Rise by Patty Azzarello Summary

Rise by Patty Azzarello is a career advancement guide that reveals insider strategies for succeeding in corporate environments while maintaining work-life balance. The book presents a three-part framework—DO Better, LOOK Better, and CONNECT Better—that helps professionals move beyond simply working hard to actually getting recognized and promoted. Azzarello shares practical methods for setting ruthless priorities, building credibility, and developing networks without being political.

Patty Azzarello is a Silicon Valley executive who became the youngest general manager at Hewlett-Packard at age thirty-three, ran a $1 billion software business at thirty-five, and became a CEO at thirty-eight. Her unique qualification stems from achieving these milestones "without turning into a self-centered, miserable jerk," as she describes it. She now runs her own consulting business helping professionals advance their careers.

Rise by Patty Azzarello is ideal for corporate professionals at any career stage—whether just starting the corporate ladder, stuck mid-career, transitioning between roles, or eyeing executive positions. The book particularly benefits those who work hard but feel invisible, struggle with workplace politics, or want to advance without sacrificing their personal life. Anyone frustrated by roadblocks and "stupid people" will find practical strategies in this guide.

Rise by Patty Azzarello is highly worth reading, with documented success stories including one reader who reported getting "two pay raises and a promotion" after applying the book's principles. The book offers buzzword-free, practical strategies rather than theoretical concepts, making it immediately actionable. Readers praise its realistic approach to corporate life and its focus on both career success and personal satisfaction.

The DO Better, LOOK Better, CONNECT Better framework is Patty Azzarello's three-part system for career advancement in Rise. DO Better focuses on delivering high-value results through ruthless prioritization rather than just being busy. LOOK Better addresses visibility and reputation-building so your work gets recognized. CONNECT Better emphasizes building authentic networks and getting help from others, recognizing that successful people aren't brilliant alone—they get the most support.

DO Better in Rise by Patty Azzarello means delivering exceptional value rather than just working hard or staying busy. It involves setting ruthless priorities to focus on outcomes with the greatest impact and working more strategically to deal with frustrating obstacles. The concept emphasizes that "no one cares how hard you work"—what matters is the actual value you deliver. DO Better also includes managing your energy effectively to avoid burnout while producing remarkable results.

LOOK Better in Rise by Patty Azzarello addresses the harsh reality that great work doesn't stand on its own—visibility is crucial for career advancement. This section teaches how to build credibility and ensure your work is visible to the right people without being annoying or overly political. One UK marketing professional applied LOOK Better principles and discovered her CEO had assumed market growth caused their success, completely missing her two years of tireless effort.

CONNECT Better in Rise emphasizes that the most successful people are those who get the most help, not those who succeed through brilliance alone. Patty Azzarello teaches how to develop your network and build authentic relationships without being political, which opens doors to opportunities and resources. The section focuses on getting on "The List" of people who receive the best opportunities and regularly seeking advice and mentorship from your network.

Ruthless priorities is a practical leadership strategy in Rise that involves aggressively focusing on the tasks with the highest impact while eliminating or delegating lower-value work. Patty Azzarello emphasizes that prioritization isn't just about time management—it's about strategic value delivery. The concept challenges the "workhorse trap" where people stay busy with activities that don't advance their careers, discovering that "the reward for being a workhorse is more work".

Patty Azzarello argues in Rise that "there is so much more to succeeding and advancing at work than working hard and doing a good job". She explains that people often focus only on the work itself while missing the visibility and networking components essential for advancement. Her research shows that being known as a hard worker can actually trap you—you become the go-to person for more work rather than promotions. Success requires delivering value, building visibility, and connecting strategically.

Rise by Patty Azzarello provides strategies to "proactively deal with all the annoying people, roadblocks, disappointments, and political crap" that can damage effectiveness and stall career progress. The book teaches how to build networks and credibility without being political, focusing on authentic relationship-building rather than manipulation. Azzarello acknowledges that "Corporate America is not for the faint of heart" and provides realistic, no-punches-pulled advice for navigating brutal corporate environments.

While Rise by Patty Azzarello receives overwhelmingly positive reviews, some readers note that the book's honest portrayal of corporate ladder-climbing helped them realize they don't want to pursue that path. The book's realistic acknowledgment that corporate success requires strategic maneuvering beyond pure performance may discourage those seeking a purely meritocratic work environment. Additionally, the focus on corporate advancement strategies may be less relevant for entrepreneurs, academics, or those in non-traditional career paths where visibility and networking operate differently.