Stop pushing harder. Start choosing smarter. When slow and steady no longer wins the race, what do you do next? “Grit” is celebrated as the gold standard of success — but in a world that changes faster than our plans, pushing harder can quietly work against us. The Short Cut challenges the myth that perseverance is always the answer and introduces a smarter, science-backed alternative: flexible goal setting. Instead of never giving up, Courtney Clark offers a bold reframe. Drawing on rigorous studies and hard-won personal experience, she presents “quitting” as a strategic choice that preserves resources, reduces burnout, and leads to better outcomes. The book opens with a modern reimagining of The Tortoise and the Hare, asking a timely question for today’s fast-changing world: what happens when staying the course is no longer the winning strategy? From there, readers are guided through a practical framework for stopping with intention: why stubborn persistence can backfire, when it’s time to stop forcing progress, and how to pivot without giving up on what truly matters. In The Short Cut, you’ll learn how to: Recognize when grit becomes a hidden barrier to achievement - Differentiate between a true goal and a rigid plan - Redesign goals to stay adaptable as conditions change - Respond faster to change without losing momentum or morale Courtney Clark is a globally recognized change resilience strategist and four-time 9/11-related cancer survivor. An in-demand international keynote speaker, she blends evidence-informed strategies with powerful storytelling to help individuals and teams thrive through uncertainty. If the old rules of success no longer apply, are you ready to choose a smarter way forward? With two successful businesses and four rounds of cancer (so far!) under her belt, Courtney Clark is the luckiest unlucky person in the world. Courtney works with teams who need to succeed during stress and change without burning out, lashing out, or giving up. She is an in-demand keynote speaker who presents internationally to organizations on how to adapt faster and achieve more by developing resilience and ReVisionary Thinking™. She once failed at being a dancer in New York, but that's probably for the best. Organizations hire Courtney to speak at their conferences and events because of her unique blend of what she calls “content-based motivation.” Her presentations balance left brain strategies with right brain storytelling, so every single member of the audience walks away feeling primed for success, no matter their personality or learning style. Everyone in the room will be moved by the blend of humor, stories, research, and interaction Courtney brings to a keynote. Courtney’s resilience work has been featured in Forbes, Psychology Today, USA Today, and The Chicago Tribune. Her 2 books on resilience, The Giving Prescription and The Successful Struggle, have been called “practical,” “powerful,” and “empowering” by industry leaders. Courtney lives in Austin, Texas with her husband and three dogs, all of whom she found at the Humane Society... including the husband!