Courage > Genius
Why bravery, not brilliance, changes everything
By Mark Preston
In the business and charity worlds, we often celebrate innovation. We reward intelligence. We spotlight genius. But in my experience, from boardrooms to backstreets in the DRC, it’s not genius that’s missing.
It’s courage.
Leaving my role at a major charity to start again from scratch wasn’t a stroke of brilliance. It was a leap of faith. And walking through cobalt mines in Kolwezi, seeing children breaking rocks in brutal heat, didn’t require intellectual analysis, it required a response. A human one.
Courage is what moves us when spreadsheets say wait, when conventional wisdom says that’s not how things are done here. Organisations typically take genius and allocate its time to modelling why action would be too risky. Compliance with norms and consensus thinking didn’t get your organisation off the ground, or to where it is today. Neither will it get you to the growth you desire.
Bravery is what tells you to speak plainly, to challenge politely but persistently, to pursue the truth even when it’s uncomfortable. It’s what starts something new, not because the timing is perfect, but because your conscience says you can’t not.
I don’t say any of this to elevate myself. In fact, I’ve hesitated to write these words because I know how quickly sincerity can be mistaken for ego. But one thing I’ve learned is this: if we don’t own our authentic voice, someone else will fill the silence.
And the charity sector doesn’t need more silence. It doesn’t need more jargon. It doesn’t need more polished, risk-adverse genius. It needs courage. The courage to rethink over-extended structures. To move fast, not just talk. To let go of what worked in the past, and listen deeply to what’s needed now.
I love AI and it will automate a lot of things. That’s inevitable. But it won’t take brave decisions for you. It won’t walk into a room of funders and say, “This isn’t working… here’s a better way.” And it certainly won’t show up to a forgotten place and ask, “How can we help, really help?”
That takes people. Real people. With enough humility to listen and enough courage to act.
And here is the thing, AI is so dominating the conversation right now, it is undoubtedly the consensus. In fact do you know any organisations that are NOT saying AI is a top priority? AI is the consensus but courage is contrarian. The consensus does not make you stand out, but courage will.
At Start Bay, we’re not trying to be the smartest in the room. We’re trying to be the most useful. That takes clarity. Honesty. And yes, a bit of nerve.
If you’re reading this and you feel a quiet discomfort, a restlessness, maybe even a fire you’ve been trying to ignore — pay attention. It might not be genius calling.
It might be courage.
And so, what’s the brave step you’ve been putting off?
Whether it’s a conversation, a restructure, or starting something brand new, courage may begin quietly, but it is what changes everything.
If you want a no-commitment conversation about your next steps, I’d love to hear from you. I read and reply to all messages received.
In the mean time, take courage.