Courage is the key to success

I've been reading a lot of management articles, and even more on the topic of innovation - two key concepts dear to my heart and core to my world.

The most clarity you can get often comes from the simplest concepts. In one of the comments on one of my many re-postings and blogs on the topic, my dear cousin Ivan Sheiham, PhD, came up with a lovely summary. He said that whilst many concepts rang true, the key to success was really courage.

Courage is, without a shadow of doubt, one of the key differentiators between those who succeed in business, and those who don't. Courage comes in many forms in business, and I can see the application in so many places.

It takes courage to present your ideas of change - to go against the crowd and see the world differently, and not be ashamed to share that vision with others.

It takes courage to take the criticism or lack of faith of others, especially negaholics who resist change and draw others into their dismissal of new things, and yet not lose your focus or belief.

It takes courage to go to financiers, funds and banks, stand in front of people, and give them your heartfelt assurance that you will succeed, and to accept rejection without allowing it to stop you from trying again elsewhere.

It takes courage to be the one to make the decisions, to be the ultimate point of no return, where the success or failure of the project depends on making hard decisions, and sometimes, being able to admit you were wrong, and realigning the project before it goes too far off course.

It takes courage to take on the responsibility of other peoples livelihoods, and to carry the pressure of being able to pay their salaries no matter what might happen, never letting them feel threatened or scared even when you are terrified yourself of where the next payroll might come from.

There is no doubt that courage is a key ingredient to succeeding in life and in business.

Those who falter or allow others to dissuade them from their course through fear - be it fear of embarrassment, of failure, or of ridicule - those people will certainly not change the world!