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Theodore Roosevelt’s “Citizenship in A Republic” address at Sorbonne in Paris, France contains a very popular excerpt, aptly referred to as “The Man in The Arena”.

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”

You’ve likely seen this before, especially if you’ve been following us for a while because this is arguably one of our favorite quotes here at Stay The Course. 

So Inspiring. So True. So Timeless!

This excerpt is such a good reminder of the realities of doing great work. It’s a never ending process filled with triumphs and shortcomings. 

Unfortunately, the critic's voice is growing in popularity and influence in recent years, especially amongst our younger generations. 

That message is…

 “Struggling in the early stages is lame” 

“If you’re good, it should come natural or easy for you”

“Success with minimal effort is cool”

I believe this superficial narrative has duped way too many of us into believing we’re not ready for the arena, and sadly has some of us believing we’re not meant for the arena.

We all know talent alone is not sufficient for doing great work in any industry, yet most of us still place too much emphasis on talent when looking to start.

In this issue, we’ll introduce the concept of determinants of performance, discuss how courage drift plays a role in all of this, and hopefully encourage you to be a little more audacious with your professional pursuits and personal development.

Slip Out Of Your Cool

Recently, I started reading The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron and there was a line in the first chapter of the book that jumped out at me. 

“All too often, it is audacity and not talent that moves an artist to center stage.”

Talent, often hailed as the cornerstone of success, can ironically become our comfy cage. 

The paradox is stark: to achieve greatness, one must often embrace the discomfort of being a beginner. It's in these early stages of learning, marked by trial and error, that the foundation for true mastery is established. 

Yet, the fear of failure, exacerbated by a desire to maintain a "cool" exterior, can deter many from taking that crucial first step into the arena.

The cultural allure of being naturally gifted can create a pressure to maintain a flawless image. This pressure can be a formidable barrier to growth, as it discourages individuals from venturing into unfamiliar or challenging territories.

I see this play out all the time. 

• The athlete that refuses to address their form because they don’t want to take a step back to take two steps forward.

• The HS graduate that wants to go to culinary school but instead reluctantly enrolls in the local college because that’s what their parents and friends expect of them.

• The well paid, senior professional that wants to transition careers but chooses to stay stuck because doing otherwise would most certainly result in starting near the bottom of a new professional ladder.

• The young professional with entrepreneurial aspirations, that opts for business as usual instead of pursuing their dream because they’re not ready or the timings are not right.

• The emerging leader that avoids asking for help or feedback to maintain the facade that they have everything figured out.

Let's shift the narrative from effortless perfection to courageous exploration. 

Let's celebrate the journey, not just the destination. 

True coolness lies in authenticity, resilience, and the unwavering pursuit of improvement. It's about embracing challenges, learning from mistakes, and growing beyond one's perceived limitations.

To foster an environment where individuals can flourish without the shackles of coolness, we must cultivate a culture of audacity. 

Determinants of Performance

High performance is an outcome influenced by multiple interacting factors. 

While talent undeniably contributes, it is a singular piece in a larger puzzle.

Decades of research in organizational effectiveness, the social sciences, and behavioral economics have identified a myriad of determinants shaping individual and organizational success. 

There are individual characteristics factors like abilities, knowledge, skills, and personality.

There are task characteristics such as task complexity, routineness, analyzability, and structuredness.

The environmental context, including basic needs being met, culture, resources, and structure. 

The synergistic relationship between these elements, rather than a singular focus on talent, is the true catalyst for exceptional outcomes.

To truly understand and optimize performance, we must acknowledge the intricate interplay of these elements rather than relying solely on the myth of innate talent.

If we’re going to be transformational in our leadership this holistic perspective is essential. 

By recognizing there is depth to authentic success, we can move beyond the superficial notion that talent alone is the key, and instead focus on cultivating environments that optimize the contributions of individuals and teams.

The types of environments that encourage people to step into their arena and gradually move towards center stage.

Cowards Choose Confusion

Appearance is everything in modern, western culture. 

We’re intoxicated with appearance. Both figuratively and literally under its influence. 

We think we’re winning because we’re getting better at imitating others.

We’re confused. 

To quote Herman Melville, “It’s better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation.” 

Confusion is a cardinal sign of Courage Drift.

Courage Drift occurs when we choose popularity over principles. 

It’s impossible to get better and look good at the same time. 

A principled individual understands that. So in response, they move through the ebb and flow of professional pursuits  remaining certain in their identity, capabilities, and contributions

A drifting individual is confused by that. So in reaction, they avoid situations that could serve to better them because it might tarnish their weakly held identity. They question their capabilities at the first sign of adversity. They devalue their contributions when they’re in the beginning phases of their ventures.

Give yourself permission to be a beginner. It’s the only way you’ll get better.

We get enamored with things like “The Man in The Arena” because it pays homage to doing the work, it encourages process over perfection, and reminds us just how humbling the pursuit of our greatness will be. 

But we’ll never experience the arena for ourselves if we don’t get over the fact that stepping into won’t ever seem cool. But it’s actually the coolest thing you’ll ever do.

By reimagining what it means to be "cool," we can empower a new generation of high performers who are not afraid to fail, get excited about stepping outside their comfort zones,  are driven by a relentless pursuit of growth, and find joy in the process.