An executive coach shares essential advice on how to succeed by being your best self—even at your worst moments. Everyone faces frustration and stress, but we don’t have to let these challenging moments take control of us. In Be the Hero , executive coach Noah Blumenthal introduces us to the way of the “Everyday Hero” and shows how to turn self-defeating thoughts and behaviors into heroic actions. All day long, without even realizing it, we tell ourselves dozens of stories about other people, our situations, and ourselves. These stories shape our emotions and behavior, making us think and act like either a hero or a victim. Be the Hero shows you how to choose the stories that lead to personal and professional success. In the tradition of the best storytellers, Blumenthal weaves a tale of a young professional’s journey from victim to hero, one that is both captivating and profound. The powerful resources at the end of the book, including a hero tip of the week, smart cards, manager tip sheets, and more, will help you make your hero stories stick. “This book is quick, easy, and life changing, showing how it is within your power to choose how you perceive and respond to the events in your life.” —Sid Chapon, Senior Vice President/Director, Leadership and Organizational Development, Leo Burnett Worldwide “The world needs more heroes. That hero journey can best be started by absorbing the compelling messages in Be the Hero —a must-read book for our troubled times.” —Phil Zimbardo, Ph.D., author of The Lucifer Effect “Noah Blumenthal is a gifted storyteller who shows us how our own stories change our self-perception and our personal power. Be The Hero offers a friendly voice and practical tools to build hope and optimism, strength and flexibility, and consciousness about how our language shapes our beliefs.” —Karlin Sloan, CEO, Karlin Stone & Company, and author of Smarter, Faster, Better “It has been said that how an individual deals with adversity reveals that person’s true nature. Be The Hero will help you bring out your best, even in the worst of times.” —Warner Burke, Ph.D., Chair, Department of Organization and Leadership, Teachers College, Columbia University “Blumenthal's message is powerful for all who want to make a positive difference in their lives as well as the lives of others. At Southwest Airlines, we embrace messages that support our values and mission; Blumenthal's message does this exceptionally well. This will be a tool I will recommend to my customers.” —Graham Vandergrift, Team Leader, University for People, Southwest Airlines “ Be The Hero offers powerful lessons and reminders that each of our thoughts and actions impacts our effectiveness and our relationships with everyone around us.” —Gwyneth Meeks, Vice President, Organizational Development, MTV Networks “Noah Blumenthal knows that the story of our life success is written one thought and one conversation at a time. In his fable Be The Hero , Noah has created not only a book but a user-friendly process to ensure every story we tell leads to a life of success with a very happy ending.” —Andrea T. Goeglein, Ph.D., host, Books That Matter “Change your story, change your life! Noah Blumenthal has written a parable and reference tool that will enable you to unleash your heroism on the world. It is a life-changing read. I highly recommend it.” —Victoria Halsey, PhD, Vice President, Applied Learning, The Ken Blanchard Companies, and coauthor of The Hamster Revolution “ Be The Hero is more than a book; it's a compass that points the way to your better self. Blumenthal does a masterful job of making profoundly important ideas accessible and achievable, proving that you too can Be The Hero!” —Bill Treasurer, author of Courage Goes to Work Noah Blumenthal is president of Leading Principles, Inc., an executive coaching and consulting company whose clients rank among the Fortune and Global 500, including MTV Networks, Hilton Hotels Corporation, and DuPont. A keynote speaker and author of You’re Addicted to You (Berrett-Koehler), he was named one of the world’s “Top 100 Minds on Personal Development” by Leadership Excellence magazine and has been featured in such leading media outlets as the New York Times, CBS News, MSNBC News, Chicago Sun-Times, Investor’s Business Daily, and Newsday. Introduction: Change Your Stories, Change Your Life No one is free from challenges. Work and life events stress us out, people treat us unfairly, and we sometimes feel powerless. We have tough moments, times when we become frustrated and angry with our jobs or our lives. We may have angry bosses or customers, or we might have spouses or kids who at times feel like too much to handle. Life is uncertain, and change is constant. When frustration settles in, we sometimes see ourselves as victims. Perhaps you can finish these victim sentences: “My boss is a _______.” “My job _______.