Be Fearless

Be Fearless shows that radical changes are more effective than small enhancements and urges us to be bold in trying to make progress.

America wouldn’t have been the first to land on the moon in 1969 if John F. Kennedy hadn’t boldly promised it even before the technology to do so existed. In 1961, he announced on national TV that, in less than a decade, the U.S.A. would accomplish this mission. His leap of faith rallied the country to achieve his ambitious goal.

Courageous goals help us overcome the fear that blocks us from doing great things. By saying you’re going to beat the odds, you grab people’s attention and take responsibility for what you’re promising. Once you give your word, giving up is no longer an option. Your commitment motivates you to work hard and find solutions to problems.

In 1910, Rachel Sumekh took a risk in trying to solve student hunger. She started Swipe Out Hunger, a project which allows American college students to give their unused meal points to their peers who need them more.

As a student herself, Sumekh decided to face a problem nobody seemed to take seriously. Eventually, her initiative caught the attention of Barack Obama, the Case Foundation, and Forbes. Now implemented in over 30 campuses, Swipe Out Hunger is considered a leader in hunger awareness and alleviation.

To make big bets, you need to defy assumptions. Changemakers don’t settle for answers like “that’s just the way it is,” they commit themselves to look ahead to see what the future holds.

One example is the ambitious entrepreneur Elon Musk, who in 2010 promised to colonize Mars by 2030. His detractors said it would be impossible considering today’s technology, but this didn’t deter Musk from making such promises. Now, he already has detailed plans for the needed spaceship and reusable rockets through his SpaceX project.

When founding the online prescription eyeglass retailer Warby Parker, David Gilboa and Neil Blumenthal questioned the assumption that getting a new pair of eyeglasses had to be expensive. From humble beginnings, the company revolutionized the industry and was recently valued at over $1 billion.

Let’s take a look at another example. Back in 1990, the internet was young and people had no idea everybody was going to need an email address or website. Despite the bewilderment of some friends of hers, the author joined a small internet service provider called Control Video Corporation. It was a young startup at that time, but in ten years had millions of customers and changed its name to America Online – AOL.