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Professional Troublemaker
Cover of Professional Troublemaker
Professional Troublemaker
The Fear-Fighter Manual
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INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
 
From the New York Times bestselling author of I'm Judging You, a hilarious and transformational book about how to tackle fear—that everlasting hater—and audaciously step into lives, careers, and legacies that go beyond even our wildest dreams
Luvvie Ajayi Jones is known for her trademark wit, warmth, and perpetual truth-telling. But even she's been challenged by the enemy of progress known as fear. She was once afraid to call herself a writer, and nearly skipped out on doing a TED talk that changed her life because of imposter syndrome. As she shares in Professional Troublemaker, she's not alone.
We're all afraid. We're afraid of asking for what we want because we're afraid of hearing "no." We're afraid of being different, of being too much or not enough. We're afraid of leaving behind the known for the unknown. But in order to do the things that will truly, meaningfully change our lives, we have to become professional troublemakers: people who are committed to not letting fear talk them out of the things they need to do or say to live free.
With humor and honesty, and guided by the influence of her professional troublemaking Nigerian grandmother, Funmilayo Faloyin, Luvvie walks us through what we must get right within ourselves before we can do the things that scare us; how to use our voice for a greater good; and how to put movement to the voice we've been silencing—because truth-telling is a muscle.
The point is not to be fearless, but to know we are afraid and charge forward regardless. It is to recognize that the things we must do are more significant than our fears. This book is about how to live boldly in spite of all the reasons we have to cower. Let's go!
INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
 
From the New York Times bestselling author of I'm Judging You, a hilarious and transformational book about how to tackle fear—that everlasting hater—and audaciously step into lives, careers, and legacies that go beyond even our wildest dreams
Luvvie Ajayi Jones is known for her trademark wit, warmth, and perpetual truth-telling. But even she's been challenged by the enemy of progress known as fear. She was once afraid to call herself a writer, and nearly skipped out on doing a TED talk that changed her life because of imposter syndrome. As she shares in Professional Troublemaker, she's not alone.
We're all afraid. We're afraid of asking for what we want because we're afraid of hearing "no." We're afraid of being different, of being too much or not enough. We're afraid of leaving behind the known for the unknown. But in order to do the things that will truly, meaningfully change our lives, we have to become professional troublemakers: people who are committed to not letting fear talk them out of the things they need to do or say to live free.
With humor and honesty, and guided by the influence of her professional troublemaking Nigerian grandmother, Funmilayo Faloyin, Luvvie walks us through what we must get right within ourselves before we can do the things that scare us; how to use our voice for a greater good; and how to put movement to the voice we've been silencing—because truth-telling is a muscle.
The point is not to be fearless, but to know we are afraid and charge forward regardless. It is to recognize that the things we must do are more significant than our fears. This book is about how to live boldly in spite of all the reasons we have to cower. Let's go!
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Excerpts-
  • From the cover

    1: Know Yourself

    We fear our full selves.
     
    We are afraid of who we are, in all our glory (and grit). We’re constantly “searching” for that person. Or forgetting that person. Or repressing that person. Instead of standing strong in who that person is.
     
    Being FULLY ourselves is necessary for us because it serves as a grounding force. I find that it’s the case for me. There is a lot to be afraid of in this world, because in general, things can be a wreck out there. And none of us needs to be afraid of who we are in our whole personhood, because who has the time?
     
    This standing in your full self isn’t about being an immovable person, whose beliefs are stuck in a rock. It’s not that can’t nobody tell you shit, or you not being able to admit when you’re wrong. Instead, it’s about having a strong sense of identity. It’s about knowing you belong in this world just as much as anyone else. It’s about taking up the space you earned simply by being born.
     
    One of my favorite poems is the Desiderata, written by Max Ehrmann. My favorite part is: “You are a child of the universe / no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here /And whether or not it is clear to you / no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.”
     
    “YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO BE HERE.” You sure in the hell do.
     
    Oddly enough, knowing this fullness of who you are doesn’t make you more stubborn. Instead, it makes you more likely to grow, since you know you have a solid foundation that doesn’t change even as you’ve learned new things and new perspectives. This is a step you need to be a professional troublemaker. Because you will GET IN TROUBLE. Guaranteed. What makes you realize it’s worth it? This process of knowing the fullness of who you are.
     
