjunction with boldness, as it opens up opportunities and fosters communication 6.

The idea of creating this bold of directors around you as opposed to the board of directors.

--- Jennifer Cohen

This combination of curiosity and boldness can lead to unexpected opportunities and success 6.