What if the secret to breakthrough innovation isn’t thinking outside the box—but knowing where the box ends?
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The Unexpected Power of Boundaries
What if the secret to breakthrough innovation isn’t thinking outside the box—but knowing where the box ends?
In The Unexpected Power of Boundaries, bestselling author and innovation strategist Sheri Jacobs challenges everything we’ve been told about creativity, risk, and leadership. Innovation doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when people have clarity—about constraints, expectations, and where they are free to experiment.
Drawing on original research, real-world case studies, and stories from unexpected places—from Pixar to polar expeditions—Jacobs shows why boundaries don’t stifle creativity; they make it repeatable. When teams understand the rules of the game, they stop hesitating and start taking smarter, faster action.
This book offers:
A practical framework for making innovation sustainable
Insight into why clear constraints fuel creativity
Tools for helping teams take smarter, safer risks
Leadership strategies that separate the “what” from the “how”
A new way to think about structure, freedom, and growth
Direct, insightful, and grounded in real experience, The Unexpected Power of Boundaries is a guide for leaders who want innovation to be more than a buzzword—and who are ready to create the conditions where bold ideas actually thrive.
Praise for The Unexpected Power of Boundaries
How and why “innovation isn’t about removing all limits; It’s about designing better ones.”
Years ago, I asked John Kotter, “What seems to be the greatest challenge for change agents?” He replied, “Changing how they think about change.” The same can be said of innovators.
Sheri Jacobs asserts -- and I agree -- that “innovation isn’t about removing all limits; it’s about designing better ones.” The challenge is to think innovatively about innovation...Read More
Robert Morris, Top-100 Hall of Fame Amazon reviewer of business books
“The Unexpected Power of Boundaries flips the script on everything you thought you knew about saying no. It’s not about building walls—it’s about creating the space you need to grow, thrive, and lead with clarity.
Whether you’re burned out, resentful, or just tired of people-pleasing your way through life, Sheri Jacobs offers a bold new framework for setting boundaries that feel good, do good, and make you unstoppable.”
Laura Gassner Otting, Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Wonderhell and ABC contributor
“The Unexpected Power of Boundaries is a refreshing and essential guide for anyone navigating high-stakes leadership. Sheri Jacobs challenges the myth that innovation requires endless freedom and shows, with clarity and conviction, how real creativity thrives within smart constraints.
I’ve seen Sheri speak on this topic, and she brings the same insight, energy, and practical wisdom to the page. This book will shift how you think about risk, leadership, and what it really takes to spark breakthrough ideas. A must-read for ambitious leaders and entrepreneurs ready to innovate with intention.”
Shelby Meyer, Western US regional director, YPO
“I’ve led in combat zones, boardrooms, and bureaucracies. The same pattern shows up everywhere: people hold back when the edges aren’t clear. Sheri Jacobs gets this. Her work strips away the noise and shows what actually unlocks bold thinking: boundaries that create safety, not control. If your team feels stuck or slow to act, this book gives you the tools to spot what’s missing and shift it. This is for leaders who want action, not theory. It’s direct, grounded, and immediately useful.”
Col. (ret.) DeDe Halfhill, founder and CEO, TAIOH Partners, keynote speaker, senior executive advisor
“From the first page, Sheri dismantles myths and boldly redefines how boundaries fuel innovation. This paradigm-busting book shows leaders how to clarify chaos, unleash creativity, and build resilient, inspired teams. Read it, cling to it, and start now.”
Gary LaBranche, CEO, RIMS, the risk management society
“Imagine trying to land on the moon when disaster strikes—and your only way home is to solve the impossible with what’s right in front of you. That’s the story of Apollo 13, and it’s the same lesson Sheri Jacobs brings to The Unexpected Power of Boundaries: When you define the mission, set the timeframe, and work with the tools you have, you unlock focus, creativity, and results. Without boundaries, you’re just floating in space.”
Spencer Hulse, editorial director, Grit Daily
Meet Sheri Jacobs
Sheri Jacobs is a bestselling author, keynote speaker, and innovation strategist who helps organizations unlock their creative potential by rethinking boundaries, risks, and leadership. As founder of Avenue M Group, she has partnered with more than three hundred organizations and surveyed over half a million people to uncover what truly drives transformation and growth.
She is the author of Pivot Point: Reshaping Your Business When It Matters Most and The Art of Membership, both known for their practical, no-nonsense approach to leadership and organizational change. Blending big ideas with humor and heart, Sheri’s work leaves leaders inspired—and equipped—to act.
When she’s not advising organizations or speaking on stage, Sheri can be found running, playing tennis, photographing wildlife in remote corners of the world, or at home in Denver, Colorado, with her husband, Jon, and their dogs.
Learn more at SheriJacobs.com
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Have questions about The Unexpected Power of Boundaries? Contact Sheri using the form below.