Courage: The Most Powerful Tool in a Woman’s Business Arsenal
‘’The best protection any woman can have is courage.’’
– Elizabeth Cady Stanton
At first glance, this quote from pioneering activist Elizabeth Cady Stanton feels bold, even audacious. Courage, she suggests, is more powerful than policies, more vital than partnerships, and more essential than preparation. But when you really sit with it — when you feel it in your bones — you start to understand why courage is the ultimate form of protection, especially for women in business.
Because courage is what gets us to the table and then helps us stay there.
It’s what lets us say no to underpaid contracts, yes to scary opportunities, and “not yet” to work that doesn’t serve our values. Courage doesn’t mean we’re not afraid. It means we act anyway.
And if you’re a woman in business, especially in a world that still subtly (or overtly) questions your right to succeed, courage might just be your most reliable currency.
Courage Is What Gets You Started
Whether you’re launching a side hustle or scaling a six-figure company, starting is always the hardest part. There’s the fear of judgment, fear of failure, and that ever-present inner voice whispering, “What if this doesn’t work?”
That’s when courage steps in. Not perfection. Not complete clarity. Just a willingness to take the next step.
Courage lets you put your name on a business card for the first time. It lets you walk into a networking room full of strangers and strike up a conversation. It’s the quiet strength behind every “I’m not sure how yet, but I’ll figure it out.”
If you’re already in business, then you’ve already shown immense courage. Celebrate that.
Courage Is What Keeps You Going
Every entrepreneur hits walls — sometimes financial, sometimes emotional, often both. There are rejections, dry spells, and sleepless nights wondering if you’ve made the right choices.
But courage keeps you in the game. It reminds you that setbacks are not signs to stop, but signals to pivot, learn, and grow. It helps you take responsibility without spiralling into shame. It helps you ask for help — which might be the most courageous act of all.
Courage is what allows you to try again tomorrow with a heart still full of hope.
Courage Creates Community
When women stand in their courage, they give other women permission to do the same.
This is what makes spaces like our women-only networking group so powerful. It’s not just about sharing referrals or business cards — it’s about sharing truth. Vulnerability. Stories of failure, grit, and triumph.
Every time you show up authentically, speak your goals out loud, or support another woman in her journey, you reinforce a culture of courage. And that kind of environment? That’s where magic happens.
How to Cultivate Courage (Daily)
You don’t have to wait for a crisis to be courageous. Here are simple ways to build it into your business life:
- Say yes to a new opportunity that excites you, even if it scares you.
- Speak up in the next group meeting, even if your voice shakes.
- Set a boundary with a client or colleague when something doesn’t feel right.
- Invest in yourself — your learning, your wellbeing, your dreams.
Courage doesn’t come from confidence. Confidence comes from acting with courage repeatedly, until it becomes second nature.
Final Thoughts
Courage is not armour. It’s not loud. It doesn’t always roar. But it’s a quiet, unwavering belief that you are capable — and that your vision is worth pursuing.
So, to every woman reading this, whether you’re just starting out or deep in the entrepreneurial trenches: know that your courage is your strength. It protects your dreams. It drives your growth. And it connects you to other brave women walking a similar path.
Keep going. We see you. And we’re walking with you.
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Inspired by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and written for the women creating, building, and believing in something bigger.
Thank you for reading this month’s blog, Redefining Success on Our Own Terms.
Kelly, Kelly, and Chloe,
Ladies That Do Networking