The ABCs Of Heroic Effort
How To Use Audacity, Boldness, and Courage To Embrace The Difficulties, Obstacles, Challenges, And Adversity Of Day-To-Day Life
ADVANCE CONFIDENTLY!
“There is an electric fire in human nature tending to purify — so that among these human creatures there is continually some birth of new heroism. The pity is that we must wonder at it, as we should at finding a pearl in rubbish.” ~John Keats
The ABCs
What I love about the ABCs is their simplicity. What I love about acronyms is their ability to make what otherwise might be complex, simple. Yes, there is indeed an underlying theme of simplicity developing here. How do we take complex ideas with multiple facets and turn them into memorable nuggets of applicable information? In a world where we have more knowledge than we could ever use in a lifetime, it is information that is readily applicable to our lives that creates genuine value. This is where acronyms come in. This is where the ABCs of this article come in.
I considered titling this article The ABCs Of Excellence, but then I realized I might be alienating those individuals who don’t YET feel they are worthy of excellence or worse yet, don’t believe excellence is an attainable outcome for them. Yes, there are some who believe excellence is reserved for the few, for someone else, but not them. If you are one of those who believes excellence is for others but not YOU, I have some great news for you and by the time you finish this article it is my hope that you will agree with me.
Excellence might not be readily available to everyone, but effort is. Heroic effort is available to all of us because we all have the potential to become the heroes of our own stories.
AUDACITY
“You have to believe in yourself. You need to have the audacity to be great.” ~Rosie Perez
Audacity is the belief that you, simple old YOU can do, be, or become whatever you COMMIT to!
Audacity is believing with all your heart that you can make a career of whatever you choose if you’re willing to embrace the unconventional, be bold in your pursuit of opportunities, and courageous enough to ACT in the face of FEAR.
Perhaps the best way to describe audacity is by describing what it’s not. Sometimes having a better understanding of what something is not, is the best way for us to get a clear understanding of what it is. This is particularly helpful when a word, a word like audacity for example, has been given a bad rap by someone who has demonstrated characteristics that are incongruent with what it really means to express audacity.
Audacity is believing that you can go from obscurity to influential in a matter of months rather than years. Audacity is believing you were born with a gift and having the courage to do everything in your power to discover and share that gift with the world.
Audacity is writing when no one reads your work. Audacity is painting when no one buys your paintings. Audacity is speaking when no one listens to what you have to say. Audacity is believing that you can somehow make a difference in the problems of the world that seem overwhelming to others and then having the conviction to follow through on whatever small thing it is you believe you can do to make your difference.
Audacity is believing you can and will find a group of likeminded individuals to collaborate with so that you can make the difference you know that only you can make. Audacity is admitting that you can’t do it alone. Audacity is having the courage to start a movement where none exists.
Audacity is growing up in obscurity as an Idaho farm boy and having the courage, belief, and conviction to make your way to Beverly Hills.
Jim Rohn did that!
Audacity is being given the opportunity to rewrite a paper and having the courage to tell your teacher they can keep their “F” and you will keep your dream.
Monty Roberts did that!
Audacity is two bicycle mechanic brothers believing so absolutely in their dream that they would risk everything for its fulfillment.
The Wright Brothers did that!
Audacity was one woman who refused to give up her seat on a bus where she never should have been faced with such a courageous decision.
Rosa Parks did that!
Audacity was one President with the vision to go to the moon in a rocket that would be built with materials that had not yet been invented, not sometime in the future, but in the decade, we found ourselves.
John F. Kennedy did that!
Audacity was one man who had learned the tenets of peaceful protest from another man who brought a monarchy to its knees with his methods and the courage of that man to follow his convictions in the face of those who not only encouraged, but fomented violence against him.
Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. did that!
Audacious was the way Vince Lombardi led his team to victory and inspired them to go on and win two more Superbowl’s when no one believed it was possible except him.
