The 3 Ways Courage Contributes to Small Business Success

By: Kathleen Ries-Jubenville   |    Read time: 3 minutes

Most people think the path to success as an independent coach or consultant is to obtain several certifications or take a bunch of online courses. Of course, it is important to learn the skills of your craft and the tenets of entrepreneurship.

But is long-term financial success primarily dependent on our intellectual skills? Absolutely not. There are many examples of people making a lot of money online without business acumen. And there are even more examples of really smart people closing their businesses and heading back into the job market.

While I believe in the power of self-development training and coaching, sometimes continuing education can become a form of procrastination. A way to pacify our feelings of inadequacy and avoid putting ourselves out there before we feel completely ready.

Here's a hard truth: No entrepreneur is ever completely ready and those who wait until they think they are ready may have delayed taking action for too long and fated themselves to failure.

So if leveling up on intellectual skills is not the key to success. What is?

The key to unlocking your small business success is to take courageous actions!

I think we can all agree that we must take action to accomplish anything. But why is taking 'courageous' action important?

First, when you take courageous action, it creates energy and momentum that will help you power through the inevitable challenges, obstacles, and setbacks you'll face as an entrepreneur. Courage gives you the strength to stay true to your vision and pursue your goals with tenacity, no matter what obstacles come your way. Pursuing your goals with courage doesn’t mean being fearless – it means having the strength to face your fears and keep going.

Secondly, courage will help you stand out from the competition. In a world where so many people are afraid to take risks, those who are willing to put themselves out there and be courageously authentic will quickly capture the attention of their target market. People want to follow leaders with whom they can relate and who inspire them. When you share your vulnerabilities, then talk about how you struggled and then overcame them or learned from them, people will want to know you better. They will respect you and be interested in the stories you tell.

Finally, (and here's the best part) the more you act courageously, the less fearful you become. I call it the "Cycle of Success". Whenever you are provided with an opportunity, you get to decide whether to take action or not. If you take action - regardless of its success or failure - you develop a little bit more courage. That courage moves you in the direction of greater confidence - more faith in yourself. More confidence brings more opportunities. (I am not saying you should act on every opportunity, just be sure you have declined for a good reason, not just because you are afraid.) It is important to note that courage is not required for action. Instead, action is the catalyst for courage. Eventually, this becomes a self-propelling process. So, not only will taking courageous action help you achieve your business goals, it will also help you develop greater self-confidence and personal power!

So if you want to be a successful small business owner (and I know you do!), don’t underestimate the role that courage will play in your journey. Be brave, be tenacious, and never give up on your dreams. With courage as your foundation, the sky is truly the limit for what you can achieve.

I recommend you commit to yourself right now to take at least one small courageous action every day!