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The Spare Room: Define Your Social Legacy to Live a More Intentional Life and Lead with Authentic Purpose
Define your own Social Legacy, unlock the power to live a more intentional life, and lead with greater purpose and authenticity.
Emily Chang is a seasoned executive who has worked with some of the world’s most renowned companies like Procter & Gamble, Apple, and Starbucks. Over the last twenty-one years, her job has brought her and her family to eight different homes across the U.S and China. And everywhere she’s lived, Emily has found herself at the unique intersection of her Offer and Offense. Life has served up young people who have been abused, neglected or marginalized, to find sanctuary in her spare room. Among her deeply personal accounts, Emily shares heart-wrenching stories of an emotionally abused child bride, a dying eighteen-month old boy born with hydrocephalus, and the abused daughter of a local prostitute.
With the sixteen young people she and her family have cared for, Emily has found that living into her Social Legacy has not only deeply enriched her home life, it has also enabled her to become a more authentic and relatable leader in the workplace. Each time she opened the door to her spare room, Emily found herself in a front row seat, witnessing one of life’s incredible stories unfold. Integrating work and life, she introduced her spare room kids to colleagues and encourages her team members to invest in their own Social Legacies.
Now more than ever, social purpose has become an urgent leadership imperative. The Spare Room will help you identify your Social Legacy to live a more intentional life and lead with authentic purpose.
Emily Chang is a seasoned executive who has worked with some of the world’s most renowned companies like Procter & Gamble, Apple, and Starbucks. Over the last twenty-one years, her job has brought her and her family to eight different homes across the U.S and China. And everywhere she’s lived, Emily has found herself at the unique intersection of her Offer and Offense. Life has served up young people who have been abused, neglected or marginalized, to find sanctuary in her spare room. Among her deeply personal accounts, Emily shares heart-wrenching stories of an emotionally abused child bride, a dying eighteen-month old boy born with hydrocephalus, and the abused daughter of a local prostitute.
With the sixteen young people she and her family have cared for, Emily has found that living into her Social Legacy has not only deeply enriched her home life, it has also enabled her to become a more authentic and relatable leader in the workplace. Each time she opened the door to her spare room, Emily found herself in a front row seat, witnessing one of life’s incredible stories unfold. Integrating work and life, she introduced her spare room kids to colleagues and encourages her team members to invest in their own Social Legacies.
Now more than ever, social purpose has become an urgent leadership imperative. The Spare Room will help you identify your Social Legacy to live a more intentional life and lead with authentic purpose.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published March 30, 2021
15 people are currently reading
85 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
August 10, 2022
I loved reading Emily’s stories about the children that have come to their spare room. Her family’s heart and compassion is contagious. I loved the accompanying pages for reflection. They felt like a call to action.
May 29, 2021
Emily does a wonderful job sharing stories of how she/her family and others have opened up their resources, talents, homes and hearts for the betterment of another and then she guides you down the path of figuring out how you can do the same. Beautiful
July 25, 2022
Inspiring book that challenges me to be more intentional in life to create meaningful difference in other people's lifes.
April 21, 2021
Illustratively written with emotive stories that painted an indelible picture in my mind. I couldn’t put this book down.
Following the inspiring stories in each chapter are personal development exercises and frameworks to help readers identify actions to create a lasting impact and live a life with meaning. These sections constitute some of the simplest and clearest guides I have ever seen to purposeful tools such as ikigai and energy maps... yet I found myself skimming them rapidly because I just could not wait to feel moved by the next story.
This is one of the rare books I will re-read and come back to when in need of inspiration, and in due course follow through with its personal exercises. I especially loved Emily's twist on Ikigai: combining your "offer" (parallel to what you love / what you are good at) with your "offense"; instead of what the world needs / what you can be paid for, that "thing that stands out among others, that tugs uncomfortably at our gut and pesters our conscience until we take action." Most of my experience from coaching and development has centered on positive psychology, although we humans evolved for survival with a natural negativity bias. Using "offense" in this respect is not at all negative, but practically effective (and evoked approval from my inner stoic).
Wisdom to remember:
"words are insanely powerful. They're so much more powerful than we give them credit for, particularly as parents." [p21]
The concept of kibun - "if you hurt someone's kibun, you hurt their pride and their spirit will darken. But when you have good kibun, you enable others to be in a comfortable state of mind" [p92]
"Our children are not a manifestation of us, or of whom we had hoped to become. They are not a reflection of our personal success or failure. Rather, we are granted, for a time, the great and humbling privilege of caring for them. Our job is to help them learn the world around them and set them up for success as global citizens." [p125]
"We realized that many people simply can't imagine a different future if they aren't afforded an opportunity to see what's possible." [p161]
Following the inspiring stories in each chapter are personal development exercises and frameworks to help readers identify actions to create a lasting impact and live a life with meaning. These sections constitute some of the simplest and clearest guides I have ever seen to purposeful tools such as ikigai and energy maps... yet I found myself skimming them rapidly because I just could not wait to feel moved by the next story.
