Courage and Perceived Risks

During a recent Toastmasters cohort, we discussed courage as it relates to public speaking and other risks we choose to take, or to avoid. Here are some of my observations from that day.

 

Professional Hockey

My friend Jordan Owens is a member of our Rising Tide Toastmasters cohort. Jordan played professional hockey for 12 years, six in the American Hockey League and six in European Leagues.

When he spoke about summoning courage he shared a story about joining a new team (Grand Rapids Griffins), and feeling a need to make an impression in his first game with the team.

 In the rough and tough world of pro hockey, Jordan decided to spark his team by starting a fight with the biggest guy on the other team. Fans will recognize the name Ryan Reaves, and that’s with whom Jordan picked a fight in order to make an impact.

 Jordan has a YouTube channel (A Tribe Called Owens) and he shares the speech and some reflections at the link below. You’ll enjoy his content. I particularly liked how he speaks about developing his speaking skills through time and conscious effort, and reflects on protecting the physical and metaphysical.

 Jordan’s post on his speech, and his actual speech, are available here  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5y_yInbSsGk

  

A New Audience 

Later that same day I was scheduled to train some young women who are delivering talks in the community on mental health, so I invited Jordan to attend with me and offer to that audience a longer version of his impromptu speech, and his experience getting acquainted with Ryan Reeves. I saw the speech as relevant to these young women who are embracing public speaking and risk when they speak about a subject important for so many people.  

When we veer from the familiar and easy path it will often be perceived as courage by others. Jordan didn’t need to try to spark his new team by starting a fight, but he showed physical and metaphysical courage to initiate that confrontation. His motivation to risk, and exhibit courage, was driven by a need to make an impression and a contribution to his new team.

  

Skeleton Racing

The discussion on courage caused me to speak and publicly reflect on some reactions to my skeleton sled race in March 2025 at Whistler, British Columbia. I’m still delighted with the experience and now YouTube often presents me with opportunities to view past skeleton races. With two runs under my belt, I now feel unjustly qualified to assess and critique the paths that racers choose, and their start and steering techniques.

I wrote about my experience here https://gycz.blogspot.com/2025/04/92-kilometershour-head-first-skeleton.html

I have been surprised by people who have said I was “brave” to race down the skeleton track. I enjoyed the experience, but I was only driven by curiosity and simply paid a fee to take an unnecessary risk to understand the experience and sensations.

I don’t view my participation as “brave” or courageous. I reflect that once on the track, on a sled with no brakes guided only by my body weight and gravity to propel the sled down the track, I simply followed the basic instructions to get through the experience safely. While I don’t view it as courageous, some interpret it as such. My motivation was curiosity and my actions once in motion were for self-preservation.

I suppose merely taking action in some situations can be viewed as courageous by others. I suppose in some situations appropriate inaction can be courageous.

 

Public Speaking and Courage  

A simple definition of courage is to take a worthwhile risk. Some materials indicate there are six types of courage: physical, social, moral, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual. These are some compelling categories in 2025.

As our cohort discussed courage, many participants spoke about public speaking. Public speaking is a skill.  Developing a new skill is a risk and undoubtedly requires courage.

Once the skill is developed, using the skill requires some courage.

Speaking about a difficult message absolutely requires courage and skill.