Courage of our Convictions.

The Grand Unifying Theory (The “GUT”) of all business and personal development is explained by acting or not-acting on the courage of our convictions. Do we or don’t we?

I knew it was wrong, but I did nothing to correct it. I knew that stock was going up, but I did not buy it. I could have taken that job, but I could not leave my current job. I should have taken that vacation, but I could not leave work at that time. I knew that deal was a fraud, but I invested anyway. I knew the tire had a leak and sure enough it blew out. I thought our dog acted sick, I should have taken it to the vets sooner.

I always wanted to live by the ocean, but now I am too old to move. When I bought the car, I thought it was a lemon, but I did not take it back. I believe Obama is pushing the country down-hill, but I am doing nothing to stop it. I was in South Africa and saw first-hand Apartheid, but did nothing to stop it. No courage. No conviction.

I am guilty of not acting on the courage of my convictions. I often lack courage. I frequently lack conviction. I do not which is more important- courage or conviction?

Acting with courage and conviction is risky. It takes conviction to act. We risk the absurdity of our actions exposed to scorn and taunting. It takes courage to risk being wrong. It takes courage as Kipling would say to give each unforgiving minute 60 seconds worth of distance run. It takes courage to be the Captain of Your Soul and act accordingly as a Mandela would act.

William Ernest Henley concocted bone tuberculosis at the age of 12. At the age of 25, he had his leg amputated. More than 135 years after he penned Invictus, from his hospital bed, we still celebrate the way he captured an important life principle in a brief 100 word-4 stanza poem. Invictus is appropriately titled.

It means unconquered.