20 Seconds #2
“You know, sometimes all you need is twenty seconds of insane courage. Just literally twenty seconds of just embarrassing bravery. And I promise you, something great will come of it.”
― Benjamin Mee, We Bought a Zoo
I love this quote. At times, I have kept it taped on my standup desk or on my office wall. My daughter has had it on her wall as well.
The 2011 movie features Matt Damon and Scarlet Johansson and tells the story of a father who moves his young family to the country to rehabilitate an old zoo. It is entertaining, inspiring, humorous and above average. Not great, in my opinion, but very good.
Within the context of the movie, this quote hit and stuck with me instantly. Hopefully, it strikes you outside the context of the movie.
How could 20 seconds of courage make a difference? Consider these scenarios:
- Making a phone call you dread.
- Standing up to someone who has been running over you.
- Saying no when you feel like saying yes.
- Saying yes when you feel like saying no.
- Facing most fears, usually indicated by something you are avoiding.
If you can just muster up the courage to start, you will often find that you can surely finish. You might even get on a roll or be received far better than you had feared. Of course, exercising the courage to take action does not guarantee success, but it does give success a chance.
20 seconds could make more of a difference than you think.
Worth Repeating
You know, sometimes all you need is twenty seconds of insane courage. Just literally twenty seconds of just embarrassing bravery. And I promise you, something great will come of it.
― Benjamin Mee, We Bought a Zoo
