Courage is not the absence of fear.

Courage is not the absence of FEAR. Because courage assumes fear.

If we had waited for our fear to subside before we took that first plunge off of the high – dive, we would all still be standing there waiting. We just jumped anyway.

Courage to act defines the leader, and in turn the leader’s initiative gives those around him courage to follow.

Courage is the willingness to strap on your fear and move ahead.

Leadership is about moving boldly into the future in spite of uncertainty and risk.

Without courage we will simply accumulate a collection of good ideas and regrets.

Eventually someone will come along and seize the opportunity we passed up.

” I wish I had taken more risks…”

Fear of failure is common to man. But leaders view failure differently.

For the leader, failure is defined in terms of missed opportunities rather than failed enterprises.

An unsuccessful enterprise is simply a lesson in things not to repeat.

Better than not having tried at all.

Failure is a part of success.

Veteran leaders view failure as simply a necessary chapter in their story: lessons learned,

Lessons that are essential to future success.

Leaders love progress.

If we can’t move things forward, then it’s time to move on.

Only those leaders who act boldly in times of crisis and change are willingly followed.

Accepting the status quo is equivalent  to accepting a death sentence.

No progress= no growth = no life

Courage is essential to leadership because the first person to step out in a new direction is viewed as the leader. And being the first to step requires courage.

Remember when we we’re still kids,

With your friends. Somebody went first and everybody followed.

The person who goes first is generally viewed as the leader.

Take chances.

While the average person fears stepping out into a new opportunity, the leader fears missing out on a new opportunity.