Ranjay Gulati

She lost her job and her career.

So sometimes it doesn't have a good outcome.

So it's not like courage is, that's convenient courage.

I'll do something, but as long as the outcome is good, I'm courageous.

No.

And you're right that the media and all of us tend to portray examples of people where courage has a good ending.

You know, the hero, the heroine wins.

It doesn't always happen that way.

But that's what courage is, that you're willing to take action, not reckless action, but with the full understanding that this is uncertain and it may or may not end in a good way, but you feel compelled to do something.

Absolutely.

There are some people who are wired that way.

But what can the rest of us learn from them?

I mean, the point I want to make is that there are ordinary people who may not be wired that way, who still choose to act boldly.

Think about the lion and wizard of Oz, right?

He finally gets to the wizard and says, give me courage, give me courage.

And the wizard says, but you already have courage.

He said, no, but I'm scared.

I'm scared all the time.

He said, but you still chose to take action.

Even though you were scared, you are courageous.