The Edge: How to Stand Out by Showing You’re All In

by Adam Tarnow, David Morrison

If you want to stand out, you have to be all in.

In today’s job market, employers are looking for more than just talent—they’re looking for an elusive combination of talent and emotional commitment. They want people who will work hard, pursue excellence, and bring their best every day.

This attitude of being “all in” is what separates good employees from great ones, giving your career an EDGE. And right now, emotional commitment is at an all-time low. There has never been a better time to stand out and get noticed as an emerging, engaged leader.

The Edge lays out four simple, profound ways to show that you’re emotionally committed without sucking up, selling out, or being anything but the best version of you. Start putting them into practice today, right now, and get ready for your next promotion in a rewarding and impactful career.

Genres: Leadership, Business

227 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 13, 2022

Reviews

[Abby McDonald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really practical advice on how to “stand out by showing you’re all in” in your job, while also being easy to follow and entertaining to read. Read this as a book study with a work group and it was great to read in that context!

Someone just starting in their career, or really even people who have been in their field for a while can benefit from reading this book. It lays out practical traits that leaders should strive to emulate and the steps to be able to do so.

I think a lot of people these days tend to fall into wanting to blame their circumstance or outside factors for their lack of success in their occupation (and maybe that’s sometimes fair/has truth to it) but this book holds you accountable to taking steps and changing habits/behaviors for your own success which I appreciate.

[Susie Rost · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5. I was so encouraged by this book and have already incorporated some of the lessons in my work and have seen the benefit of it. Panic monster! Genius! I also loved the dumping trash on your bosses desk lesson because it helped me recognize that I do that and now am aware of it. The -.5 is due to the cheesiness that I didn’t find super necessary. I see the heart behind it being to bring light/comedic relief to an otherwise serious/unfun topic but I could have done without them. I will for sure recommend to others. Thanks Sean!!

[Sean Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Or, “Kicking Butt & Taking Names with Uncommon Sense”

I couldn’t recommend this book more to 20-something’s starting out in their careers. I’ve been fortunate to work with Adam and many other great leaders/workers, and this book captures a lot of what’s taken me a decade of watching people in order to learn, and puts it all together right here.

The premise is simple: there has never been an easier time to stand out in your career, and here’s how. It’s one of those where you read it and say, “well yeah” but you also recognize its counter-cultural value simultaneously.

I took some of my work team through this, and I believe each time someone new joins my work team, I’ll have them read this.

“The large number of disengaged employees and the game-changing impact of ALL IN players are why you, regardless of how early you are in your career, have such a great opportunity. There has never been a better time to stand out, get noticed, and make an impact.” (pg. 14)

[Catherine Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful & stretching with a little side of corny. I think anyone who is employed would benefit from this book! It was great to read with our team. A few last quotes:

“Those who will be successful, young or old, are going to be those people who can create their own internal buffers.”

“If you want to make a mark on this world, if you want to stand out, if you want to develop an EDGE and take control of your career, then you need to lead how to manage your attention and develop patient endurance.”

“But the people who consistently show up, work hard, lean into conflict, and sacrifice pleasure for a little more discipline and productivity are the ones we see steadily making progress in their careers and personal lives.”

[Anna Webb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Timeless principles in a fresh way! Adam and David give you in a few hours what it takes other years to learn (or maybe never figure out). A must read if you want a leg up on not just being a great employee, but also becoming a great leader. You better believe I'm recommending this to every college student I come across.

[Kendall Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. If you are looking to start diving more into becoming a leader this is such a good and practical book that helps you start putting things to practice that will help you so much in the future. highly highly recommend

[N · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book for new employees or young adults getting ready to join the work force. With a sense of humor, this book explains the expectations and realities of the work world: work hard, be teachable, lead yourself, and care for others.

[Jake Tarnow · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is sooooo good!

[JD Tyler · Rating 5 out of 5]

For anyone who is just starting out in their career, this is a must read. Adam and David are engaging and highly applicable.

[Anna Olander · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book very insightful and helpful! It has many practical tools as well as great conversation points. Would highly recommend reading this with your team at work!

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

(E)nergy (D)iligence (G)rowth (E)ndurance

Great principles for any professional seeking to advance in their career.

[Emma Miars · Rating 4 out of 5]

pine cove employees in a book. i felt like the whole book can be summarized by a graphic at the back of the book, but i have found it to be a helpful tips before starting a job after college.

