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Edge: Turning Adversity into Advantage
Laura Huang, an award-winning Harvard Business School professor, shows that success is about gaining an edge: that elusive quality that gives you an upper hand and attracts attention and support. Some people seem to naturally have it. Now, Huang teaches the rest of us how to create our own from the challenges and biases we think hold us back, and turning them to work in our favor.
How do you find a competitive edge when the obstacles feel insurmountable? How do you get people to take you seriously when they're predisposed not to, and perhaps have already written you off?
Laura Huang has come up against that problem many times--and so has anyone who's ever felt out of place or underestimated. Many of us sit back quietly, hoping that our hard work and effort will speak for itself. Or we try to force ourselves into the mold of who we think is successful, stifling the creativity and charm that makes us unique and memorable.
In Edge, Huang offers a different approach. She argues that success is rarely just about the quality of our ideas, credentials, and skills, or our effort. Instead, achieving success hinges on how well we shape others' perceptions--of our strengths, certainly, but also our flaws. It's about creating our own edge by confronting the factors that seem like shortcomings and turning them into assets that make others take notice.
Huang draws from her groundbreaking research on entrepreneurial intuition, persuasion, and implicit decision-making, to impart her profound findings and share stories of previously-overlooked Olympians, assistants-turned-executives, and flailing companies that made momentous turnarounds. Through her deeply-researched framework, Huang shows how we can turn weaknesses into strengths and create an edge in any situation. She explains how an entrepreneur scored a massive investment despite initially being disparaged for his foreign accent, and how a first-time political candidate overcame voters' doubts about his physical disabilities.
Edge shows that success is about knowing who you are and using that knowledge unapologetically and strategically. This book will teach you how to find your unique edge and keep it sharp.
How do you find a competitive edge when the obstacles feel insurmountable? How do you get people to take you seriously when they're predisposed not to, and perhaps have already written you off?
Laura Huang has come up against that problem many times--and so has anyone who's ever felt out of place or underestimated. Many of us sit back quietly, hoping that our hard work and effort will speak for itself. Or we try to force ourselves into the mold of who we think is successful, stifling the creativity and charm that makes us unique and memorable.
In Edge, Huang offers a different approach. She argues that success is rarely just about the quality of our ideas, credentials, and skills, or our effort. Instead, achieving success hinges on how well we shape others' perceptions--of our strengths, certainly, but also our flaws. It's about creating our own edge by confronting the factors that seem like shortcomings and turning them into assets that make others take notice.
Huang draws from her groundbreaking research on entrepreneurial intuition, persuasion, and implicit decision-making, to impart her profound findings and share stories of previously-overlooked Olympians, assistants-turned-executives, and flailing companies that made momentous turnarounds. Through her deeply-researched framework, Huang shows how we can turn weaknesses into strengths and create an edge in any situation. She explains how an entrepreneur scored a massive investment despite initially being disparaged for his foreign accent, and how a first-time political candidate overcame voters' doubts about his physical disabilities.
Edge shows that success is about knowing who you are and using that knowledge unapologetically and strategically. This book will teach you how to find your unique edge and keep it sharp.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published January 28, 2020
312 people are currently reading
3427 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 115 reviews
February 1, 2020
I didn’t really know what this book was about, but I saw Adam Grant referenced in one of the promotions, and I wasn’t disappointed.
So many of us face adversity and discrimination in some way or another. Whether it’s our race, gender, sex or something else, we’re going to face bias and be stereotyped. This book uses stories and psychology to explain why that’s not a reason to give up and how you can use your adversity to succeed in a world that throws all the obstacles in your way.
So many of us face adversity and discrimination in some way or another. Whether it’s our race, gender, sex or something else, we’re going to face bias and be stereotyped. This book uses stories and psychology to explain why that’s not a reason to give up and how you can use your adversity to succeed in a world that throws all the obstacles in your way.
March 17, 2021
Sometimes I will read stories about successful people and be like "O, sure that was probably easy for YOU to do" so it's really nice when an author showcases people with genuine hardships.
This was a really great book because I like to read the "you can do it!" type of things but sometimes I feel like they have to ignore real problems. They are just like "Well, this one guy did it one time so anyone can do it!" and I'm like "Can anyone...?"
Huang actually acknowledges problems, she actually addresses systemic racism! And I feel like I have to say if I were writing this book, I'd probably be really negative about it, like, it doesn't matter how hard you work if you get shot by cops! Huang takes the nuance stance of acknowledging trouble but still encouraging people to go for it. I think this is very important because otherwise we will just sink into despair.
