Courage isn’t easily won, it’s something that one has to fight for; it means coming face-to-face with things that are frightening, things that are outside of normality –and choosing to say yes. It’s easy to feign bravery, but just as easily, we can curl into the fetal position like the cowardly lion from the Wizard of Oz. However, there are instances when our goals are tested, when people need us the most, and that’s when we demonstrate unknown strength. Like the cowardly lion, we tend to find that we had the courage all along when standing against all odds, proving to be extraordinary.

Extraordinary people are stimulated by the notion of risk-taking, they’re drawn to the idea of stepping out and being bold. Even shy people can be extraordinary, finding the courage to step up in front of thousands. The most unlikely people choose to be NBA players, astronauts, television producers, and CEOs. The decision to take risks and make bold choices is often rewarded.

In the face of overwhelming odds, companies have remained successful. Starbucks, for instance, has done this. One of my favorite books happens to be “Onward: How Starbucks Fought for its Life without Losing its Soul.” It tells the story of the company’s executives, and their journey toward continued success despite the threat of risk, public failure, and personal failure after experiencing a 42 percent stock drop following the onset of the recession.

Rather than give up, Schultz, the chairman, returned as the CEO; he closed stores across the U.S. for 3 ½ hours to retrain baristas; he invited people to email him directly, and immediately received 5,000 emails, and he launched Starbucks’ first national advertising campaign. He raised wages and offered healthcare to employees, he compensated loyal customers with rewards cards; and he did it although no one thought it could be done. He warmly laughed in the face of naysayers, because courage had won. Having faith in one’s own intuition is more important than presiding fear or doubt. Fear and anxiety are normal in challenging situations, but Nelson Mandela said it best, when he stated, “courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it.”

“An Introduction to Courage” is the third post in a series published around the “Dare To Be Extraordinary” address, shared at the independently organized TED event, TEDx Adelphi University. The preceding pieces are “An Introduction to Extraordinary” and “An Introduction to Passion.”

Christine M. Riordan, PhD, is the 10th president of Adelphi University in New York. Her writing focuses on diversity and inclusion, leadership effectiveness, and career success. Follow her on Twitter at @Chris_M_Riordan.​

Embracing your inherent “extraordinary” nature can be difficult.

If it wasn’t, there would be no conversations around the questioning of confidence and esteem, and there would be no short supply of brazen and bold individuals who are fearless and ready to do something that’s outside of the realm of ordinary. The act of embracing “extraordinary,” daring oneself to be something or do something outside of one’s comfort zone can be revolutionary, it can be remarkable.

Consider what the word extraordinary means: special, exceptional, and unique –and that’s just to name a few. That’s a word that’s often applied to heroes, leaders, game changers, entertainers, and political greats. For more than two decades, I’ve conducted research on leaders, and about 8 years ago I found that these leaders and heroes all have five ordinary things in common: passion, integrity, courage, resilience, and confidence.

These five traits can be practiced independently, but as a collection, these items fuel success. Passion is instrumental for work and life. Integrity is essential for trust in personal and professional relationships; courage is necessary for overcoming obstacles; and resilience is the buoyancy, allowing you to bounce back when knocked down. Finally, confidence, the most fortified attribute, is precious and important for acceleration and sustainability.

“An Introduction to Extraordinary” is the first post in a series published around the “Dare To Be Extraordinary” address, shared at the independently organized TED event, TEDx Adelphi University. The pieces that follow are “An Introduction to Extraordinary,” “An Introduction to Passion,” “An Introduction to Courage,” “An Introduction to Resilience,”  “An Introduction to Integrity” and “An Introduction to Confidence.” 

Christine M. Riordan, PhD, is the 10th president of Adelphi University in New York. Her writing focuses on diversity and inclusion, leadership effectiveness, and career success. Follow her on Twitter at @Chris_M_Riordan.