Inspiration through Courage

The 2010 Courage Forum was inspired by an act so audacious, so bold, that it defies any sort of rational thought. Yet it was the sheer irrationality of it that gave it part of its magnificence. On August 7, 1974, the world watched as an unknown Frenchman calmly walked on a wire across the Twin Towers. Anyone who has seen Philippe Petit prance back and forth above the New York City skyline has stopped to wonder what drives a man to risk his life in such a manner. The answer of course is passion—in Petit’s case, the passion to achieve something bigger than himself, to quite literally walk where no man has walked before. That courage to live is the inspiration for the Americas Business Council’s 2010 Courage Forum.

We live in an uncertain world. Many of the paradigms that we established in the 20th century have been deconstructed by events of the past decade, beginning with 9/11 and continuing through the financial crisis. The notion that our very way of life caused people to hate us so virulently that they would go to such lengths to cause us harm is terrifying to many people. The idea that our way of life induced an economic catastrophe the likes of which hasn’t been seen since the Great Depression is almost as disconcerting. Now more than ever, we must look to extraordinary individuals for inspiration.

Emmanuel Jal, one of the speakers of the Courage Forum, has seen hardship and suffering in a way that most of us cannot even begin to fathom. Born in Sudan, Emmanuel was impressed into the Sudan People’s Liberation army at a young age. By the time he was 13, he had been exposed to extreme violence and forced to do unspeakable things. The courage and strength to emerge from such an appalling situation is the reason why Emmanuel is an inspiration. Today, he is a world-famous musician, who works to spread his message through music, and to build schools in his native Sudan. The transformation is remarkable and shows that no matter how hard life seems, there is always room to be inspired and change.

Courage is a broad-ranging topic and can take many forms. If Philippe Petit embodies the courage to pursue your passion, and Emmanuel Jal embodies the courage to overcome extreme hardship, then Capt. Paul Watson represents the courage to fight for what you think is right. Watson is a true soldier of his cause, namely the brutal killing of whales and dolphin at the hands of Japanese fishing vessels. At the helm of the Steve Irwin, Watson and his crew go to extreme lengths, often risking their own physical well-being to deter whalers from operating. His adventures have been documented in Whale Wars, the most watched show in the history of Animal Planet, helping to bring the cause to the forefront of American consciousness. More importantly, in three years Watson has managed to cut the Japanese kill quotas in half, an astounding achievement.

Courage can come in any arena, even in the seemingly drab and heartless business world. Sir Richard Branson, the CEO of the Virgin Group, is a shining example of this. A true Renaissance man, Branson is a born risk-taker, innovator, philanthropist, activist, and adventurer. He lives his life to the fullest, and is never afraid of taking a bold initiative. The title of his book, Screw It, Let’s Do It, a motto that certainly describes his approach to life and business. After making billions overseeing his various companies, his latest venture is perhaps his most daunting: to make Space, the final frontier, accessible to anyone. Virgin Galactic’s goal is to provide commercial space flights to the general public. Many are skeptical, but given Branson’s track record of success, one would be loath to bet against him.

Many other courageous individuals will convene on March 5 at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. The event promises to be a festival of daring ideas, with some extraordinary individuals.