My wife said, “It took twenty seconds of bravery.” Three months later she keynoted to one hundred entrepreneurs and their spouses.

Krista had never keynoted before. She had never done improv class, or rock climbing, or walking on fire either. But all of those things happened, with her new approach to life. She made a resolution at the beginning of this year, and it was to say yes to what life presents her. Easily said. Not easily done.

First was rock climbing. A simple suggestion from a friend, brought an immediate “not for me” response. Then Krista remembered her new commitment, built up her courage for twenty seconds and said yes. Yes set everything in motion, and a few days later she was thirty feet up a rock wall. (NOTE: I fell off the wall three times. She fell off zero times.)

Next came improv class. A three month commitment, that seemed overwhelming both in time and the fear of acting in front of fifteen strangers. Twenty seconds of bravery, and she said yes. Three months later she was mistaken by one of the students to be a “professional actor, or a ringer of some type.”

Then came fire walking, cooking classes and touring a European city by herself (she had never been abroad before).

Then came the big one – the opportunity for public speaking. An entrepreneurial association was gathering in Phoenix and the business owners were bringing their spouses. They wanted a speaker who could present experiences and ideas on being married to an entrepreneur. They asked me if I knew anyone. Last year I would have scanned my contact manager, but with my wife’s new resolution I suggested her.

Public speaking is the greatest fear for the majority of humanity, including my wife. But not this year. She did it. She did it by building her courage for twenty seconds and then saying yes.

The experience, was scary for her. Terrifying at times. But at the end the crowd was thrilled, and she was thrilled too. She became a little less afraid of the next time.

Looking back, if she had first considered all the work that was required, all the new skills she would have to gain, all the potential for disaster, she never would have done it. She never would have said yes. But by building her courage for twenty seconds, and then saying yes, she set the wheels in motion.

Twenty seconds of bravery and Krista is a changed person. You will be too.

Don’t get me wrong, twenty seconds of bravery doesn’t mean it will be easy peasy the rest of the way. It quite well may be a struggle or terrifying or you may fall flat on your face. But the only way you can ever move forward is by taking that first step. And that first step is where you must be the bravest. . . at least for twenty seconds.