This is one of the rare books I will re-read and come back to when in need of inspiration, and in due course follow through with its personal exercises. I especially loved Emily's twist on Ikigai: combining your "offer" (parallel to what you love / what you are good at) with your "offense"; instead of what the world needs / what you can be paid for, that "thing that stands out among others, that tugs uncomfortably at our gut and pesters our conscience until we take action." Most of my experience from coaching and development has centered on positive psychology, although we humans evolved for survival with a natural negativity bias. Using "offense" in this respect is not at all negative, but practically effective (and evoked approval from my inner stoic).
Wisdom to remember:
"words are insanely powerful. They're so much more powerful than we give them credit for, particularly as parents." [p21]
The concept of kibun - "if you hurt someone's kibun, you hurt their pride and their spirit will darken. But when you have good kibun, you enable others to be in a comfortable state of mind" [p92]
"Our children are not a manifestation of us, or of whom we had hoped to become. They are not a reflection of our personal success or failure. Rather, we are granted, for a time, the great and humbling privilege of caring for them. Our job is to help them learn the world around them and set them up for success as global citizens." [p125]
"We realized that many people simply can't imagine a different future if they aren't afforded an opportunity to see what's possible." [p161]
May 6, 2021
Author Chang's book illustrates through real stories the jagged edges of offensive tragedies against children and youth. Through her sefless actions of harbouring 16 children over 20 years in her home spare room, one will be forced to reconsider their own life priorities. I could recall in my lifeline a story that resonated with each of her stories. And a yearning to redo life and offer to help those who couldn't help themselves. As an executive I have struggled to define my legacy and this book has a mini workbook embedded in it that is guaranteed to get that done. I highly recommend this book for anyone looking to leave a legacy but confused about what that might be.
March 26, 2022
In times of uncertainty I always turn to books. The Spare Room is perfect reading for those seeking to enrich their lives with meaning and lead a life with purpose. What is your social legacy? What does that even mean? Emily Chang's brilliant, insightful and well laid out book, walks us step by step on how she, and others have created lasting social legacies. The book gives valuable and easy to use tools, so you too can realize how to give back in a way that speaks true to you.
The stories she shares throughout the book have been perfectly balanced and chosen - some moved me to tears, whilst others sent chills down my spine, or had me laughing out loud. Each one as moving and inspiring as the next, they highlight how anyone, with small actions and changes to their lives, can make room for more meaning and connection - all driven by their own unique purpose. These stories eloquently bring into focus the importance of the big picture and our role to play within it. It's obvious Emily is the real deal - she backs up her words with equivalent actions and guides you to do the same.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this, it's a book I didn't want to put down and I cannot recommend it enough!
The stories she shares throughout the book have been perfectly balanced and chosen - some moved me to tears, whilst others sent chills down my spine, or had me laughing out loud. Each one as moving and inspiring as the next, they highlight how anyone, with small actions and changes to their lives, can make room for more meaning and connection - all driven by their own unique purpose. These stories eloquently bring into focus the importance of the big picture and our role to play within it. It's obvious Emily is the real deal - she backs up her words with equivalent actions and guides you to do the same.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this, it's a book I didn't want to put down and I cannot recommend it enough!
June 18, 2021
I read many self development books but this one stands out as providing actionable journaling and prompts to help a person brainstorm what each of us can do to have an impact. I really loved how the author's stories are inspiring yet seem not out of reach for the average person to model. For example, there's a story about how one man gave food to a homeless man and learned a lot about himself and that community. There are many nuances in these stories and it made me feel like even a small act can make a big impact. I'm giving this as a gift to my teen for graduation and to my dad for Father's Day- great for any age or stage in life.
September 2, 2021
If you’ve experienced the vague feeling of wanting to give “more” to others than you feel you do today, read this book.
Simple, practical, and above all, inspirational - Emily Chang breaks down social legacy and impact in an approchable how-to guide, complete with exercises to help you break down meeting big aspirations through small steps.
Simple, practical, and above all, inspirational - Emily Chang breaks down social legacy and impact in an approchable how-to guide, complete with exercises to help you break down meeting big aspirations through small steps.
February 7, 2022
This is an excellent book with real stories. The author described social problems currently happening in the real world, especially in the US. She devoted her own effort to help others that is less fortunate. This is a very noble action that could have a major impact to many others. I suppose stories in this book could be made into a TV series.
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December 23, 2021I just finished reading my signed copy of this innovative book and it challenged and rewarded me in so many different ways. 100% recommend!! I will always think in terms of the OFFENSE and the OFFER as I move forward in life, thank you Emily :)
February 6, 2022
This is such an inspiring book! What I love is that changing the world seems attainable- one person at a time. So so good!!
June 28, 2022
Great book!
August 18, 2022
Excellent book, highly recommend!
Thought provoking, and insightful.
Thought provoking, and insightful.
December 8, 2025
I felt at times like I was being lectured on how to live my life. However the author truly went above and beyond saving children from atrocities and giving them a good life.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews