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WorkLife with Adam Grant · August 18, 2026 · 48m 13s

Forget the corporate ladder — winners take risks with Molly Graham

Elise Hu interviews Molly Graham about her TED talk on career risk-taking and the emotional side of work. They explore how to distinguish good fear from bad, why success feels messier than it looks, and the skills needed to leave the corporate ladder. The conversation also touches on aging in the workplace and Graham's new role as host of WorkLife.

This summary was generated from show notes and public descriptions, not from a full transcript review. Details may contain inaccuracies.

Highlights

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Embracing the emotional side of work
Molly Graham advocates for acknowledging and dealing with the messy feelings that arise at work, rather than suppressing them.
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Distinguishing good fear from bad fear
Graham explains that there is a difference between the fear that signals a worthwhile challenge and the fear that warns you away from a bad fit.
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Success is messier than it appears
Successful endeavors are often far more chaotic behind the scenes than we imagine, and this feeling of disarray is normal.
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The skills for jumping off the corporate cliff
Taking a bold career leap requires preparation, not just blind bravery, as outlined in three key skills from Graham's TED talk.
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