A few thoughts on courage…

What does it mean to lead with courage?

Ernest Hemingway once said, “Courage is grace under pressure.”

Think of that… grace under pressure.

Let’s unpack that.

Grace has been defined as “courteous goodwill.”

Practicing courteous goodwill can be tough under pressure, wouldn’t you say?

Grace is a form of elegance and dignity. And I don’t know about you, but when I find myself under pressure, grace isn’t exactly the first thing that I feel myself experiencing, do you?

I remember back when I started my coaching, speaking, and training business, being faced with some of the toughest decisions I’d ever have to make.

There were large investments I had to make if I wanted to grow. There were opportunities where without investment, it’d be almost impossible to move forward.

Being mentored by Bob Proctor and John Maxwell wasn’t cheap. Hiring them to teach at my speaking engagements wasn’t cheap either, but I knew it was what I needed to do because being close to them was in alignment with my dream.

Taking important steps as I began my business (and even till this day) required my time, my energy, my focus, and my financial investments. But even so, I came to a point where I realized that I needed to have the courage to take the next step; to do what I knew would get me closer to living my dream.

And I knew the return on investment would be greater and well worth it.

So, what exactly does it mean to lead with courage?

Courage by definition means to do something that frightens one.

But you know what I've found? Some of the best decisions I’ve made have frightened me.

Moreover, I’ve found that leading with courage means having the strength to stand up for what's right, even when it's difficult; even when it seems like no one else is willing to stand up for what’s right.

It means being bold and taking risks even when others are watching you, shaking their heads with their arms crossed. (It isn’t easy or the smartest thing to do to listen to a lot of different opinions at once, either).

Leading with courage means being unwilling to back down in the face of adversity. And it means inspiring others to do the same.

What do we know about leading with courage?

Leading with courage is not easy. It takes guts. But it's always possible, even when things seem hopeless.

The key is to keep your eyes on the end goal and never give up, no matter how many challenges you face along the way.

My friend, if you do that, you will find success and help others do the same.