Professional Troublemaker

January 18, 2021
Rants & Randomness podcast host Jones (I’m Judging You) explores how to fight fear in order to speak up for oneself in this witty, insightful guide. According to Jones, keeping quiet about things that matter (particularly with family members or coworkers) serves no one; however, those who speak up must be prepared to “fail loudly.” Broken into three sections—“Be,” “Say,” “Do”—Jones’s strategy puts the idea of a strong sense of identity at its foundation. “It’s about knowing you belong in this world just as much as anyone else,” she writes. Using this concept, Jones provides simple exercises to help readers with self-expression, such as writing a self-affirming Yoruba oríkì poem, composing a personal mission statement, and listing one’s values and goals. She also recommends “owning your dopeness” through celebrating accomplishments and not being afraid of being labeled arrogant. Explaining that “professional troublemaking” is about “expecting the best of everybody and making sure they’re seeing their blind spots,” Jones offers three questions to ask oneself before “ruffling feathers”: “Is this thing something I believe? Can I stand in it and justify it? Can I say it with love or thoughtfully?” Readers needing the extra push to stand up will find Jones’s advice enlightening and empowering.

January 1, 2021
Comedian and activist Ajayi Jones (I'm Judging You, 2016) devotes each chapter of her second book to a commonly held fear, mining comedy, her Nigerian ancestry, and her own experience to help readers Be, Say, and Do anyway. The book's tone mirrors a long lunch with a trusted friend; all-caps, wise-up pronouncements mix with f-bombs, professionalism, and clarity. Manage fear, Ajayi Jones argues, and be awesome. Many of Ajayi Jones' scenarios are drawn from life's upper echelons, and some of life's most intense fear-makers are absent. Even with that, the love Ajayi Jones feels for her grandmother Olufunmilayo Juliana Faloyin shines through the text, and readers will bask in the joy of following this woman's footsteps. Ajayi Jones is also willing to offer up her own mistakes, like a D in chemistry and an uncareful Twitter post that sparked a troll pile-on. Devoted readers of the be-your-best-self genre may not find novel advice in these pages (act even if you are scared, speak truth even if your voice shakes), but Ajayi Jones' engaged personality and storytelling style are a meaningful refresh.

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March 1, 2021
A personal growth manual on the importance of speaking up for oneself, particularly regarding matters of identity. Building on the success of her Rants & Randomness podcast and first book, I'm Judging You: The Do-Better Manual (2017), Ajayi Jones, "a proud Nigerian woman," pulls no punches in this well-organized guidebook. She asserts that the core basis of considering oneself a professional troublemaker involves an understanding that "chaos can come from being honest and authentic and going against the tide," and her book demands that readers confront doubts and move toward fearlessness. The author's goal is to get readers to communicate the wants and needs that continually hold them back from achieving everything from simple wishes to lifelong dreams. Split into three action-item sections--Be, Say, and Do--the guide shows how to work on internal issues before expanding outward, cultivating one's voice to speak up for the greater good, and progressing from mere words to tangible movements that make a bigger difference. Ajayi Jones personalizes the narrative by incorporating anecdotes from her beloved grandmother ("the definition of boisterous"), whose life epitomized the lesson of "living beyond your fears." The author also includes exercises that show how to maximize personal core values; the power of being an audacious dreamer ("dreaming is a gesture of courage in itself"); and the importance of self-exploration, clarity, and empowerment. Throughout, Ajayi Jones uses examples from her own random instances of impulsiveness to vividly illustrate points about learning from mistakes, setting boundaries, owning your own behavioral fumbles, and being independently fierce. Displaying a unique blend of tough love and compassionate advice, the author stresses that while embodying the kind of self-confidence she advocates may be perceived as arrogance, readers should live unapologetically and persistently strive for--not fear--success. Bold, insightful wisdom from a leading proponent of self-expression.

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