Far from “feel the fear and do it anyway” or “have faith in the universe”, Dr Brown acknowledges the pain that comes with exposing your vulnerability is often a consequence of such authenticity. This message differs from one often delivered by traditional motivational speakers on business or personal growth. While there may be comfort in playing it safe, the outcome is rarely courageous or authentic. In her Texan drawl she asserted, “If you’re going to go into the arena, you’re going to get your ass kicked.” She counselled that when you stand up for what you believe in, you can choose comfort or courage but you can’t have both.

Dr Brown would describe Roosevelt’s man marred by dust and sweat as someone who chooses to ‘show up and be seen’, rather than being an armchair critic in the cheap seats. 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 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.” “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 title of the book references a quote by Theodore Roosevelt, from his 1910 speech The Man in the Arena:

“Daring greatly and being vulnerable is about showing up and feeling we are enough.”ĭaring Greatly, Dr Brown’s latest book, further explores her thesis of how finding the courage to be vulnerable can transform our life. Perhaps that’s why it’s impossible to knock her off a pedestal, as she does it amply herself with no disingenuousness. The hour was peppered with hilarious tales of her own vulnerability, which were easy to relate to. As her TED talks (viewed by millions around the world) predicted, she’s a lively speaker and vivid storyteller. With this in mind I parted with some big bucks to attend a business breakfast this month, hosting my all-time favourite TED luminary. But I have to admit to a star-like crush on vulnerability researcher extraordinaire, Dr Brené Brown. Putting someone on a pedestal so often leads to disappointment when they turn out to by human after all.

I’ve never been a fan of celebrity crushes.

Brene brown theodore roosevelt