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The Courage Gap: 5 Steps to Braver Action
Do you sometimes hold back when you know you need to speak up or step forward?
Fear creates the gap. Courage closes it.
This powerful guide from the bestselling author of You’ve Got This! cuts through the hype to connect the 'why' of courage to the 'how' of courage. Drawing on cutting-edge research woven together with stories that compel head andheart, The Courage Gap will help you bridge the think/do gap between what you’ve been doing and what you can do; between where you are and where you want to be—in your career, relationships, leadership, and life.
Distilling theory and hard-won wisdom spanning from Margie’s childhood in rural Australia to her decades of living around the world and coaching ‘insecure overachievers’ in Fortune 500 organizations, Margie shares a powerful 5-step roadmap to reprogram the self-protective patterns of thought and behavior that sabotage success to bring your bravest self to your biggest challenges and boldest vision.
At a time when courage seems in short supply, in a culture continually stoking insecurity and anxiety, this book will transform your deepest fears into a catalyst for your highest growth and the greatest good.
Applying the five steps will:
Ignite passion and unlock the potential fear holds dormant
Rewrite the scripts that have kept you stuck, stressed, and living too safely
Reset your ‘nervous’ system and embody courage in critical moments
Transform discomfort as a cue to step forward and expand your bandwidth for bold action
Reset your relationship to failure and make peace with the part of you that wimps out
For leaders, The Courage Gap provides a guide to operationalize and scale the courage mindset across your team and organization to deepen trust, dismantle silos, foster innovation, accelerate learning, and unleash collective courage toward a more secure and rewarding future.
Fear creates the gap. Courage closes it.
This powerful guide from the bestselling author of You’ve Got This! cuts through the hype to connect the 'why' of courage to the 'how' of courage. Drawing on cutting-edge research woven together with stories that compel head andheart, The Courage Gap will help you bridge the think/do gap between what you’ve been doing and what you can do; between where you are and where you want to be—in your career, relationships, leadership, and life.
Distilling theory and hard-won wisdom spanning from Margie’s childhood in rural Australia to her decades of living around the world and coaching ‘insecure overachievers’ in Fortune 500 organizations, Margie shares a powerful 5-step roadmap to reprogram the self-protective patterns of thought and behavior that sabotage success to bring your bravest self to your biggest challenges and boldest vision.
At a time when courage seems in short supply, in a culture continually stoking insecurity and anxiety, this book will transform your deepest fears into a catalyst for your highest growth and the greatest good.
Applying the five steps will:
Ignite passion and unlock the potential fear holds dormant
Rewrite the scripts that have kept you stuck, stressed, and living too safely
Reset your ‘nervous’ system and embody courage in critical moments
Transform discomfort as a cue to step forward and expand your bandwidth for bold action
Reset your relationship to failure and make peace with the part of you that wimps out
For leaders, The Courage Gap provides a guide to operationalize and scale the courage mindset across your team and organization to deepen trust, dismantle silos, foster innovation, accelerate learning, and unleash collective courage toward a more secure and rewarding future.
- GenresSelf HelpPsychology
176 pages, Paperback
Published January 28, 2025
16 people are currently reading
120 people want to read
About the author
Margie Warrell
11 books52 followersMargie has stepped out of her comfort zone many times since her childhood growing up one of seven children on a farm in rural Australia. Along the way she’s learnt a lot about courage and daring boldly.
An internationally recognized leader in human potential – Margie is passionate about empowering people to think bigger about what is possible for them, engage in braver conversations and lead more purposeful lives.
Margie draws on her background in Fortune 500 Business and Psychology as a keynote speaker, coach, media contributor, bestselling author and women’s leadership advocate. Her programs have helped thousands of people achieve greater success, including organizations such as the UN Foundation, NASA, British Telecom, Hitachi, Body Shop, Accenture and American Airlines
An internationally recognized leader in human potential – Margie is passionate about empowering people to think bigger about what is possible for them, engage in braver conversations and lead more purposeful lives.