I could go on and on about “AUDACITY”, but I think by now you get the idea…
“Audacity is the willingness to believe in yourself and your ability to overcome obstacles and the overwhelming feeling of the impossible.” ~Bobby Kountz
BOLDNESS
“Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.” ~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Boldness is a characteristic I believe most people possess. Unfortunately, it’s a characteristic that often remains hidden until the right set of circumstances emerge requiring us to take an action that is considered to be bold. In other words, boldness is a characteristic that often lays dormant until it’s called for. Many of us are not naturally bold even if we could be bold, we reserve boldness for situations requiring bold actions instead of employing boldness as a regular strategy.
Why?
According to author Mike Robbins, “even when some of us have moments of boldness, these moments can be scary and are often few/far between.”
He goes on to ask why is this?
“Because we sometimes don’t have the courage to be bold or we don’t find ourselves going for it in our work and our life — or not nearly as much as we’d like (especially during these difficult times).”
If you would like to read more about Mike’s position on boldness you can check out his article here.
Boldness is often looked down upon by others. It can easily be perceived as something other than boldness. It is often misunderstood as arrogance. People who tend to be bold typically have high levels of confidence which they have developed over long periods of time. There’s a definite difference between boldness and carelessness.
A person who constantly jumps into action without a plan isn’t necessarily bold and might even be a fool. People who display the qualities of boldness typically know their objectives and regularly prioritize their outcomes clearly. The reason they can afford to be bold it’s because they possess the ability to recognize an opportunity when it comes along. They also have the wherewithal or chutzpah to be able to say no when they realize the opportunity is not for them. They can say both yes and no with the same level of boldness.
People who are bold are not necessarily overly loud or boisterous and the reason many shy away from boldness is because they don’t want to be labeled loud and boisterous. Being bold is not about being a loudmouth or a bully. Actually, it’s just the opposite. It’s having the quiet confidence to make a bold decision because you have the information necessary to make the decision with confidence. Bold leaders are typically tactful and empathetic. Both leaders also understand the power of silence. A bold leader will often say less than more because they know that more words don’t necessarily equate to a better outcome. They will typically boldly state what they have to say and then they’re done.
People who are bold have the tendency to take advantage of small wins. Boldness requires taking advantage of small opportunities and getting the most we possibly can from all we can give and all we can do. It involves taking action before the right opportunity comes along. Bold people are aware that the right circumstances and the right opportunity may never align, so instead, they create opportunities and make the most of circumstances as they reveal themselves. They don’t wait for all the information to come in before making decisions and they have a high level of trust in their own intuition.
Boldness doesn’t require the complete understanding of a situation before acting. Bold people work to create a series of actions or small steps that allow them to break free from inertia and create momentum in the direction of their desired outcome. They understand that small win’s help build confidence. They understand that small losses help build confidence too! They look to make the most of all opportunities and circumstances without needing a big victory. They would rather experience a few small losses and a series of small wins rather than one big win.
Boldness is a combination of knowledge, reflection, and action.
COURAGE
“With courage you will dare to take risks, have the strength to be compassionate, and the wisdom to be humble. Courage is the foundation of integrity.” ~Mark Twain
When someone acts courageously, they demonstrate their willingness to confront uncertainty, to face danger, and even pain. The willingness to face your fear is courage.
Being courageous isn’t always easy. There are times in our lives when we have more courage than others. Typically, when faced with extreme circumstances, this is one of the times we can readily find our courage. Another time that we often find our courage is when our own values are challenged, and someone is wronged, and we feel the need to stand up and say no more.
Courage is often associated with extreme danger and difficulty, the reality for most of us though is that we must be courageous in the face of our everyday lives. The challenges of everyday life force us to adapt, to change, to grow, and to face our fears.
What would you be willing to do or try if you knew you could not fail?
Remember, being courageous isn’t about fighting a single battle. It’s about the willingness to make a small step or a small change in the direction of a dream, it’s about getting up each day and trying again. It’s about being brave in the face of adversity. Courage is hanging on just one moment longer when you would rather give up instead.
Courage is the thing that either shows up or doesn’t when we face challenges. Have you ever felt like giving up because you weren’t making any progress? Have you had a difficult decision to make but you didn’t feel you were up to it? Maybe you’ve lost patience because you weren’t making the progress you thought you should be making. The willingness to continue is a courageous act.
