What if the measure of a successful life isn’t how high you rise
But how many people rise because of you?

In a world where most careers span nearly 2,000 workweeks, millions still find themselves stuck in work that feels empty, misaligned, or morally exhausting. The Courage to Lift is the meaningful career guide for anyone who feels that quiet internal whisper: there must be more than this.

Drawing from powerful stories from Nelson Mandela’s daily discipline to Dr. Denis Mukwege’s relentless compassion, this book reveals a new model of ambition: moral ambition. Instead of chasing titles, wealth, or status, moral ambition invites you to pursue a purpose-driven career that uplifts others while restoring your own sense of integrity and direction.

Through the transformative idea of the 5% Lift, small, sustainable acts of integrity, you’ll learn how ordinary people create extraordinary impact without burning out, quitting their jobs, or sacrificing security. Whether you’re confronting ethical dilemmas at work, searching for deeper meaning, or rediscovering what you stand for, this book offers a blueprint for how to make a difference in the world, starting exactly where you are.

Inside you’ll discover:

How to identify “the vacancy only you can fill”; the unique problem your life has prepared you to solve

Why meaning is built through small, daily acts (not dramatic leaps)

How moral ambition becomes a strategic advantage in leadership, relationships, and organizations

How to recognize misalignment and reallocate your energy toward what truly matters

Why integrity is not heroic perfection but a pattern of small, courageous choices

A Book for Builders, Not Bystanders

This is not a book about quitting the system; it’s about quietly reshaping it, one principled act at a time. It speaks to the builders, the problem-solvers, the doers who want career inspiration rooted in clarity, conscience, and courage.

For readers searching for:

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books about solving global problems

books about climate change and society (through the lens of responsible leadership and sustainable purpose)

Changing the world: career advice

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A Legacy That Lifts Others

The Courage to Lift is ultimately a book about building the kind of legacy that truly matters, one rooted not in accumulation, but in contribution. It reminds us that you don’t have to be a hero to change the world. You just have to stop pretending you’re powerless.

Because when you lift even five percent,
You permit others to rise fully.

Marcielo Ferrari