Margie draws on her background in Fortune 500 Business and Psychology as a keynote speaker, coach, media contributor, bestselling author and women’s leadership advocate. Her programs have helped thousands of people achieve greater success, including organizations such as the UN Foundation, NASA, British Telecom, Hitachi, Body Shop, Accenture and American Airlines
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
June 27, 2025
One of those books whose message just comes along at the exact right moment in life. Recommended by my business coach, this book has activated a spark in my soul that was struggling to ignite as I made my way into the very early days of business ownership. It has re-shaped my way of thinking, allowed me to rescript the thought patterns that had initially kept me scared, “small,” and seeking comfort over expansion, and has reminded me that the journey is by no means linear; that there’s treasure to be found in the setbacks, the meltdowns, and the wobbles. Allowing myself to make peace with the “still-in-progress” parts of myself has liberated something within - a sense of freedom and self-trust that I just know will carry me through every step of the journey ahead. 100% recommend this book for anyone wanting to make a leap in life, whether that be professionally, personally, or simply in the way you show up for yourself each day. As Margie Warrell puts it herself, this book serves as “the roadmap to close the gap between who you are and who you want to become.”
December 6, 2024
I had the privilege of reading Margie Warrell’s The Courage Gap: 5 Steps to Braver ActionThe Courage Gap the moment it landed in the publisher's hands. This transformative book is a must-read for anyone seeking practical guidance on how to overcome fear and step boldly into their full potential.
Margie’s raw, real, and relatable stories resonate deeply, helping readers confront their own struggles with compassion and courage. Her simple, actionable strategies for rewiring our relationship with discomfort and challenges make bravery feel achievable.
One of my favorite quotes from the book is: “Focus on what you want, not what you fear.” This profound insight is at the heart of the book’s message: to rewrite the stories that keep us stuck and stressed, and to shift from fear to confidence.
As I journeyed through its pages, I experienced a slow and steady transformation. By the time I closed the last chapter, I felt empowered to face both personal and professional challenges with newfound boldness.
The Courage Gap is more than a book on personal growth—it’s a roadmap to living with bold freedom, one brave step at a time. Margie not only inspires bravery but also provides a clear, step-by-step guide to creating a more courageous life.The Courage Gap: 5 Steps to Braver Action
Margie’s raw, real, and relatable stories resonate deeply, helping readers confront their own struggles with compassion and courage. Her simple, actionable strategies for rewiring our relationship with discomfort and challenges make bravery feel achievable.
One of my favorite quotes from the book is: “Focus on what you want, not what you fear.” This profound insight is at the heart of the book’s message: to rewrite the stories that keep us stuck and stressed, and to shift from fear to confidence.
As I journeyed through its pages, I experienced a slow and steady transformation. By the time I closed the last chapter, I felt empowered to face both personal and professional challenges with newfound boldness.
The Courage Gap is more than a book on personal growth—it’s a roadmap to living with bold freedom, one brave step at a time. Margie not only inspires bravery but also provides a clear, step-by-step guide to creating a more courageous life.The Courage Gap: 5 Steps to Braver Action
July 22, 2025
I appreciated the concise nature of this book, some suffer from over explanation and drawing things out to fill 300 pages. The ideas were presented well with examples.
Why only 3 stars then? For one thing this book, like most of its ilk, spout similar ideas to many others that I have read so not a lot new in here. That’s not to say it isn’t valuable, I put a lot of stock in repetition and drumming in the basics, but nothing massively new.
The second point is a times through the book, mostly toward the end, there are multiple mentions of faith and prayer. This in my view takes away from what I took to be one of the central premises which is to take personal accountability, by praying and putting faith in someone / something other than yourself takes away from this which I found disappointing.
Why only 3 stars then? For one thing this book, like most of its ilk, spout similar ideas to many others that I have read so not a lot new in here. That’s not to say it isn’t valuable, I put a lot of stock in repetition and drumming in the basics, but nothing massively new.
The second point is a times through the book, mostly toward the end, there are multiple mentions of faith and prayer. This in my view takes away from what I took to be one of the central premises which is to take personal accountability, by praying and putting faith in someone / something other than yourself takes away from this which I found disappointing.
December 8, 2025
The Courage Gap lays out a simple but stirring idea. Fear opens a space between what we think about doing and what we actually do. Courage closes it. Margie Warrell walks through five steps that help readers shift their focus, rewrite the stories they tell themselves, regulate fear, step into discomfort, and learn from the moments when everything falls apart. She threads research, personal stories, and vivid examples like Navy SEAL missions and childhood hardships. All of it points toward one lesson. Braver action begins long before the action itself. It begins inside.
I was pulled by the book's tone, which is warm and direct. It feels like she is sitting with you over coffee, nudging you to look a little deeper. Her stories about her mother, her moves across continents, her husband’s early COVID hospitalization, and her own shaky steps into new roles resonated with me. I liked that she did not hide her fear. She showed it. The writing made the ideas easier to trust.
