Noelle RussellChief Executive Officer, AI Leadership Institute · 5x Microsoft Trustworthy AI MVP | 3.4+ million students | #1 Thought Leader in Agentic AI | AI-Powered Revenue Growth + Cost Optimization Expert ✨Best-Selling Author: Scaling Responsible AI | TEDx Sp

The Power of Finishing and Taking Risks

13 Dec 2024 · 1 min

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In this brief monologue, the speaker recounts a habit of spending weekends at Barnes & Noble's café to work through expensive computer books they could not afford to purchase. From this experience, they observed that only about 10% of people actually finish books they buy or borrow, noting a common pattern where enthusiasm wanes after the first few chapters. The speaker reflects that individuals who do finish what they start—and who also take risks—tend to be treated more favorably and rewarded in society. The talk juxtaposes personal anecdote with a broader claim about the value of persistence and risk‑taking.

Chapters

I went to Barnes Noble and every weekend for years I went. I didn't have money to buy $70 books at Barnes Noble, so I'd take a computer book. I'd sit at a table just like this in the cafe and I'd do all the exercises. One thing I learned in that is that only 10% of people actually finish books they buy or even borrow. And it was very interesting to me at that time to realize like nobody finishes these types of things. People have good ideas, they buy a book, they're like, oh my gosh, it's gonna change my life. They get to chapter 1, maybe chapter 2, and they're like, just lose interest. I'm one of those people. But I realized that people, finishers, actually get treated really well in this world. Not only finishers, but risk takers.