A story about fear, intuition, and rebuilding your life

It’s Courageous Sunday! I’m here with your 4-part newsletter.

• One courageous quote to set the tone for your week

• One personal story to reveal a deeper truth about courage

• One reflection question to help you see yourself more clearly

• And one weekly challenge to put courage into action

Make today the day you take your next courageous step.

One Courageous Quote

One Personal Story

“Jonathan you’re an asshole.”

That's exactly what Marvin Ojwang, my former colleague at Netflix told me in April 2021. 

I was immediately stunned. Offended. My ego wanted to clam up and go on defense.

I felt attacked.

But once the initial sting faded, I found myself curious. I wanted to understand.

Thankfully, working at Netflix helped normalize a culture of uncomfortable conversations, so instead of shutting down, I asked him what he meant.

Marvin explained that I was often more focused on fact than tact—and that just because something is true doesn't mean it has to be delivered in a certain tone.

That conversation didn't push us apart.

It actually built trust.

I saw that he cared enough about me to risk my reaction in order to help me grow. My respect and appreciation for him went up, not down.

There's a limit to our growth if we only surround ourselves with people who nod, smile, and never challenge us.

We all need people in our lives who are willing to risk the discomfort of telling us when we're wrong… or when we're being an asshole.

That kind of feedback, if we can sit with it, is a mirror that can change the trajectory of who we become.

We all have blind spots. It takes courage to acknowledge them and seek them out. 

We all need courageous truth-tellers in our corner.

One Question

Ask yourself: is your growth being limited by your unwillingness to accept an uncomfortable truth? 

One Weekly challenge

This week, reach out to someone who knows you well and ask them: "What's one thing I could do better that you've been hesitant to tell me?" Then listen without defending. Sit with their answer. Let it shape you.

My life’s mission is to positively impact 1B+ lives by helping people have more courage.

This is why I need your help.

Two favors:

1. Forward this to someone who would benefit from it.

2. Reply and let me know how I can improve. I read everything and respond to each one.This newsletter is written by me (not AI). 

Stay courageous!

— Jonathan