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Courage - Spirited Leaders' #1 Value [revisited]

by Rick Baker
On Sep 10, 2015

Courage is our company’s Key Value.

In summary, we have chosen Courage for our Key Value because:

  1. Courage enables Self-Knowledge and

  2. When it is backed by Courage, Self-Knowledge can be the foundation of most, if not all, other major values, traits, qualities, and attributes that contribute to character.

If our personal value systems are like dominoes then Courage must be the first domino of desirable character. When it comes to personal character, no other domino can take the place of Courage.

 

Dominoes fall in sequence…

 Courage

Self-Knowledge

Self-Confidence

 

That domino sequence was simplified…in practice, it would be a more complicated sequence: 

Courage

Self-Knowledge

Self-Education

Self-Confidence

Here I mean ‘Self-Education’ in its broadest sense. It includes other dominoes like introspection and [if we want it to] autosuggestion [self-talk]. The main point is, when Courage is present Self-Confidence can grow. If we remove Courage then Self-Confidence cannot grow. Courage enables Self-Confidence. With dedication, Self-Confidence can be self-taught. Coaches can help us understand the dominoes but they cannot give them to us. We have to create our own dominoes and we have to use them regularly.

The process of developing Self-Confidence only works if it is backed by Courage.

 ***

Self-Confidence is a ‘great enabler’.

 Courage is the ‘great enabler’. 

 

***

 

We may have different views about the routes the dominoes of personal character take.

But, we should agree Courage enables some very-positive things…

 Action

 

Decisiveness

 

Enthusiasm

 

Faith

 

Hope

 

Inspiration

 

Leadership1

 

Optimism

 

Persistence

 

Self-Confidence

 

Self-Knowledge

 

 

 

*** 

 

Considering all these dominoes linked to Courage, it is easy to see...

Courage enables Conviction

Courage enables Creativity

Courage enables positive Change  

***

 

Footnote: (1)  In his 1937 classic, ‘Think and Grow Rich’, Napoleon Hill selected ‘Unwavering Courage” as the #1 attribute of Leadership.

 

revisited - the article originally posted May 10, 2008 [this post contains a few enhancements]




Comments (4) -

rick baker
9/24/2015 8:51:40 PM #

"Success is never final, failure is never fatal. It's courage that counts."

John Wooden - Basketball Coach UCLA (1910-2010)

rick baker
10/1/2015 9:57:43 PM #

"Love and reason alone can take care of man, so far as his own efforts are concerned. In properly blended proportions these constitute the very life of courage."

Frank Channing Haddock
'The Culture of Courage', (1917 - 42nd Edition)

rick baker
12/12/2015 5:34:54 PM #

“It takes more courage to reveal insecurities than to hide them, more strength to relate to people than to dominate them, more 'manhood' to abide by thought-out principles rather than blind reflex. Toughness is in the soul and spirit, not in muscles and an immature mind.”

Alex Karras
American Football Player, Wrestler, & Actor, (1935-2012)

rick baker
4/6/2016 9:53:20 AM #

"Leaders are the ones who have the courage to go first, to put themselves at personal risk to open a path for others to follow."

Simon Sinek
April 6, 2016

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