Her ideas landed with me in a way that surprised me. The pieces about how the brain fixates on danger, how fear makes us shrink, and how easy it is to rationalize our hesitation stuck with me long after I put the book down. I kept thinking about times when I stayed quiet or stayed small because it felt easier. The book stirred a mix of embarrassment, hope, and a kind of restless energy to try again. I especially liked her point that courage is not the absence of fear but the choice to act while fear tags along. It felt doable. It made the book more than an inspirational talk and closer to a companion for moments when you want to run the other way.
By the time I reached the end, I felt a quiet push to step toward the things I usually avoid. I would recommend The Courage Gap to anyone who feels stuck, scared, or tired of circling the same problem. It suits new leaders, seasoned leaders, parents, people in transition, and anyone craving a nudge toward a fuller life. It offers a way to grow into the person you keep imagining when you let yourself dream beyond your fear.
I was pulled by the book's tone, which is warm and direct. It feels like she is sitting with you over coffee, nudging you to look a little deeper. Her stories about her mother, her moves across continents, her husband’s early COVID hospitalization, and her own shaky steps into new roles resonated with me. I liked that she did not hide her fear. She showed it. The writing made the ideas easier to trust.
Her ideas landed with me in a way that surprised me. The pieces about how the brain fixates on danger, how fear makes us shrink, and how easy it is to rationalize our hesitation stuck with me long after I put the book down. I kept thinking about times when I stayed quiet or stayed small because it felt easier. The book stirred a mix of embarrassment, hope, and a kind of restless energy to try again. I especially liked her point that courage is not the absence of fear but the choice to act while fear tags along. It felt doable. It made the book more than an inspirational talk and closer to a companion for moments when you want to run the other way.
By the time I reached the end, I felt a quiet push to step toward the things I usually avoid. I would recommend The Courage Gap to anyone who feels stuck, scared, or tired of circling the same problem. It suits new leaders, seasoned leaders, parents, people in transition, and anyone craving a nudge toward a fuller life. It offers a way to grow into the person you keep imagining when you let yourself dream beyond your fear.
February 14, 2025
There are so many pearls of wisdom in "The Courage Gap: 5 Steps to Braver Action." The pages flow nicely offering examples and call outs that will serve as daily inspiration after you finish the book. We live in a very reactive world and Margie tell us exactly how to claim our lives back and make mental course corrections that will propel us forward to the life we aspire to lead. One of my favorite chapters is about rescripting what is keeping us too safe. "Beware the certainty of your rightness. You don't know what you're wrong about." How true--think of the many assumptions upon which we may big decisions, or worse don't take action. Our take on the world must always be challenged, and only we have the power to rewrite narratives that don't move us forward. How powerful to realize we are creating our own reality through what we chose to believe. I also had to give pause to the ways I was self-protecting. This book came along at the perfect time for me as I prepare to launch a business and am walking into the unknown every day. With Margie's help through her book, I am positioning this move as "on time, an exciting opportunity to learn and figure it out as I go!" Thank you Margie for this big dose of courage, lovingly written to share five mind-expanding steps to a greater, freer, braver life.
February 14, 2025
Most authors broach the amorphous topic of "courage" with reams of research. Others pepper their chapters with crusty platitudes.
Author Margie Warrell took the opposite tact. Her book surrounds us like a weighted blanket with relatable stories from her childhood Australian farm life and portfolio career. In addition, Margie's Five-Step Framework embodies both somatic and intellectual elements. That's refreshing!
As someone who has written or contributed to five books, I appreciate when authors make it easy to keep reading and incorporate their ideas into our daily lives.
Also, I was never bogged down in facts and figures. Her stories flowed and engaged me at each step.
I have already gifted "The Courage Gap" to my executive coaching clients.
We need more courage to navigate today's AI-powered society and challenging political climate.
Margie's newest book delivers much-needed inspiration!
Author Margie Warrell took the opposite tact. Her book surrounds us like a weighted blanket with relatable stories from her childhood Australian farm life and portfolio career. In addition, Margie's Five-Step Framework embodies both somatic and intellectual elements. That's refreshing!
As someone who has written or contributed to five books, I appreciate when authors make it easy to keep reading and incorporate their ideas into our daily lives.
Also, I was never bogged down in facts and figures. Her stories flowed and engaged me at each step.
I have already gifted "The Courage Gap" to my executive coaching clients.
We need more courage to navigate today's AI-powered society and challenging political climate.
Margie's newest book delivers much-needed inspiration!
February 12, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
If you’ve ever held back from speaking up in a meeting, hesitated to go after a big opportunity, or avoided difficult conversations —The Courage Gap is the book you need.
Margie Warrell gets how easy it is to play it safe. This book helped me recognize where fear was keeping me small and gave me the tools to push through self-doubt, take bold action, and show up as the leader I want to be.
Packed with real-world stories, research-backed insights, and a powerful framework for building courage, The Courage Gap is a must-read for anyone navigating workplace challenges and change. If you know you need to step up and put yourself out there more—this book will help you do it.
If you’ve ever held back from speaking up in a meeting, hesitated to go after a big opportunity, or avoided difficult conversations —The Courage Gap is the book you need.
Margie Warrell gets how easy it is to play it safe. This book helped me recognize where fear was keeping me small and gave me the tools to push through self-doubt, take bold action, and show up as the leader I want to be.
Packed with real-world stories, research-backed insights, and a powerful framework for building courage, The Courage Gap is a must-read for anyone navigating workplace challenges and change. If you know you need to step up and put yourself out there more—this book will help you do it.
February 3, 2025
I am a raving fan of everything Margie Warrell writes. The Courage Gap is a practical, quick read that does a great job of explaining both why we default to fear and how to get past it. We have a weird belief system about courage in Western society: things like climbing the tallest peaks and quitting our jobs to backpack across the globe are often the things we think of requiring courage, but isn't it the tiny yet powerful actions we choose every day to not default to doing what's comfortable and easy? Margie helps you target the things that get us stuck by seeing how actionable and enjoyable it is when we make tiny shifts that create transformation in our lives.
February 4, 2025
Leaving a corporate job to go out on my own was exciting—but also terrifying. The Courage Gap helped me see how often I was holding myself back, second-guessing decisions, and playing it safe when I needed to take bolder action.
Margie Warrell gets it. She lays out exactly why we hesitate and how to push through the fear that comes with stepping outside our comfort zone. What sets this book apart is how accessible, credible, and inspiring it is. She combines real-world stories with an evidence-based framework that’s not just practical but incredibly powerful.
If you're building something on your own and struggling with self-doubt or hesitation, this book is a must-read.
Margie Warrell gets it. She lays out exactly why we hesitate and how to push through the fear that comes with stepping outside our comfort zone. What sets this book apart is how accessible, credible, and inspiring it is. She combines real-world stories with an evidence-based framework that’s not just practical but incredibly powerful.
If you're building something on your own and struggling with self-doubt or hesitation, this book is a must-read.
February 5, 2025
I know I need to step up, push for change, and lead with more confidence—but too often, I get stuck in my head, overthinking everything and waiting until I feel “ready.” The Courage Gap was the wake-up call I needed.
Margie Warrell writes in such a relatable way that makes big concepts feel accessible and immediately relevant. She breaks down why we hesitate, how self-doubt holds us back, and what it really takes to lead with courage. The advice is practical, real, and what I needed to hear to stop second-guessing myself and take action.
If you’re in a leadership role and struggling to trust yourself, influence others, and make bold moves, read this book.
Margie Warrell writes in such a relatable way that makes big concepts feel accessible and immediately relevant. She breaks down why we hesitate, how self-doubt holds us back, and what it really takes to lead with courage. The advice is practical, real, and what I needed to hear to stop second-guessing myself and take action.
If you’re in a leadership role and struggling to trust yourself, influence others, and make bold moves, read this book.
February 7, 2025
Running a business demands the ability to make decisions that have considerable financial risk or great impact to culture and outcomes. The Courage Gap is a great tool to help push through doubts and take action.
Margie Warrell writes in a way that’s down-to-earth and completely relatable—no fluff, no overcomplicated theories, just real, practical advice for moving forward. This book helped me recognize where fear was holding me back, both in my business and personal life, and gave me the push to step up and trust myself more. If you’re a business owner focused on growing your business and need to start making bolder moves, read this book.
Margie Warrell writes in a way that’s down-to-earth and completely relatable—no fluff, no overcomplicated theories, just real, practical advice for moving forward. This book helped me recognize where fear was holding me back, both in my business and personal life, and gave me the push to step up and trust myself more. If you’re a business owner focused on growing your business and need to start making bolder moves, read this book.
December 10, 2024
Was able to read The Courage Gap early and found it to be extremely easy to read and engaging. The 5-step framework offers personal story woven with research based evidence regarding fear, courage, and leadership. If you ever hold back when you know you need to step up or speak up, this book is a must read. It will truly help you take bold steps to level up both personally and professionally.
February 20, 2025
The right book at the absolute right time...
Margie's wisdom and encouragement are the perfect antidote to today's chaotic environment. When we feel off-center, when we question our worth, when we don't know if we belong... Courage.
This is too good a read to let slip by. Pick it up, create some space, enjoy. You will carry these ideas around for a lifetime.
Margie's wisdom and encouragement are the perfect antidote to today's chaotic environment. When we feel off-center, when we question our worth, when we don't know if we belong... Courage.
This is too good a read to let slip by. Pick it up, create some space, enjoy. You will carry these ideas around for a lifetime.
February 4, 2025
Margie Warrell breaks down how fear keeps us stuck and gives simple, practical ways to be braver—at work, in relationships, and in everyday life. A great read for anyone who wants to stop playing it safe and start taking action.
February 5, 2025
An excellent read with great practical tools to ensure you maximize outcomes from the sound advice. Succinct and plain communication style to make it accessible to people at all stages of life and their career.
March 17, 2025
Life changing read, completely transformative. It's written in a very conversational way that's lovely to experience. Also has so much learning and strategies that can be easily implemented in life. I love Margie's books and this one is another winner. Highly recommend!
March 5, 2025
It has some insightful aspects
April 6, 2025
A surprise 5 star from this little known book.
I give out copies of this book like candy to many of my friends, family and colleagues. It was that impactful.
I give out copies of this book like candy to many of my friends, family and colleagues. It was that impactful.
May 9, 2025
This book has immense importance for those looking to be braver in life, every page has a nugget of wisdom and inspiration that made me feel that I am brave. Loved it.
June 26, 2025
Great inspiration to get out of your comfort zone! Have seen her speak, very inspiring!
May 4, 2025
📕 Why (Not) to read this book (Target Audience)
This book made me realize that taking a risk is more worthwhile than being sorry.
👀 How this book changed my daily live (Takeaways)
We govern more by emotion than by intellect. Fear is a crucial emotion that creates the gap between thought and action, while courage closes it. 2 essential dimensions:
1. Managing fear
2. Willingness to act in the presence of fear when faced with real or imagined risks.
⁉ Spoiler Alerts (Highlights)
5 Actional steps:
1. Focus on what you want: humans run in circles when not following a North Star.
2. Rescript your stories that stop your action
3. Breath in courage: Emotions are how we sail through life, be the captain of the voyage.
4. Step into discomfort: Courage is risking comfort now for a better future.
5. Find the treasure when you trip
✳️ All highlights
We govern more by emotion than by intellect. Fear is a crucial emotion that creates the gap between thought and action, while courage closes it. 2 essential dimensions:
1. Managing fear
2. Willingness to act in the presence of fear when faced with real or imagined risks.
5 Actional steps:
1. Focus on what you want: humans run in circles when not following a North Star.
2. Rescript your stories that stop your action
3. Breath in courage: Emotions are how we sail through life, be the captain of the voyage.
4. Step into discomfort: Courage is risking comfort now for a better future.
Find the treasure when you trip
This book made me realize that taking a risk is more worthwhile than being sorry.
👀 How this book changed my daily live (Takeaways)
We govern more by emotion than by intellect. Fear is a crucial emotion that creates the gap between thought and action, while courage closes it. 2 essential dimensions:
1. Managing fear
2. Willingness to act in the presence of fear when faced with real or imagined risks.
⁉ Spoiler Alerts (Highlights)
5 Actional steps:
1. Focus on what you want: humans run in circles when not following a North Star.
2. Rescript your stories that stop your action
3. Breath in courage: Emotions are how we sail through life, be the captain of the voyage.
4. Step into discomfort: Courage is risking comfort now for a better future.
5. Find the treasure when you trip
✳️ All highlights
We govern more by emotion than by intellect. Fear is a crucial emotion that creates the gap between thought and action, while courage closes it. 2 essential dimensions:
1. Managing fear
2. Willingness to act in the presence of fear when faced with real or imagined risks.
5 Actional steps:
1. Focus on what you want: humans run in circles when not following a North Star.
2. Rescript your stories that stop your action
3. Breath in courage: Emotions are how we sail through life, be the captain of the voyage.
4. Step into discomfort: Courage is risking comfort now for a better future.
Find the treasure when you trip
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews