The Power of Courage

In recent episodes, the words fear and courage came up. No doubt, we need to deal with fear in decision-making. Google the word ‘Courage.’ There are 414 Million replies. I like: “Mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger or difficulty.”

Every successful businessperson needs the courage to fight the myriad challenges of running a business. Courage helps make difficult decisions, face failure and gives confidence never to give up. If you let it, courage gives you an essential advantage that will help you navigate whatever life throws your way.

Developing courage means confronting your fear and supporting it with positive affirmations. Think about the failures in the past and learn from them. Growing as a leader and finding courage is getting comfortable with being uncomfortable.

No one can predict how the future will unfold, but having the courage to take risks and keep going despite setbacks can be incredibly beneficial. Courage gives you the strength and mental fortitude to persevere even when things get tough, and they do because you care. It also allows you to tap into your creativity and think outside the box when solving problems.

Have you ever decided to add to your staff or let someone go who isn’t a fit? (Sure you have) Every decision, with a good or bad outcome, builds courage if you let it. You need courage to face a short-term disruption, for example, with a shop management system change? What about the courage to grow your store count? Talk about fear!

Courage will help lead teams through challenging times. Talk with your team about their fears in their area of responsibility. Part of building courage is being a forever student. The more you know about the decisions you need to make, the less anxiety you will have. It is always best to work as a team and help support the courage of your people who will need to be part of progress.

Growth in your leadership gives you the courage to let go and stop micromanaging your people. The courage to give your people much more responsibility and trust them. The courage to work one day from home each week. The courage to invest in a strong training commitment. The courage to stop working on your hobby and start running a business. The courage to hire a business coach and join a networking group.

It takes courage to make decisions that might not be popular with others or take risks that could lead to great rewards.  Courage keeps you going when faced with obstacles and discouragement. You are always building a ‘Been There Done That’ level of experience. 

Business success requires the courage of conviction, resilience, and determination – qualities that can only be acquired through facing life’s challenges head-on and finding ways to overcome them. Every decision, with a good or bad outcome, builds your courage if you let it.