An excellent book for just about anyone! Ok, well maybe there is an able bodied, white, ivy-educated hetero cis man out there would won't get anything out of it but most people will find SOMETHING to relate to.
This was a really great book because I like to read the "you can do it!" type of things but sometimes I feel like they have to ignore real problems. They are just like "Well, this one guy did it one time so anyone can do it!" and I'm like "Can anyone...?"
Huang actually acknowledges problems, she actually addresses systemic racism! And I feel like I have to say if I were writing this book, I'd probably be really negative about it, like, it doesn't matter how hard you work if you get shot by cops! Huang takes the nuance stance of acknowledging trouble but still encouraging people to go for it. I think this is very important because otherwise we will just sink into despair.
An excellent book for just about anyone! Ok, well maybe there is an able bodied, white, ivy-educated hetero cis man out there would won't get anything out of it but most people will find SOMETHING to relate to.
June 14, 2020
This was a relatively quick and highly enjoyable read for such a potentially heavy subject matter, in terms of the reasons why someone may need to "find their edge" in the first place - as this author addresses, going all the way back to very early in her career before she was on the path that brought her to academia and teaching at HBS. I'm very glad I read this book overall, and for myself and my own growth needs. I will be on the lookout for HBS and other publications by Laura Huang.
April 20, 2020
First, my big problem with this book is it tries to tell folks that they should be inauthentic in order to make an advantage. Secondly, it is also very sloppy writing that jumps from one thought to a random other thought. Therefore, my book club did not enjoy it AT ALL.
May 19, 2022
Me parece bastante interesante el tema de encontrar tu valor en la vida y saber venderlo. Por qué no tienes trabajo duro, este trabajo tiene que ir de la mano con encontrar tus ventajas competitivas ya sacarles el mayor provecho. Aprender a venderte.
March 14, 2020
I like the subtitle of this book "turning adversity into advantage" and it explores one aspect of success that we often overlook- how connections and networks can advance us. It's hard-hitting truth that hard work alone can only take us far.
I'll admit that the first half of the book was more engaging than the second half and I struggled to finish reading the book.
Thank you Netgalley for the eARC.
I'll admit that the first half of the book was more engaging than the second half and I struggled to finish reading the book.
Thank you Netgalley for the eARC.
May 15, 2020
I read a review on Amazon that said the author could have written this work in three pages. I ignored that because of the many positive reviews. That was a regrettable mistake. He was right. Well sort of. This book could have been written in two pages. Too many self-congratulatory personal war stories that were irrelevant and a rather naive, if not nonsensical, attempt to force fit a theory into an acronym that, surprise surprise, was the same as the title of the book. The sub-title appealed to me but I found little to substantiate its promise. As an author of four books, I know the effort that goes into the task. Which is why I always hope to learn something. In this case, I came up empty .
July 15, 2020
This book gave me answers to the questions that have always plagued me: does hard work matter? Why do hard working people not make it? Should one feel guilty when they are overly adaptable? Laura Huang’s 4 phase approach is unique and she ensures that the reader never remains disengaged thanks to her constant reference to some amazing stories. This is a masterpiece from a debutant author.
PS: I did have the benefit of being Laura’s student a few years ago, so I literally could picture her speaking the book to me as I was reading it. Thank you, Professor!!!
PS: I did have the benefit of being Laura’s student a few years ago, so I literally could picture her speaking the book to me as I was reading it. Thank you, Professor!!!
February 22, 2020
A quick read and nothing surprisingly new but the author does a good job of encouraging you to embrace your own uniqueness, what is around you and the constraints you face to build your own individual trajectory in the world. Your past does not determine your future. The world is a tough place but you can make your own way in it. It isn’t all just about working hard.
There are some good stories here too.
There are some good stories here too.
March 3, 2020
There is definitely good guidance in the book, but it's a lot of material that has been presented in a lot of forms in a lot of different places before, so I don't think there was anything really new.
March 23, 2020
What should a poor immigrant Taiwanese girl do? Become a Harvard Business School professor like Laura Huang! She had been on the receiving end of bias, being an Asian American female professor of a Business School. Yet she persevered and showed her Edge. Hard work is not enough when you were not even given a chance into the door. Yet she somehow turned her disadvantage into her Edge. How did she do it?