Courage is about baby steps taken in the face of adversity. Sometimes life can be incredibly challenging, and we can feel as though we’re not getting anywhere. We must remember that every courageous step counts, and if we take small steps every day, one day at a time, we will get to our destination if we don’t give up.
Here are some examples of what courage looks like in action:
Courage is apologizing to someone you’ve hurt. Courage is asking for help. Courage is starting something new with no guarantee of success. Courage is believing in yourself for the first time. Courage is learning to say both yes and no. Courage is speaking up for yourself or a cause you believe in. Courage is the willingness to walk away from the ordinary. Courage is also the conviction to follow your heart. Courage is walking away from all the negativity and gossip that you will likely face when you attempt something you’ve never done before. Courage is believing in yourself and your ability to do amazing things. Courage is believing that YOU are amazing.
There is a superhero in all of us, we just need the courage to put on the cape. Courage is a mindset. Courage is not something you either have or you don’t, it’s something you develop over time. According to the author Brené Brown, “Leadership is not about titles or the corner office. It’s about the willingness to step up, put yourself out there, and lean into courage. The world is desperate for braver leaders. It’s time for all of us to step up.”
Here’s another quote that speaks to what courage is…
“Courage is not the absence of fear or despair; It is the capacity to continue on despite them, no matter how great or overwhelming they become.” ~Robert Fanney
As a reminder, courage doesn’t always roar. As a matter of fact, as Mary Anne Radamacher expressed in her book, “Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, I will try again tomorrow.”
Her book is dedicated to those who “understand the difference between explicitly expecting success and working in a construct where to “try again” requires the deepest courage of all.”
“When is courage a little voice instead of a roar?” For more on this topic, you can read this article by Kat Sanders here.
What if the only thing between you and everything you want from life is the willingness to find your voice, to take up space, to speak your truth? What if TODAY was the day, you found your voice because the words on this page gave you the permission you needed to BE who you are?
What if?
What if the ABCs, your ABCs, were all you needed to apply the heroic effort required to turn your situation around so you could begin to live the life you know you deserve? What if?
Start your QUEST today. Start with your ABCs!
I will continue to Advance Confidently, but the advance will be in the direction of my highest calling NOW which is to fulfill my desire of completing my Create Your QUEST™ course for anyone who has struggled with making a commitment to their ideal highest expression of themselves.
With so many demands, and so many distractions, it’s easy to get off course and find ourselves deeply involved in great work that’s unfortunately not moving us in the direction of where we most choose to go right NOW!
Create Your QUEST™ has been formulated to help YOU focus on what’s most important to you not only now, but also in the future. It’s a framework that was designed to take you from where you are to exactly where you choose to be, not overnight, but one step at a time, one moment at a time, one day at a time, one breath at a time!
It’s called Create Your QUEST™ because I believe each of us has the potential to be the hero of our own story and I knew I could create a compelling framework to guide individuals through the arduous process of making a commitment to their dream and the future they desire to create for themselves and their families.
Therefore, I decided to put my next book on the back burner and will instead focus all my efforts on the completion of the project I am most excited about which is Create Your QUEST™!
It’s my intention to have the course ready for release by the end of October with a soft launch and a beta group to make sure it’s ready for prime time in the coming new year when most people are struggling with what to do next and how to make sure next year is different than last year.
If you are interested in potentially being part of my beta group, send an email to bkountz15@gmail.com with BETA in the subject line.
I know the course I am currently creating and the book I will still eventually release, will be worth the wait because that’s my commitment to you, my readers. Thanks in advance for your trust and patience!
In the meantime, enjoy this special audio short story I originally released on Twitter to commemorate my Independence Day and my 31st year of sobriety. You can watch/listen here ( https://youtu.be/9zP4kk5OTlo ). You can find me on Twitter @bobby_kountz
Keep Pedaling, Keep Going, Keep Growing!
Advance Confidently!
If you enjoyed and found value in this article, please share it.
In Gratitude,
Bobby Kountz, Author, Speaker, Sobriety Scholar, Inspirationalist!
PS. You can find out more about me here. You can find my book on Amazon.
