What courage can bring
“Courage doesn’t mean not being afraid – it means taking the leap anyway.” This is the attitude that Marc Hauser, the world record holder for performing the first skydive into the jet stream, lives by. He has shown what is possible when you have the courage to leave your comfort zone. Although we at SERV don’t make leaps into the unknown, we know the challenges: successful decisions take courage. We assess complex issues, weigh up risks and opportunities and make informed decisions every day.
“Courage doesn’t mean not being afraid – it means taking the leap anyway.” What do you mean by that?
Marc Hauser: I’m familiar with fear from my time preparing to break a record. But fear isn’t your enemy. It’s a signal. For me, courage means doing it anyway – not out of obstinacy but from a conscious decision to keep going, with careful preparation and awareness of the risk element. Amazement and growth are often found on the other side. We have this one life, and I want to have lived it to the full by the time I depart from this world. The key is to find the right timing.
How do you deal with these risks and where does courage help you to break new ground?
Marc Hauser: I investigate risks carefully. I’m not a born hero by nature. We can ask ourselves what the price of inaction would be. Acting with courage helps me to take a leap into the unknown with unshakeable innate trust despite the risks. World record attempts, where safety is never guaranteed, take a lot of pioneering spirit and enthusiasm for doing what is possible. And of course the strength to embrace setbacks as motivation.
Marc Hauser began his adventure in the air, following the winds. Now he’s setting his sights on a new element: water.
Where do your project ideas come from?
Marc Hauser: My ideas often come from the intersection between personal curiosity and social relevance. I ask myself: where is change needed and who will dare to make it happen? My record attempts began just like that – with a crazy idea and the conviction that there’s a message in it. Underestimating the complexity is part of the adventure. You don’t need to leap out of aeroplanes to show courage. Our day-to-day lives constantly provide a practice ground to train our heroism.
What takes courage in business?
Marc Hauser: You’ll find courage wherever decisions are made in the face of uncertainty: in management, in innovation or in dealing with crises. My record-breaking projects have always taken courage wherever there wasn’t a script and I had to break new ground. Situations just like that are also found in day-to-day business. Courage involves daring, so the risk-taking element is always there.
It seems to take particular courage to lead with real humanity and be a role model in a company.
What’s the relationship between risk and courage and how do we find the right balance?
Marc Hauser: Risk and courage belong together. I prepare thoroughly and surround myself with people who challenge me. The fear of consequences is real but no reason to stop. The balance comes from trust: in the team, in the plan – and particularly in yourself. A useful question is: would I want to read the novel of my own life? If the answer’s “no”, you can always make the next chapter worth reading. That applies to companies too. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for all of us.