1. Hard work. Most ambitious people have this, but it is not enough
2. Delight people. Seeing that her knowledge of American football was rejected by the other party, she started with her hard immigrant story, and then how she overcame and then showed her knowledge of American sports.
3. Be the prom queen. Show how your difference can be an advantage. No Yes Men here. Her research is in Gut feel in entrepreneurship, a new territory where no business professor had gone before.
4. Never give up; find another approach if the first one did not work. She went to a meeting with Elon Musk and he said ‘No and get out’ even before he heard her pitch. But she laughed instead. That intrigued Musk enough that he heard her out.
5. Show people your trajectory and what your potential is. No need to be the stereotypical star pupil when you are not stereotypical to start off with (her being Asian American makes it sort of hard she reckons)
6. Let go of the bitterness. So except for the very blessed who are beautiful/rich/sporty, every imperfect person would have suffered bias. Just let it go and do your thing.
I am impressed by Huang! Way to go madam!
1. Hard work. Most ambitious people have this, but it is not enough
2. Delight people. Seeing that her knowledge of American football was rejected by the other party, she started with her hard immigrant story, and then how she overcame and then showed her knowledge of American sports.
3. Be the prom queen. Show how your difference can be an advantage. No Yes Men here. Her research is in Gut feel in entrepreneurship, a new territory where no business professor had gone before.
4. Never give up; find another approach if the first one did not work. She went to a meeting with Elon Musk and he said ‘No and get out’ even before he heard her pitch. But she laughed instead. That intrigued Musk enough that he heard her out.
5. Show people your trajectory and what your potential is. No need to be the stereotypical star pupil when you are not stereotypical to start off with (her being Asian American makes it sort of hard she reckons)
6. Let go of the bitterness. So except for the very blessed who are beautiful/rich/sporty, every imperfect person would have suffered bias. Just let it go and do your thing.
I am impressed by Huang! Way to go madam!
January 3, 2021
I thought this was very useful, and I usually do not like reading self-help books. I don't have anything against seeking to improve yourself at all (which is why I wanted to read this) but I tend to absorb advice better when it's in an observational tone like Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell.
This gives practical takeaways that I have started to implement. There's concrete examples and well explained, so it's easy enough to follow the author's guidance. I also appreciate her humble, humorous, and realistic approach.
This gives practical takeaways that I have started to implement. There's concrete examples and well explained, so it's easy enough to follow the author's guidance. I also appreciate her humble, humorous, and realistic approach.
June 26, 2020
Surprised that other readers thought Edge was insightful. I’ve read tens and tens of these kinds of professor books... and Hang’s Edge is lackluster, at best.
Some “cute” and (hardly) humorous anecdotes... but once you get to the end, you realize the framework is all contrived and nothing — nothing — is original.
Some “cute” and (hardly) humorous anecdotes... but once you get to the end, you realize the framework is all contrived and nothing — nothing — is original.
June 29, 2021
I had high hopes for this book given the concept: who hasn’t been hindered in their career trajectory by disadvantages outside of their control, including preconceived notions about who they are? Unfortunately, this read less like a guide and more like a motivational series of anecdotes loosely linked together. Entertaining read, but not a useful one.
April 10, 2021
I enjoyed this book. I thought it had some good insights combined with some nice personal stories which fit well. Our ability for our lives to have impact is only limited by how narrow we consider the possibilities and how flexible we are in finding a unique path that works for us.
February 11, 2020
Excellent book with great stories. New book from an academic author and hope for more books from Huang.
June 26, 2020
Bland bland bland. Everything in this book has already been said — by more captivating and interesting writers. Not worth the time or money, folks.
May 6, 2021
A great addition to Malcolm Gladwell's work of outliers. If Gladwell's work underpins the 'why', edge is the 'how'.
March 8, 2020
First of all I must say that number of books on self help are exploding and I wonder is audience ready for so much wisdom, provided they have other digital platforms to direct their attention to.
This book has two halves and first half is much better than second half.
You could even skip second half and still gather all the knowledge provided by it.
Book is about one basic thing that, doing hard work will not automatically provide success, you have to be proactive and show your work to higher authority or general public.
Book reformulates old wisdom of being fearless, authentic, and persistent.
Success stories and knowledge in first half is interesting and worth reading.
Some of entrepreneurs are described as if they have given their personal ad in the book.
Overall a good book which started well but failed to reach orbital velocity.
Thanks netgalley and publisher for review copy.
