The Secret to Consistent Innovation?
Building Your Inventory of Courage
"The most successful creators don’t avoid fear; they embrace it." - Natalie
Have you ever started something exciting, only to realize halfway through that it’s way harder than you expected? Maybe it was launching a business, switching careers, or tackling a passion project. In those moments, you might think, If I had known how tough this would be, I might not have tried at all.
But here’s the thing: those challenges aren’t setbacks—they’re proof of your resilience. Every time you push through, you’re adding to what I call your “inventory of courage.” And that inventory? It’s your secret weapon for future success.
Courage: My Story
It’s no coincidence that the word “courage” comes from the French word coeur, meaning heart. Creativity isn’t just about having great ideas; it’s about having the guts to bring them to life, even when uncertainty creeps in. This is what I call the rigor of ambiguity—the ability to sit with discomfort and keep going.
Your inventory of courage is accessible through reflection.. Think back to the times when you were brave without realizing it—maybe as a kid, before self-doubt took over. I can trace the seed of my inventory of courage back to when I was 6-years old stood up to a bully on the playground- she was always messing with me, poking at me, and seemed to resent me for no reason.
One day at the end of recess as we lined up in the school yard to walk back into the school building, she busted in front of me in line. I politely tapped her on the shoulder and said “Excuse me, but you busted in front of me.” She turned to face me, and glaringly said “What are you gonna do about it? Kick my butt?!” And then turned her back on me. As I stared at the back of her neck, my 6-year old self said, ‘This is ridiculous! And today is not the day!”. So I walked to the back of the line, took a running start– and kicked her in her butt. She toppled forward and looked at me startled. She picked herself back up, she walked to the back of the line- and never bothered me again. This planted my first seed in my inventory of courage.
Over time, that bravery helped me navigate racial hostility at school at a suburban middle school; start a business that brought me joy but was never profitable; earn a Ph.D. while working full time; and eventually leave a stable academic career to become an entrepreneur building Figure 8 Thinking.
The most successful creators don’t avoid fear; they embrace it. In fact, the perfect mix of fear and excitement— the 50-50 sweet spot—is where your inventory of courage grows the most. When you feel equally thrilled and terrified by a challenge, that’s when you’re stretching yourself in the best possible way.
Check out This video about "The Inventory of Courage"
How Failure Fuels Growth
Let’s be real: failure is hard. The kind of failure that keeps you up at night, questioning every decision, is brutal. But as Dame Helen Mirren once said, our biggest failures—not our successes—lead to the most significant growth.
The key is learning how to reframe failure. Instead of seeing it as proof that you weren’t good enough, recognize it as a critical entry in your inventory of courage. Each failure teaches you something valuable, shaping the way you approach future challenges.
Your Inventory of Courage at Work
This concept doesn’t just apply to individuals—it can transform teams and entire workplaces. Here’s how you can start building a collective inventory of courage within your organization:
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- Create safe reflection spaces: Encourage team members to share their “courage origins”—the moments that shaped their ability to take risks.
- Document both wins and failures: Pay special attention to the lessons learned from setbacks.
- Encourage risk-taking: Push for projects that elicit that 50-50 fear-excitement mix.
- Hold regular “courage check-ins”: Acknowledge and celebrate moments of bravery, big or small.
The Power of Looking Back
The next time you feel overwhelmed by a challenge, pause. Look at how much courage you’ve already collected. Every risk you’ve taken, every setback you’ve survived, and every time you’ve stepped into the unknown—it all adds up. You’ve been brave before. You can be brave again.
Creativity and success require more than just good ideas—they demand courage. By embracing challenges, reframing failures, and stepping into the unknown, you build a powerful inventory of courage that fuels growth and innovation. Whether you’re an individual pushing personal boundaries or a leader cultivating a courageous team, reflecting on past bravery will remind you that you’ve conquered fear before—and you can do it again.
So go ahead. Take the risk. You’ve got the inventory to back it up!
About Natalie
Dr. Natalie Nixon is the creativity whisperer to the C-suite, helping leaders make better business decisions through wonder and rigor. At Figure 8 Thinking, she’s a creativity strategist, global keynote speaker and author of the award winning The Creativity Leap and the upcoming book Move. Think. Rest.: Redefining Productivity & Our Relationship with Time.
Real Leaders named Natalie one of the Top 50 keynote speakers of 2022 and she’s been featured in Forbes and Fast Company. She received her BA from Vassar College, and her PhD from the University of Westminster. These days you can find her on the ballroom floor fine-tuning her cha-cha and foxtrot.
Follow Natalie on Instagram: @natwnixon.
