5 Questions with David van der Sanden

There are certain people you meet in passing who leave a lasting impression. I met David van der Sanden five years ago—three lives ago for him—when he was steering internal comms at Kraft Heinz. I had been invited to join a “Coffee Chat with Carlos” during the height of COVID, and while the session was […]

The Mastery Mystery

Mastery. Is it achievable? Or Is the idea of achieving “mastery” the entirely wrong conversation? Focusing on mastery remains a befuddling mystery (to me). Yes, Malcolm Gladwell professed in Outliers his “10,000-Hour Rule” to master a skill. But it sure seems like the wrong target.  I have been studying courage for almost a decade now. I don’t see myself […]

The Curse of Success

Let’s talk about the “curse” of success. It sounds like an oxymoron, right? What could possibly be wrong with something that’s working? Here’s the hiccup: Success can breed comfort. Comfort can breed routine. Routine, when left unchecked, can breed complacency. It’s easy to assume that if something was effective, it will stay effective. That the […]

A.C.E.S

This post is written by Billy Collins, Courageous Knowledge Lead.  Just the other week an important chapter in my life came to close as I coached my last little league baseball game. Between my two sons I’ve managed little league teams for 9 straight years and while I don’t think my “lifetime” winning percentage is […]

Trust or Bust

Today I am on an airplane.  Not exactly breaking news. But what makes this flight different is that when the wheels touch down, I’ll officially be on PTO. Bring on the books, the beach, and the occasional umbrella drink.   Exactly a week ago?  Also on an airplane.  Also not shocking. That flight landed in Miami, where I had […]

Fear Disguised as Practicality

This post is written by Nicole Miller, Courageous Action Lead.  Fear often wears a lot of masks.  Sometimes it looks like anger or perfectionism. Other times it could be anxiety or micro-managing.  Fear is tricky that way.  One of my favorites is “fear disguised as practicality.” I first heard this in a commencement speech given […]

Power of Storytelling in Keynotes

Now a dirty little secret about the keynote business.  I’ve had the good fortune of traveling North America for the last 5 years giving keynotes to all sorts of audiences. Whether it was Google, an NFL team, a Fortune 50 brand or somewhere in between, I’ve also witnessed other keynote speakers from all walks of […]

Have a Central Courage System?

I am far from a Doctor.  Yet, a lot of my work revolves around helping folks get their teams, their mindsets and their brands healthy.  Something I haven’t talked about for a while? Your Central Nervous System. We all have one. They are excellent systems designed to keep us safe.  When was the last time you […]

How Courageous Leadership Drives Cultural Transformation

Courageous Leaders vs Cowardly Leaders I flashback to a moment in my former corporate life. We had just spent the last two months pitching a piece of business and had found out via a phone call that we had come in that notorious “2nd place”. This one stung as we knew we had shown well. […]

Traits of an Effective Keynote Speaker

  Discover the essential traits of keynote speakers who captivate audiences, from authenticity to preparation, brand clarity, engagement, and continual growth.   Authenticity: Great speakers embrace their unique voice and personality. Being genuine, rather than imitating others, connects with audiences on a deeper level. Thorough Preparation: Successful speakers do extensive research, including multiple discovery calls […]