We often read and hear about courage as it applies to heroic acts during war, when people are dealing with pain or dangerous circumstances.

The term is also loosely tossed around in the world of sports. Depending on one’s point of view, those may all very well be true.

I like to think of courage in business and politics in several simple ways:

1. Courage is doing the right thing when it’s easy to do the wrong thing. Courage means taking a stand even when sometimes taking a stand is not the most popular thing. Never forget it’s not about who is right, but what is right.

2. Courage is about changing direction when your decisions are less than perfect. That means saying, “I got it wrong, let’s go in another direction.” You’re not always going to get it right.

3. Courage is having enough sense to listen to those around you and be able to separate bull shit/self-interest that some people have toward self-serving goals. Courage is standing up to such nonsense and doing the right thing.

4. Courage is the willingness to stick your head above the fence once in a while knowing full well someone’s going to throw a rotten tomato in your face. It’s a willingness to try something different. It’s a willingness to get out of your comfort zone. It’s a willingness to accept harsh criticism.

Sometimes I tell you stuff that I know you’re not going to like. Sometimes I poke my head above the fence and sometimes you throw a rotten tomato at me.

If nothing else, I’ll help you improve your aim.

That’s all I’m gonna say. Tommy Gibbs.