1. Over all other traits of leadership character, Courage reigns supreme. [Link to over 130 thoughts about Courage]

2. In the absence of Courage, bad things happen; in the presence of Courage, good things happen.

3. People Do Only 3 Things: Good Habits, Bad Habits, & New Things. From this premise we quickly see how our bad habits survive and thrive in the absence of Courage. 

4. Discomfort signals the need for Courage. Facing discomfort, our minds determine whether or not Courage arrives. Our minds can welcome and embrace Courage or cause our backs to shy away from Courage. The fact is, Courage is a choice.

5. When it comes to building personal character, Courage is the father of many children. It seems Self-confidence may be the first born. Self-confidence is 'born pure'. It arrives fearless, obliviously fearless. (Just watch any toddler.) Early in life external factors, people and environment, work to weaken Self-confidence. Father Courage must step in to help Self-confidence gain and maintain a solid footing. Over time, Self-confidence is able to stand steady and hold fast on its own...needing only occasional support from Courage, who remains always close by. When Courage and Self-confidence walk together through life...good leadership has a good chance to flourish.

6. Courage paves the path for peace of mind. "We have nothing to fear but fear itself." That's a slogan Franklin Delano Roosevelt used when he was US President, during the Great Depression. (I wonder if his advisor, my inspirational hero Napoleon Hill, actually wrote that famous phrase.)  For me, the slogan "We have nothing to fear but fear itself" means Roosevelt saw fear as the enemy, an enemy that must be resisted and fought on every front and at every opportunity. When fear prevails in people's minds they are severely weakened. When minds are weakened by fear, little of value can be accomplished. Having personally fought and limited the damage of the dreaded polio disease, Roosevelt knew these things. He knew Courage was the only antidote and he injected it into people's minds with that famous slogan...and clear, decisive action. With the help of a team of inspired/confident followers, Roosevelt led the series of actions that [with concerted and persistent effort] broke the back of the Great Depression. 

7. Over all other traits of leadership character, Courage reigns supreme!