Get Out of Your Own Way by Dave Hollis Summary
Overview of Get Out of Your Own Way
Former Disney executive Dave Hollis confronts self-sabotage with raw honesty in this game-changing guide. Praised by Cardinal Rule Press founder Maria Dismondy for its humor and practicality, it reveals why embracing discomfort might be your most powerful career move yet.
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Key takeaways
The Mirror Holds Your Greatest Obstacle
Success can become a prison. Dave Hollis discovered this truth while leading Disney's movie studio, breaking box office records with Marvel and Star Wars franchises, yet feeling profoundly empty. The uncomfortable reality? The person blocking his path to fulfillment was himself. What makes this revelation compelling isn't just another executive's midlife crisis-it's Hollis's raw honesty about alcohol dependence, identity struggles, and relationship patterns that resonate with millions navigating their own transitions. His journey from Hollywood premieres to small-town startup life reveals a universal truth: we often sabotage ourselves not through dramatic failures, but through subtle lies we've believed for decades. These aren't obvious deceptions but deeply embedded beliefs about worth, strength, and success that feel like truth until we examine them closely. We live in a culture that asks "What do you do?" within minutes of meeting someone, as if our profession defines our essence. Hollis lived this fusion of identity and achievement from childhood, where trophies and honor society memberships became proof of worthiness. Each accomplishment was another brick in a wall of validation, creating an insatiable hunger that followed him into adulthood. At Disney, managing billion-dollar franchises should have satisfied this craving, yet the emptiness persisted. The wake-up call came bluntly when his boss told him to "Shut the f*ck up" after Hollis dominated meetings trying to prove his intelligence rather than solve problems. This classic imposter syndrome-focusing on appearing competent rather than being effective-kept him trapped in performance mode. Breaking records with "Black Panther" and "Avengers: Endgame" meant nothing when his worth was contingent on the next achievement. The breakthrough came when he separated identity from profession, recognizing that impact matters more than titles. Leaving his multimillion-dollar position for his wife's startup meant trading corporate jets for authenticity, discovering that true fulfillment comes from aligning work with values rather than deriving value from work.
When Success Becomes Your Biggest Liability
Vulnerability as an Unfair Advantage
The Numbing Trap and the Path to Sobriety
The Courage to Keep Your Heart Open
Living Centered in an Unbalanced World
Building a Life That's Authentically Yours
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"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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