Courage is a word often reserved for heroics in battle – be that in a war theater or fighting a disease. But courage is what it takes to succeed in business.

Last week I had the chance to visit the grounds of the pinnacle moment for some of the most courageous business leaders in American history – Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. The Voyage of Discovery that opened the American West to commerce and development required great vision and “Undaunted Courage” as Stephen Ambrose aptly named his book detailing the journey of Lewis and Clark in 1803.

(At this point, I am going to acknowledge the significant contribution of Sacagewea, the native American woman who was recruited by the crew – others might say “kidnapped” – whenever I mention Lewis and Clark.)

Consider the United States in 1803. President Jefferson has just doubled the size of the country with the Louisiana Purchase. The country was mapped throughout what we now consider the Midwest. But what else is beyond that? There’s a rumor of a Northwest Passage. What opportunities for the growth of this fledgling nation lie out there in this unexplored territory?

Jefferson hires his former personal secretary, Meriwether Lewis, who then hires his friend, William Clark. The president asks for and Congress approves $2,500 from the federal coffers to pay for the journey. This, my friends, is one of the great business bargains in recorded history.

You know the story. Facing great peril and countless obstacles, the journey traverses on until that day when Clark writes (and I use his spelling and grammar): “Ocian in view. O! The joy.” To this day I get a chill reading those words. And last week, I stood atop a hill in Astoria, Oregon, looking out at that “ocian” the explorers sought.

Rarely does modern business culture require us to risk our lives to succeed. But it does ask us to courageously go to places where others will not. To take chances. To believe in a mission and carry it out, in spite of the naysayers and the challenges.

Courage is a word often reserved for heroics in battle – be that in a war theater or fighting a disease. But courage is what it takes to succeed in business.

Last week I had the chance to visit the grounds of the pinnacle moment for some of the most courageous business leaders in American history – Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. The Voyage of Discovery that opened the American West to commerce and development required great vision and “Undaunted Courage” as Stephen Ambrose aptly named his book detailing the journey of Lewis and Clark in 1803.

(At this point, I am going to acknowledge the significant contribution of Sacagewea, the native American woman who was recruited by the crew – others might say “kidnapped” – whenever I mention Lewis and Clark.)

Consider the United States in 1803. President Jefferson has just doubled the size of the country with the Louisiana Purchase. The country was mapped throughout what we now consider the Midwest. But what else is beyond that? There’s a rumor of a Northwest Passage. What opportunities for the growth of this fledgling nation lie out there in this unexplored territory?

Jefferson hires his former personal secretary, Meriwether Lewis, who then hires his friend, William Clark. The president asks for and Congress approves $2,500 from the federal coffers to pay for the journey. This, my friends, is one of the great business bargains in recorded history.

You know the story. Facing great peril and countless obstacles, the journey traverses on until that day when Clark writes (and I use his spelling and grammar): “Ocian in view. O! The joy.” To this day I get a chill reading those words. And last week, I stood atop a hill in Astoria, Oregon, looking out at that “ocian” the explorers sought.

Rarely does modern business culture require us to risk our lives to succeed. But it does ask us to courageously go to places where others will not. To take chances. To believe in a mission and carry it out, in spite of the naysayers and the challenges.

Courage is a word often reserved for heroics in battle – be that in a war theater or fighting a disease. But courage is what it takes to succeed in business.

Last week I had the chance to visit the grounds of the pinnacle moment for some of the most courageous business leaders in American history – Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. The Voyage of Discovery that opened the American West to commerce and development required great vision and “Undaunted Courage” as Stephen Ambrose aptly named his book detailing the journey of Lewis and Clark in 1803.

(At this point, I am going to acknowledge the significant contribution of Sacagewea, the native American woman who was recruited by the crew – others might say “kidnapped” – whenever I mention Lewis and Clark.)

Consider the United States in 1803. President Jefferson has just doubled the size of the country with the Louisiana Purchase. The country was mapped throughout what we now consider the Midwest. But what else is beyond that? There’s a rumor of a Northwest Passage. What opportunities for the growth of this fledgling nation lie out there in this unexplored territory?

Jefferson hires his former personal secretary, Meriwether Lewis, who then hires his friend, William Clark. The president asks for and Congress approves $2,500 from the federal coffers to pay for the journey. This, my friends, is one of the great business bargains in recorded history.

You know the story. Facing great peril and countless obstacles, the journey traverses on until that day when Clark writes (and I use his spelling and grammar): “Ocian in view. O! The joy.” To this day I get a chill reading those words. And last week, I stood atop a hill in Astoria, Oregon, looking out at that “ocian” the explorers sought.

Rarely does modern business culture require us to risk our lives to succeed. But it does ask us to courageously go to places where others will not. To take chances. To believe in a mission and carry it out, in spite of the naysayers and the challenges.