Happy New Year! I hope your year is off to a wonderful start. Here’s my favorite (non-family) photo I took last year to start things off with a moment to pause and find peace in nature:
In 2024, I sent roughly equal editions of my newsletter and episodes of my podcast (~35 each). You were overwhelmingly kind in your replies and encouragement about the impact of both on your lives.
Also, one piece of feedback I got consistently was “This could’ve easily been 10 editions of a typical newsletter!” or “I love your content, but it takes me a long time to get through it.“
At the end of the year, I talked with peers and people like you to narrow the core focus of this newsletter: helping you become the leader (and human) you were made to be.
I’ll be sending a weekly newsletter just like this with one short leadership lesson from my conversations with world class people on Good Work or my coaching work with seven- figure creator-founders.
It’ll include one gorgeous photograph to quiet your mind, one quote or concept on leadership or personal growth, and a short commentary from me. You’ll be able to read it in five minutes or less.
And, of course, you’ll get my emails about every new episode of the podcast each Tuesday, as usual. (If you only want one or the other, just hit reply and let me know.)
Grab your coffee or tea, your favorite notebook, and take a moment to reflect with me.
Let’s get to it.
Author James Clear on Courage Over Intellect
Life does not reward intelligence; it rewards courage. The truth is, a lot of the valedictorians get lapped when they get into the real world because they focus on something different. Courage is in short supply. Just choosing to act doesn’t guarantee success, but not acting guarantees failure.
– James Clear as quoted on Good Work
Why Courage Matters More Than Intellect
Let’s be clear: if I can have both, give me both intellect and courage. But if I can have only one, give me courage.
Leadership is about the courage to act. It’s about making decisions in the face of incomplete information. Whether it’s on the board of your local preschool, in your family, or leading your team: as a leader, it’s your job to muster the courage to move forward and build a more beautiful future.
The top thing people struggle with is not knowing what they should do, it’s acknowledging and accepting the emotional cost of doing it. That’s where courage comes in.
One Question to Apply it to Your Life
What is one decision you already know you need to make, but have been holding back on because of the emotional cost? What would you do if you were gifted the courage you need to act?
Thanks as always for reading. I’m grateful for you.
Much love and respect,
Barrett