“The Call to Courage – Brené Brown” by Netflix is licensed under CC BY 2.0
After watching Brené Brown new Netflix Special “The Call to Courage “ you will want to give her a standing ovation in the middle of the living room.
She is best known for her Ted Talk about vulnerability, which become a viral hit that has 36 Million views and counting. She is now the most-watched Ted talk in its history.
The “Call to Courage” discussed her greatest learnings from her decade long research including her life after the viral video. In her mind, she thought she was giving a small presentation to 500 people present, but once the video started reaching millions of views, she started seeing the ugly side to online visibility.
Throughout this special, we learn so much about vulnerability and courage, and how it pertains to Coaches and Consultants with Personal Brands. Being the face of your company can be pretty frightening, and it’s a common fear that the majority of new entrepreneurs face.
“What if they make fun of my dreams?”
“Who am I to call myself an expert?”
“What if people start saying rude things?”
Brené had a perfect response to these nagging emotions we have that prevent us from showing up for our community.
These were the 3 Life Lessons we can learn from Brené Brown and how it applies to our online business.
1. Roosevelt’s Man in the Arena Quote
If you have never heard of this quote by Theodore Roosevelt, prepare to get chills.
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”
- Theodore Roosevelt
The lesson we can learn from this quote is that as entrepreneurs, we are living our lives in center stage, specifically “in the arena”. By being in the arena, we are subject to hecklers and critics who buy the cheap seats in the area.
They throw rocks at you and criticize you while you are making your best efforts to succeed.
As human beings, we long for that sense of connection, so we tend to hold these critics close to our hearts. We take into consideration everything the critic says, yet they have never stepped foot into the arena. Their criticism is far from constructive, but comes from a place of bitterness.
Instead of holding these rocks close to our heart and letting it affect us, Brené says to step over these rocks and to never throw them back.
To just keep moving forward because they have no grounds to criticize you if they are not in the arena getting marred by dust like you are.
2. We open ourselves to joy when we become vulnerable
In most modern cultures, we are raised to understand that being vulnerable is a sense of weakness. That courage is a core virtue to strive for but vulnerability is something to be repressed.
Brené has done extensive research to discover that in fact, vulnerability is our most accurate measurement of courage.
The root of the word courage is cor—the Latin word for heart. Originally, the definition of courage meant “To speak one’s mind by telling all one’s heart.” Or in other words, sharing your story with your whole heart.
And as we become more courageous, we are able to open ourselves despite our imperfections.
By becoming vulnerable and telling your story with your whole heart, you are allowing yourself to connect with others who may feel the same way as you. As humans we are hardwired to desire connection, and those connections which ultimately fill us with joy.
3. “What if I just showed up?”
It’s true that many people are too afraid to put themselves out there, despite all the great that would come from it.
Part of Theodore’s quote “his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat,” means if you are standing in the crowd and not in the arena, you will never know victory nor defeat because you are playing it safe.
But what if you just show up? Even Theodore says “there is no effort without error and shortcoming… “
At best, you will see the true success in your achievements. You will have a community that loves you and sees you as their trusted leader.
You become devoted to the worthy cause and become a beacon of light for it.
Where as if you stay standing in the crowd, you will be regretting all the what ifs in your life.
So instead of living your life staying timid because of the nay-sayers and because you prefer to stay in your comfort zone, understand this one key take-away…
Lean into courage. Wake up everyday with the thought “I’ll choose courage over comfort” and live your life with pure joy without hiding your truth to the world.
Your community needs your message.
Don’t deny them of that privilege.
Are you ready to step into your first arena or step into a bigger arena?
Are you ready to have your message heard and become more visible?
Click on the link to receive our guide and find out the top 3 mistakes that coaches make when they step into the arena so that you can avoid them and amplify your message!
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