This book has two halves and first half is much better than second half.
You could even skip second half and still gather all the knowledge provided by it.
Book is about one basic thing that, doing hard work will not automatically provide success, you have to be proactive and show your work to higher authority or general public.
Book reformulates old wisdom of being fearless, authentic, and persistent.
Success stories and knowledge in first half is interesting and worth reading.
Some of entrepreneurs are described as if they have given their personal ad in the book.
Overall a good book which started well but failed to reach orbital velocity.
Thanks netgalley and publisher for review copy.
December 27, 2022
3.5 stars. I had really hoped for more from this.
June 17, 2020
Another proof that most of the important lessons in life are not retained in classrooms.
March 26, 2020
Please note that my reviews aren't really review, they are more like my cliff notes that I take while reading books.
Turning Adversity into Edge
Enrich
Delight
Guide
Effort
Enrich - provide value and enrich those around you
Delight - unexpected and brings gratification - like humor (it's the twist or surprise that delights us)
Guide - direct people to the version(s) of yourself that you want them to see, not to who they think you are
Effort - hard work is not enough, but once you have the first three it helps give you an edge.
It's tough to get invited inside the door(getting an opportunity), but once in the doors (opportunity and help) become wide open
those with the best access to advice, opportunity, money, etc. aren't always the most deserving. That's life. You need an Edge
Knowing you have a disadvantage. Embrace it. Own it. And turn it around in your favor. Be a counterintuitive presence.
Constraints vs Opportunity. Those using $5 to make money in a week did worse than those who shunned the money and
Created opportunities with zero cost, such as planning dinner dates, selling their time slot in class, etc. Free carwashes that accept tips outperform those with set costs.
Reframe the problem and don't jump to a solution. If you can't make a race car faster can you make pit stops faster or needed less frequently?
Delight by doing the unexpected. Create a magical experience. It's why flowers on a random day mean more that on Valentines Day.
People to "be yourself" but you have many different selves. Where you are from, where you went to school, your day job, your hobbies. Embrace all parts of yourself and use each piece to your advantage.
It's not selling out to reclaim awareness of yourself. A black Ivy league educated woman can embrace that and her tough neighborhood.
Don't allow interactions and perceptions of others define us. Guide them to see us as we'd like to be seen
"future engineer, not just someone flipping burgers or race x or …." Remove the stereotypes.
Keep going in a general direction, there will always be bumps, but keep the end goal in mind and be open to opportunities.
Investors say "passion" is the key, but disagree on what passion is.
Create your own trajectory of where you came from and where you're going. Explain who you are in a compelling way.
Let your past make you better, not bitter in spite of whatever obstacles or roadblocks you may face.
Dave's Killer Bread acknowledges he was in jail and that his company tires to give people a second chance, because if we don't they too will go back to a life of crime.
Freedom writers
Edge Principles
1) Hard work should speak for itself, but doesn’t
2) It's not about giving your all. Your basics goods help you get it all
3) To use your basic goods in distinct ways, go where others don't
4) Embrace constraints. Constraints provide opportunities
5) Your powers of discernment come from trusting your intuition and your experiences
6) Before people will let you in, they need to be delighted
7) Don't over plan. Instead aim for flexibility and opportunities to delight.
8) Stay authentic and embrace how delight occurs in situ (on site or in place)
9) Being yourself entails guiding others to all the glorious versions of yourself
10) Know how others see you, so that you can redirect them to how they should see you
11) Guide others to what is within you by recognizing what is around you
12) It's not where you've been, it's where you are going. Guide others to your trajectory
13) Turn adversity into your edge
Turning Adversity into Edge
Enrich
Delight
Guide
Effort
Enrich - provide value and enrich those around you
Delight - unexpected and brings gratification - like humor (it's the twist or surprise that delights us)
Guide - direct people to the version(s) of yourself that you want them to see, not to who they think you are
Effort - hard work is not enough, but once you have the first three it helps give you an edge.
It's tough to get invited inside the door(getting an opportunity), but once in the doors (opportunity and help) become wide open
those with the best access to advice, opportunity, money, etc. aren't always the most deserving. That's life. You need an Edge
Knowing you have a disadvantage. Embrace it. Own it. And turn it around in your favor. Be a counterintuitive presence.
Constraints vs Opportunity. Those using $5 to make money in a week did worse than those who shunned the money and
Created opportunities with zero cost, such as planning dinner dates, selling their time slot in class, etc. Free carwashes that accept tips outperform those with set costs.
Reframe the problem and don't jump to a solution. If you can't make a race car faster can you make pit stops faster or needed less frequently?
Delight by doing the unexpected. Create a magical experience. It's why flowers on a random day mean more that on Valentines Day.
People to "be yourself" but you have many different selves. Where you are from, where you went to school, your day job, your hobbies. Embrace all parts of yourself and use each piece to your advantage.
It's not selling out to reclaim awareness of yourself. A black Ivy league educated woman can embrace that and her tough neighborhood.
Don't allow interactions and perceptions of others define us. Guide them to see us as we'd like to be seen
"future engineer, not just someone flipping burgers or race x or …." Remove the stereotypes.
Keep going in a general direction, there will always be bumps, but keep the end goal in mind and be open to opportunities.
Investors say "passion" is the key, but disagree on what passion is.
Create your own trajectory of where you came from and where you're going. Explain who you are in a compelling way.
Let your past make you better, not bitter in spite of whatever obstacles or roadblocks you may face.
Dave's Killer Bread acknowledges he was in jail and that his company tires to give people a second chance, because if we don't they too will go back to a life of crime.
Freedom writers
Edge Principles
1) Hard work should speak for itself, but doesn’t
2) It's not about giving your all. Your basics goods help you get it all
3) To use your basic goods in distinct ways, go where others don't
4) Embrace constraints. Constraints provide opportunities
5) Your powers of discernment come from trusting your intuition and your experiences
6) Before people will let you in, they need to be delighted
7) Don't over plan. Instead aim for flexibility and opportunities to delight.
8) Stay authentic and embrace how delight occurs in situ (on site or in place)
9) Being yourself entails guiding others to all the glorious versions of yourself
10) Know how others see you, so that you can redirect them to how they should see you
11) Guide others to what is within you by recognizing what is around you
12) It's not where you've been, it's where you are going. Guide others to your trajectory
13) Turn adversity into your edge
July 3, 2020
I gave this book a three star because the author made some good points and the book was entertaining. However, this book does not stand out from run of the mill social, psycho-light type that has flooded the market in recent years.
The good points I gleaned from the book include these: not over-plan or over-prepare so that you can let spontaneity and instinct take over when encountering unexpected situations; create your own image or guide others to see what you want them to see, and along the way, turn other people's negative perception of you into an advantage.
The big thing that's missing from the book is: HOW? I think it is not difficult for people to see the value in these points, but to turn the points into reality, the person must be clever, have a good sense of humor, (generally) well-educated, outgoing (or at least pretend to), and perceptive. These things are not easily learned or developed by simply reading this book.
I am citing the "edge principles" the author cited in her last chapter and comment accordingly:
1. Hard work should speak for itself, but it does not. (I think everyone knows, but it is still to sum it up and put it out there.)
2. It's not about giving it your all, your basic goods help you get it all. (An illusive statement, I believe. I think one needs to give it you all in most endeavors. Your basic goods often times is just not enough. For those who have sufficient and high quality basic goods, then the goods could help you get it all.)
3. Use your basic goods in distinct ways, go where others don't. (Be unique. That's what everyone wants. But what way is distinct? What places others haven't gone? Easier said than done.)
4. Embrace constraints. Constraints provide opportunities. (Good slogan. But again, hard to do. Some constraints are just too tight to break loose, let along gaining great opportunities while under constraints.)
5. Your powers of discernment comes from your intuition, and your experiences. (A good statement that does not provide sufficient guidance. Those who have good intuition, and "right" type of experience would do well. Others would fail.)
6. Before people will let you in, they need to be delighted. (Sure. But how?)
7. Don't over plan. Instead, in for flexibility and opportunity to delight. (Enough said already.)
8. Stay authentic, and embrace how delight occurs in situ. (Only if your authentic self is a delight.)
9. Being yourself entails guide others to all glorious versions of yourself. (Everyone endeavors to do so. What people need is guidance on how to show their "all glorious version." This statement assumes that somehow you can always shine if you do it correctly. A few examples in the book do not always make it crystal clear for the readers how this is accomplished in different situations.)
10. Know how others see you so that you can redirect them how they should see you. (Nicely said. But again, easier said than done.)
11. Guide others to what is within you by recognizing what's around you. (Power of observation. How to attain that? What about people who are slow to perceive or process things slowly but have the ability to perceive deeply over a longer period of time? The opportunity might be gone by then.)
