Difference Maker #1: Courageous Heart
Making a difference demands courageous hearts! In an early copy of Webster’s dictionary (1828), the author points out that courage comes from coeur, the French word for heart:
“Courage is the quality that enables one to face difficulty and danger with firmness, without fear or depression.”
In other words, to make a real difference that is "transformationally lasting" “Ya gotta have heart!”
Courageous hearts:
- stay with tasks until they are finished
- manage risks with wisdom
- influence needed changes even though outcomes are not fully known
- often make waves
- move ahead, not waiting for someone else to lead the way
I found a wonderful article from Fast Company written by U.S. Senator John McCain...a must read. To whet your appetite, let me share a couple of quotes from the article:
"You can live with pain. You can live with embarrassment. Remorse is an awful companion."
"Don't let fear convince you that you're too weak to have courage. Fear is the opportunity for courage, not proof of cowardice."
Ok, courageous one...take the first step - decide to make a difference. When the decision is firm, create practical disciplines around it to encourage you onward!
Dean - Thanks for launching the month with the PERFECT topic: COURAGE.
Courage is what we need to face our fears and accomplish our dreams. I've read that article in Fast Company, it's one of their best! I'm looking forward to hearing what all of our courageous authors have to say this month.
Posted by:tim | September 01, 2007 at 06:39 AM
Dean, thanks for the taking the lead. This is going to be a wonderful month!
Honk! Honk!
Posted by:Steve Sherlock | September 01, 2007 at 03:48 PM