    A lot of fear fighting and professional troublemaking is confronting things that will knock us off our square. Things that will slap us into dizziness and make us forget everything we know is real. We need solid feet, rooted in something strong to continue to stand. Knowing ourselves is important because it provides that foundation for us. It doesn’t allow anyone or anything to tell us who we are. Because when people tell us how amazing we are, that’s good to absorb. But what about when someone tells us we aren’t worthy? Or we don’t have value? Or we don’t deserve kindness and love? Or that we deserve papercuts? To know thyself is to not take all the praise to head or take all the shaming to heart.
     
    To know thyself is to know your core, and for me, to know your core is to feel rooted in something outside of myself. It is to know, not only who I am but whose I am.
     
    Whose We Are
     
    Whose I am is not about belonging to someone or being beholden to people. It is about the community you are tied to that holds you accountable. It is about knowing you are part of a tribe that is greater than yourself. It is about feeling deeply connected to someone, and that no matter where you go, you have a base. If we’re phones, knowing whose we are is our charging station.
     
    I learned the importance of WHOSE you are growing up. As a Yoruba girl, I am a part of a tribe that prioritizes your people sometimes as much as it prioritizes an individual. Collectivism comes alive for us through the traditional ORÍKÌ (oh-ree-kee).
     
    What’s an ORIKI? It is a Yoruba word that combines two words to mean...

About the Author-
  • Luvvie Ajayi Jones is an award-winning author, speaker, and podcast host who thrives at the intersection of humor, technology, and justice. She is the author of the New York Times bestseller I'm Judging You: The Do-Better Manual. And her app, LuvvNation, is a safe space in a dumpster fire world.
     
Reviews-
  • AudioFile Magazine Author and podcaster Luvvie Ajayi Jones narrates her second manual for authentic living with the flair that she brings to all of her social media and publishing ventures. According to Jones, to be a professional troublemaker is to have a clear sense of personal identity and the ability to act without fear. Her straightforward approach and conversational style will have listeners nodding as Jones guides them through many common pitfalls of fear--failure, betrayal, imposter syndrome, etc.--and explains how to combat them. Jones lovingly references her Yoruba heritage, especially her boisterous grandmother, as a source of wisdom and fearlessness. Listeners who enjoy books that mix humor and personal advice will laugh a lot and learn something, too. N.M. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine
  • Library Journal

    Starred review from June 1, 2021

    Jones's (I'm Judging You) potentially life-changing book encourages listeners to break free of fear. In her no-nonsense style, Jones lays it all out: be the you-est you you can be, live loudly and fail loudly, and fire yourself. Her guidance throughout the book is spot on. If nothing else, anyone who spends time online--on social media, blogs, or any web site--must listen to her explaining how to manage each space: no, you don't have to be social media friends with someone you've never met; no, you aren't a bad person for not friending that kid you vaguely remember from grade school. Jones narrates the audiobook herself, so it's very much like listening to your best "get-your-act-together" friend. VERDICT Great advice delivered with style.--Donna Bachowski, Grand Island, FL

    Copyright 2021 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

  • Publisher's Weekly

    January 18, 2021
    Rants & Randomness podcast host Jones (I’m Judging You) explores how to fight fear in order to speak up for oneself in this witty, insightful guide. According to Jones, keeping quiet about things that matter (particularly with family members or coworkers) serves no one; however, those who speak up must be prepared to “fail loudly.” Broken into three sections—“Be,” “Say,” “Do”—Jones’s strategy puts the idea of a strong sense of identity at its foundation. “It’s about knowing you belong in this world just as much as anyone else,” she writes. Using this concept, Jones provides simple exercises to help readers with self-expression, such as writing a self-affirming Yoruba oríkì poem, composing a personal mission statement, and listing one’s values and goals. She also recommends “owning your dopeness” through celebrating accomplishments and not being afraid of being labeled arrogant. Explaining that “professional troublemaking” is about “expecting the best of everybody and making sure they’re seeing their blind spots,” Jones offers three questions to ask oneself before “ruffling feathers”: “Is this thing something I believe? Can I stand in it and justify it? Can I say it with love or thoughtfully?” Readers needing the extra push to stand up will find Jones’s advice enlightening and empowering.

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The Fear-Fighter Manual
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