12. It's not what you've been, it's where you are going. Guide others to your trajectory. (Similar statement. It requires experience, determination and a fair amount of luck.)
13. Turn adversity into your edge. ('nough said.)
The good points I gleaned from the book include these: not over-plan or over-prepare so that you can let spontaneity and instinct take over when encountering unexpected situations; create your own image or guide others to see what you want them to see, and along the way, turn other people's negative perception of you into an advantage.
The big thing that's missing from the book is: HOW? I think it is not difficult for people to see the value in these points, but to turn the points into reality, the person must be clever, have a good sense of humor, (generally) well-educated, outgoing (or at least pretend to), and perceptive. These things are not easily learned or developed by simply reading this book.
I am citing the "edge principles" the author cited in her last chapter and comment accordingly:
1. Hard work should speak for itself, but it does not. (I think everyone knows, but it is still to sum it up and put it out there.)
2. It's not about giving it your all, your basic goods help you get it all. (An illusive statement, I believe. I think one needs to give it you all in most endeavors. Your basic goods often times is just not enough. For those who have sufficient and high quality basic goods, then the goods could help you get it all.)
3. Use your basic goods in distinct ways, go where others don't. (Be unique. That's what everyone wants. But what way is distinct? What places others haven't gone? Easier said than done.)
4. Embrace constraints. Constraints provide opportunities. (Good slogan. But again, hard to do. Some constraints are just too tight to break loose, let along gaining great opportunities while under constraints.)
5. Your powers of discernment comes from your intuition, and your experiences. (A good statement that does not provide sufficient guidance. Those who have good intuition, and "right" type of experience would do well. Others would fail.)
6. Before people will let you in, they need to be delighted. (Sure. But how?)
7. Don't over plan. Instead, in for flexibility and opportunity to delight. (Enough said already.)
8. Stay authentic, and embrace how delight occurs in situ. (Only if your authentic self is a delight.)
9. Being yourself entails guide others to all glorious versions of yourself. (Everyone endeavors to do so. What people need is guidance on how to show their "all glorious version." This statement assumes that somehow you can always shine if you do it correctly. A few examples in the book do not always make it crystal clear for the readers how this is accomplished in different situations.)
10. Know how others see you so that you can redirect them how they should see you. (Nicely said. But again, easier said than done.)
11. Guide others to what is within you by recognizing what's around you. (Power of observation. How to attain that? What about people who are slow to perceive or process things slowly but have the ability to perceive deeply over a longer period of time? The opportunity might be gone by then.)
12. It's not what you've been, it's where you are going. Guide others to your trajectory. (Similar statement. It requires experience, determination and a fair amount of luck.)
13. Turn adversity into your edge. ('nough said.)
March 11, 2021
Highly recommended. Delightful. Fun and important practical read, especially for Asian Americans
Full of personal anecdotes and based on research, author and Harvard Business School professor Laura Huang lives and breathes EDGE - Enrich, Delight, Guide, Effort. Hard work alone isn’t enough. You need something else to stand out and give you that EDGE which makes you unique and different. Taking stereotypes and biases and flipping them, discovering your individual story, and then building on it means you can find your authentic self. Be the person no one else can copy because no one has your specific journey, successes, setbacks, insights, and experiences. As a result, no one can replicate the special value and perspectives you bring. This is important in a busy world where people and organizations make assumptions which often are incorrect but will not change unless you take action by empowering yourself with EDGE.
I wish I had this book years ago when starting out on my career. Yet by luck and circumstance I stumbled across EDGE. Don't be lucky. Learn from professor Huang and her research.
EDGE is reminiscent of Malcolm Gladwell's book, David and Goliath. Being an underdog has a set of advantages and we should embrace them and use them rather than see them as disadvantages. Professor Huang argues the same thing at personal and individual level.
As I reflect on many self-help, leadership, and business books that I recommend to colleagues and mentees, I realized that Huang’s EDGE is the only book I’ve read that is from an Asian American woman and a woman of color. For that, I’m eternally grateful to have found this and recommend this book particularly to Asian Americans.
On a personal level, as an Asian American, I fully appreciated many of professor Huang’s stories and the high number of Asian Americans she profiles. I feel and see her self depreciating humor, doubts, and insecurities of finding one’s self and identifying in a culture that can be at odds with one’s values and instincts. I appreciated hearing her journey where see ultimately succeeds as she also continues to move forward. What makes her work particularly powerful is when one reads it. Like any excellent work, we react differently to the message depending where we are in our own lives. Early in a career before any professional or personal failures or setbacks reads differently than mid-career at a crossroads of the next step.
For that, I look forward to reading it again and again and recommending it to my colleagues and peers. I can’t wait for them to find and use their own EDGE.
Full of personal anecdotes and based on research, author and Harvard Business School professor Laura Huang lives and breathes EDGE - Enrich, Delight, Guide, Effort. Hard work alone isn’t enough. You need something else to stand out and give you that EDGE which makes you unique and different. Taking stereotypes and biases and flipping them, discovering your individual story, and then building on it means you can find your authentic self. Be the person no one else can copy because no one has your specific journey, successes, setbacks, insights, and experiences. As a result, no one can replicate the special value and perspectives you bring. This is important in a busy world where people and organizations make assumptions which often are incorrect but will not change unless you take action by empowering yourself with EDGE.
I wish I had this book years ago when starting out on my career. Yet by luck and circumstance I stumbled across EDGE. Don't be lucky. Learn from professor Huang and her research.
EDGE is reminiscent of Malcolm Gladwell's book, David and Goliath. Being an underdog has a set of advantages and we should embrace them and use them rather than see them as disadvantages. Professor Huang argues the same thing at personal and individual level.
As I reflect on many self-help, leadership, and business books that I recommend to colleagues and mentees, I realized that Huang’s EDGE is the only book I’ve read that is from an Asian American woman and a woman of color. For that, I’m eternally grateful to have found this and recommend this book particularly to Asian Americans.
On a personal level, as an Asian American, I fully appreciated many of professor Huang’s stories and the high number of Asian Americans she profiles. I feel and see her self depreciating humor, doubts, and insecurities of finding one’s self and identifying in a culture that can be at odds with one’s values and instincts. I appreciated hearing her journey where see ultimately succeeds as she also continues to move forward. What makes her work particularly powerful is when one reads it. Like any excellent work, we react differently to the message depending where we are in our own lives. Early in a career before any professional or personal failures or setbacks reads differently than mid-career at a crossroads of the next step.
For that, I look forward to reading it again and again and recommending it to my colleagues and peers. I can’t wait for them to find and use their own EDGE.
April 1, 2020
I am not quite sure where I first learnt about Laura Huang's Edge but I did not give it much thought until I heard her being interviewed on HBR's Ideacast while making dinner. I thought, "Hmmm...She seems like someone I would love to meet and chat with in real life." So when I saw I get this ARC from Netgalley, I was delighted.
As an Asian-American woman, from an early age, she recognised that meritocracy is just not enough for her to get ahead in her career. She describes " Edge" as a means of getting past our normalised structural bias and inequity. We must acknowledge that they play a significant part in whether or not people will be successful.
Edge is an acronym that stands for Enrich, Delight. Guide and Effort. This means you must know how to provide (additional) value to your "stakeholders" in a delightful manner. You will have to navigate your internal perceptions as well as others' perceptions of you and the attributions about your skills, competence and character. Finally, know how to direct your effort or hard work so that you can be able to get maximum results.
Huang notes that "Gaining an 'edge' is not about gaming the system or relying on insincere methods but harnessing one's personality and strengths and weaknesses to create a unique advantage." This book is a combination of her personal experiences accompanied by research and anecdotes from others to support her theory.
What I like about this book is that she presents research and the psychology behind how we act without bogging down the reader with the details and without being overly simplistic. I enjoyed taking copious notes because there were numerous points that I need to reflect on. However, my interest in picking up the book seemed to taper off as I got to the second half of the book. Probably, because I was familiar with the material. Nonetheless, I really enjoyed the personal anecdotes that breathed life into the theory.
Overall, I believe that Laura Huang's message is timely and important and there's no better way to pick her brain than by reading Edge. And yes, I still would love to meet her someday.
As an Asian-American woman, from an early age, she recognised that meritocracy is just not enough for her to get ahead in her career. She describes " Edge" as a means of getting past our normalised structural bias and inequity. We must acknowledge that they play a significant part in whether or not people will be successful.
Edge is an acronym that stands for Enrich, Delight. Guide and Effort. This means you must know how to provide (additional) value to your "stakeholders" in a delightful manner. You will have to navigate your internal perceptions as well as others' perceptions of you and the attributions about your skills, competence and character. Finally, know how to direct your effort or hard work so that you can be able to get maximum results.
Huang notes that "Gaining an 'edge' is not about gaming the system or relying on insincere methods but harnessing one's personality and strengths and weaknesses to create a unique advantage." This book is a combination of her personal experiences accompanied by research and anecdotes from others to support her theory.
What I like about this book is that she presents research and the psychology behind how we act without bogging down the reader with the details and without being overly simplistic. I enjoyed taking copious notes because there were numerous points that I need to reflect on. However, my interest in picking up the book seemed to taper off as I got to the second half of the book. Probably, because I was familiar with the material. Nonetheless, I really enjoyed the personal anecdotes that breathed life into the theory.
Overall, I believe that Laura Huang's message is timely and important and there's no better way to pick her brain than by reading Edge. And yes, I still would love to meet her someday.
December 26, 2020
Feels like a typical self-help book in many respects, but despite that I still loved Laura Huang's perspective since her story is really relatable to Asian-American women.
The book teaches you how to guide the perspectives that people have about you in the direction you want them to have, rather than those based on their misconceptions or stereotypes. Laura identifies 4 main components to building an Edge:
Enrich - You must provide value to others. Use constraints to narrow the search space where you can make an impact.
Delight - Plan but don't overdo it.
Guide - Self-awareness is about you see yourself AND how others see you. You have to manage the latter.
Effort - Working hard without enriching/delighting/guiding is not enough. You need all 4.
Also probably the best quote in the book: "When life hands me lemons, I make chocolate cake and leave bitches wondering how I did it."
The book teaches you how to guide the perspectives that people have about you in the direction you want them to have, rather than those based on their misconceptions or stereotypes. Laura identifies 4 main components to building an Edge:
Enrich - You must provide value to others. Use constraints to narrow the search space where you can make an impact.
Delight - Plan but don't overdo it.
Guide - Self-awareness is about you see yourself AND how others see you. You have to manage the latter.
Effort - Working hard without enriching/delighting/guiding is not enough. You need all 4.
Also probably the best quote in the book: "When life hands me lemons, I make chocolate cake and leave bitches wondering how I did it."
January 5, 2021
Read this book a while ago, now I can confirm it's a practical book because I've practiced the ideas and methods shared in the book and found them very beneficial. As a female minority introvert, I've been always trying to be someone else to set myself better for success, but it was draining, and not very effective. Laura's book provides a fresh viewpoint that even with all these seemingly disadvantages or not-main-stream identities, there's still a way to flip things around. I'm especially inspired by the "D," delight. For a long time, I thought it was a sign of weakness or disqualification for a good leader, and I've been trying to hide that part of me when climbing up the corporate ladder. After reading this book, I can start to embrace that part of me and realize it's actually a good way to achieve my goals. It's a book that changed my perspectie, can't recommend enough!
March 10, 2020
Easy to read, practical and anecdotal, and engaging book. At first, I thought the author draws too much from her personal experiences to make her points yet her stories are quite relatable and never self-absorbed so when told together with anecdotes from luminaries and others who built their "edge" it actually provided an "anchor" of sorts - I felt I was learning how to harness "disadvantages" and turning them into strengths with Dr. Huang as my proxy. I also read this as less as a set of scientifically proven principles but as a friendly guide upon which you build your own path to breaking through. If you like that kind of learning experience, this book is for you.
P.S. Saw the author speak at an event recently, she is what she writes. That's authentic.
P.S. Saw the author speak at an event recently, she is what she writes. That's authentic.
March 14, 2020
I actually attended her talk in Toronto. Laura introduces a framework based on her personal experience and research. As an Asian, this book really speaks to me and makes me think deeply about my interactions with people and how the world sees me. In an imperfect world, we all want to feel valued for our knowledge and expertise whether it's in life or at work. We all want the world to see us as something more than the superficial labels that may or may not be based on reality. The only person who can really vouch for you is yourself. Laura's book makes you believe in your own power to change the narrative about you. It's a book for everyone regardless of where you are in life.
January 6, 2023
The introduction alone boosted my confidence and gave me the power to soar through an interview. Laura’s writing was so welcoming and energetic. I felt like I was having coffee with a friend every time I opened it up. Easy to read and an excellent piece to read if you’re having any self doubt or if you want to grow in life or your career. Laura will convince you that you have something in you that makes you unique and she’ll encourage you to shine.
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