Brave Together

Lead by Design, Spark Creativity, and Shape the Future with the Power of Co-Creation

By: Chris Deaver, Ian Clawson

Narrated by: Stephen Bowlby

Next Big Idea Club Must-Read (with Malcolm Gladwell and Adam Grant)

INC's Top 5 Books for Transforming Business

"An entirely new experience. Discover how to work creatively together." —Fast Company

"Co-creation in hyperdrive . . . Take it from teamwork gurus behind Apple and Star Wars—a new kind of psychological incubator will allow your creativity to flourish." —Big Think

"Deaver and Clawson know a thing or two (and a lot more) about what works best in the workplace." —Forbes

"Groundbreaking. Get ready to be inspired and join the co-creation movement with this remarkable book." —Marshall Goldsmith, Thinkers50 #1 Executive Coach and NY Times bestselling author of The Earned Life

"Exhilarating." —Daniel Pink, #1 NY Times bestselling author of Drive, To Sell is Human, and The Power of Regret

Brave Together is a powerful book that can transform the lives of leaders, creators, or anyone looking to shape the future. It comes from the thought leaders who helped Apple shift the culture from "thinking different" to "working different together".

How did Apple overcome a culture of secrecy? How did Pixar out-innovate Disney? Why do companies kill creativity? Does Shark Tank teach us something about the way we pursue success that isn't true?

We've been told that working harder and smarter is the only way to succeed in business and life. But it's not true. Hustle culture is causing burnout and pain in our lives, making us feel divided. What if instead we focused on working creatively with others? And asked How can we shape cultures people love? There is hope in co-creation.

Brave Together is a deep exploration into how we can live and lead as co-creators, filled with unexpected stories, powerful principles, and a future-oriented framework. The authors have pressure-tested this work with startups and Fortune 500s—including Apple. Coaching leaders how to reimagine their approach to culture, converting creative ideas into billion-dollar solutions with the help of these patterns:

The Mirror Test: Take ownership of your reality and your creative identity.

The Hero's Sacrifice: Break free of ego to connect with others in inspiring ways.

Become the Future: Create a synthesis, manifesting the best in mind, heart, and spirit.

Chris Deaver and Ian Clawson have written a handbook that challenges the status quo approach to leadership, work, and culture. It offers the path to a bright future that isn't self-made but shared.

©2023 Chris Deaver and Ian Clawson (P)2023 McGraw Hill-Ascent Audio

Great info.

I don't do a lot of, what would be considered, "self-help" books.
I enjoyed this and will definitely listen to it again to get even more from it.
A big thanks to the authors and narrators for this.

Super charge your culture!

Real examples of how to build a team in the right way in business and for life

Co-creation and being in a state of higher vibration

Amazing lessons on why and how being in a higher vibration consciousness is now imperative to win and grow in business. And one key method is cultivating a culture of openness and creativity. Chris does an amazing job brining in his expertise and experience at Apple and other legendary companies.

Why Brave Together Matters for Modern HR Leaders

Leading people through disruption is the core challenge of modern leadership. As an HR leader working with startups and tech companies, I see how AI, constant change, and pressure to move fast strain trust and accountability. Brave Together, by Chris Deaver and Ian Clawson, addresses that challenge directly.

This book is practical and grounded. It focuses on the everyday moments that shape culture in fast-moving environments. How leaders create safety during uncertainty. How teams surface hard truths early. How accountability works without fear when the stakes are high.

What makes this book stand out is its focus on human responsibility. As technology reshapes work, the real differentiator is how people think, decide, and work together. Deaver and Clawson offer language and practices leaders can apply immediately to build resilient, high-performing teams.

I recommend Brave Together to founders, executives, and HR leaders navigating change. It is a timely and useful guide for leading people well when everything else is shifting.