[Ian McManus · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good introductory read for emerging professionals - perhaps most applicable for those navigating the college-to-professional domain transition. Peppered with levity and witty humor throughout (references to Seinfeld, Batman, Matthew McConaughey and the like); rare to find it translate so well in this format.

Key Concepts

How to get an EDGE:

1. Energy: The positive attitude you bring every day.

(a) Motivation. The importance of making a connection between your career and why. Specific to the self; your motivation will provide energy and maintain focus. Lack of clarity or inability to articulate motivation causes knock-on issues. Sampling of relevant 'puzzle pieces;' examples include autonomy, mastery, impact, connection, purpose, results, etc. Which are motivating? Chase 'match quality' (not money) in a role; early career is a time to experiment and discover what characteristics matter most.

(b) Optimism. There are different ways to respond while conveying the same perspective - energy is articulated through the how. (Positive is better and more characteristic of a leader.) Manager your energy levels; burnout is your fault. Identify and maintain the practices that consistently drive you to be a better leader (exercise, reading, engagement, etc.).

(c) Gratitude. Requires an unassuming posture; when you feel like you deserve something, you've already (metaphorically) taken that object into your possession, and so won't be grateful if and when it is given. Maintain a list to remain mindful and keep the good in perspective. Overcommunicate in this area: "unexpressed gratitude communicates ingratitude" (Andy Stanley). Assume personal accountability for failure and dispense recognition to others for successes.

2. Diligence: The way you approach your work with care and persistence.

(a) Competence. There are two components of trust: character and competence; character is assumed, while competence must be proven. Competence comprises the necessary ability, knowledge, and skills to be successful.

(b) Resourcefulness. Always present and offer solutions with a problem. The quickest way to attract positive attention is to solve problems.

(c) Productivity. Identify, prioritize, action. Raise the value of / present a strong bias for action in your organization.

3. Growth: The hunger for progress and development you embody.

(a) Self-leadership. Learn to seek - and appreciate - feedback.

(b) Ownership. Owners are concerned with cash flow and the future. Become preoccupied with these, though recognize the potential for leadership 'dissonance' to arise when their mental model of the system and reality diverge. Find opportunities to resolve and realign understanding tactfully.

(c) Flexibility. Choose flexibility over frustration. Choose humility and seek counsel in the face of uncertainty. "Planning is priceless, but plans are useless" (Abbott Laboratories).

4. Endurance: The character you demonstrate in the face of difficulty.

(a) Resilience. Failure builds resilience - reference Roosevelt's "Man in the Arena" speech and concept. Leaving your comfort zone doesn't directly lead to the 'panic' zone.

(b) Peacemaker. Difference between 'task-related' and 'personal' types of conflict. The four negative conflict patterns (withdrawal, escalation, negative interpretation, and invalidation), of which withdrawal is the worst for professional settings. (Negative interpretation is manifest as a slow erosion of trust.)

(c) Patience. Differentiating between desires (outside of your control) and goals (within span of control); appropriately setting goals will bolster 'professional endurance.'

Notable Quotes

We are much too concerned with our rights and far too dismissive of our responsibilities. Be obsessed with your responsibilities, and you'll see yourself granted more rights. [pg. 58]

—

Those who will be successful, young or old, are going to be those people who can create their own internal buffers. They are going to be able to control their relationship with pleasures because their proximity to pleasures and their availability is the problem.

Stanford neuroscientist Andrew Huberman [pg. 236-237]

[Scott Kedersha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adam & David did a great job with their new book, The Edge: How to Stand Out by Showing You're All In. The book is practical, clear, engaging, and so spot on. The book will be helpful for both managers and employees. I loved the EDGE acronym and found each chapter to be clear and compelling.

I've already shared my highlights and takeaways with many people (I read an Advanced Readers Copy provided by the author). This will be a great read for teams to go through together. Even better is if you read it with your team and evaluate how you're really doing in being an ALL IN employee.

Adam & David provided us with a very useful resource that will benefit many in the workplace. Highly recommended!

[Trent Horner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read for anyone looking to stand out professionally. Really helpful, practical advice.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read for young and mature professionals

David and Adam bring experience and wisdom to a topic needed in the market place. They have an ability to express much needed work ethic traits and disciplines in a humorous and entertaining manner. Very good read and I will be encouraging all young professionals to read, learn and practice the methods in this book!

[Derek Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good read for employees to have an “edge” in their workplace. How do you be the employee that bosses like to have around and not because you agree with everything the say, but because you are “all in”? With energy, diligence, growth, and endurance.