Change Proof: Leveraging the Power of Uncertainty to Build Long-Term Resilience

by Adam Markel

In his #1 bestselling guide to resilience, Pivot, business and personal development expert Adam Markel showed how building resilience can supercharge your life and career. Now, in Change Proof, he shows how you can move beyond managing change to actively embracing it—and actually using times of uncertainty, crisis, and chaos to create opportunities and stimulate positive growth.

Broken down into four parts, Change Proof explores the dynamics of change and provides a model of how to create the mindset that embraces it fully. Using case studies, current research, and his years of experience as an expert in the integration of business and personal development, Markel uses real-life scenarios to illuminate the lessons in engaging chapters that include The Myth of Balance, The Resilience Bank Account, Recovery vs. Burnout, Even Michael Jordan Paused, Get Out of Your Head, A Little Failure Goes a Long Way, Calm Is Contagious, and What Change-Proof Culture Can Do for You.

You'll learn how to choose change before it chooses you, what it takes (and what it means) to become truly change proof, and how to leverage your relationship to change. Change Proof will help you take the art and science of resilience to the next level—and look forward to future and all the changes it will bring, with full confidence.

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction

Audible Audio

Published April 19, 2022

Reviews

[Ian Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Inspiring guidance

[Lindsay Ferris Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐

I just finished Change Proof: Leveraging the Power of Uncertainty to Build Long‑Term Resilience by Adam Markel and while it’s not perfect, it delivered a ton of solid material on how to face change instead of letting change face you. What I appreciated most: the book doesn’t just say “be resilient” and leave it at that, it gives you a framework.

My favourite takeaway? The analogy of surviving a rip current, you don’t swim harder toward shore, you stop (float), assess, ask what your options are, and then choose which way to go. The book ties this in with its “Pause, Ask, Choose” model.

Here’s how it woks:
Pause — instead of reacting immediately when change hits, give yourself a moment to float.
Ask — ask what’s true, what’s in your control, what you’re feeling.
Choose — then decide your next move rather than being dragged by the current.

What stands out: Markel pushes back on the notion that resilience means endurance or powering through nonstop. Instead, it’s about recovery, intention, and choice.

Why 4 stars instead of 5? Because:
Some of the content felt familiar if you’ve read a bunch of resilience/change-management books already .

At times the book dives into organizational/leadership orientation and less personal/personal-life focus, which may dilute it for someone looking purely personal.

A few parts promised “cutting-edge” research but, in my reading, felt somewhat repetitive.

All that said, if you’re going through a season of change (professionally or personally), or want to be better equipped before the storm hits, this is a strong pick. It gave me a fresh lens on how to choose my relationship to change instead of being at its mercy.

[Luis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Change Proof: Leveraging the Power of Uncertainty to Build Long-term Resilience" by Adam Markel is a well-structured exploration of how to navigate and thrive amidst change. The author, with his experience as a resilience expert, offers insights into turning uncertainty into an opportunity for growth.

The book is divided into actionable strategies that focus on building resilience at both personal and organizational levels. Markel emphasizes the importance of adaptability, mindfulness, and a proactive mindset in facing challenges. He draws on real-world examples, including his own, to illustrate how resilience can be cultivated through consistent practice.

The author's approach, while practical, can sometimes feel overly simplistic, especially for readers who are already familiar with the concepts of resilience and change management. Markel’s enthusiasm for the topic is evident, but there’s a certain repetitiveness that might not sit well with readers who are looking for more depth or novel insights.

That said, Change Proof is a solid resource for individuals and organizations seeking to bolster their resilience in an unpredictable world. However, its real impact might depend on the reader's prior exposure to the subject matter. Those new to these concepts will likely find the book inspiring and useful, while more seasoned readers may find it lacks the rigor and complexity they expect from a topic as crucial as resilience.

In summary, Change Proof serves its purpose, but a more critical reader might wish for a deeper dive into the nuances of resilience and less reliance on generalized advice.

[Amy Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

First half of the book is better than the second half. Some of the advice in the second half was a little too "woo woo" for me, but I got the basic ideas. I also felt like the second half was more rushed than the first half. It also seemed a little scattered. Overall, not bad, just not as detailed or practical as I would have liked.

[Manoj Joshi · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was an engrossing text that drew opinions and observations around one self and stitched on purpose to the current context. A good style re wiring the context generating interesting metaphors . Some of them equally powerful to research and contextualise in today’s VUCA perspective . Good effort gentleman

[Nick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has the best summary and description of what it takes to develop resilience, written with compassion, self-awareness, humor, and great storytelling. A highly recommended one-volume read for those who want to develop their own resilience, or their organization’s.

[طلال محمد · Rating 5 out of 5]

رهيب يعلمك اهمية المرونة في جميع نواحي الحياة

[Dr. Douglas Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very introspective text. A must read for those seeking to better understand themselves.

[Don · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great summary of the different aspects of mental resilience. I found it reinforced other learning and classes I've experience, as well as real world hard knocks. Great book to lean into this topic.

[Angie Lillard · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF
I couldn't get through this. I found his tone to be disingenuous and unauthentic.
most of his anecdotes are about how great he is, followed by an obvious life lesson