#050: Courage for the Rest of Us: Giving Up Good to Go After Great
Most of us aren't afraid of failure—we're afraid of other people seeing us fail.
Episode Summary
In this episode of The Digital Contrarian, host Ryan Levesque dives into the true nature of courage and why giving up "good" to go after "great" is so difficult.
You'll learn why the opinions of others hold more power over us than our own fears, discover Brené Brown's "Square Squad" technique to silence the noise, and find a simple 30-day experiment to build courage.
Question of the Day 🗣️
What's one decision you know you need to make, but just need the courage to finally make it?
Key Take-aways
- We fear losing the image of our life more than losing the life itself
- If people call you "crazy" at a crossroads, you're probably doing something right
- Only people who fit on a one-inch square of paper get a vote in your decisions
- Courage is a deeply personal act, not a heroic one
- Living minimally teaches you how little you need to be truly happy
Timestamped Outline ⏱️
00:00 – Why this video is a "contrarian quickie"
01:33 – The real fear that stops most people (not what you think)
03:00 – Why being called "crazy" is often a good sign
03:25 – Brené Brown's "Square Squad" technique
04:30 – The science of courage (preview from upcoming book)
05:15 – China-to-Texas transition story
06:30 – Austin-to-Vermont farm transition
07:05 – The 30-day minimalist experiment to build courage
08:00 – The question you need to ask yourself today
Links & Resources 🔗
- The Digital Contrarian newsletter → https://thedigitalcontrarian.com/
Next Steps & Subscribe 🚀
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https://ryanlevesque.net/join-the-digital-contrarian/
Credits
Host: Ryan Levesque
© 2025 RL & Associates LLC. All rights reserved.
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