Bear Grylls

Adventurer; Writer; TV Host

Bear Grylls is the embodiment of adventure. A former member of the British Special Forces, Grylls has climbed Everest, crossed the Arctic Ocean in an inflatable boat and has publicly supported the Alpha Course to help inspire people in their journey of faith. His Emmy-nominated TV show Man Vs Wild became one of the most watched programs on the planet with an estimated audience of 1.2 billion. He also hosts NBC’s hit show Running Wild with Bear Grylls as well as groundbreaking series on National Geographic, Netflix and Amazon. He is a number 1 bestselling author and has sold over 15 million books. Bear will be joining us by video from the mountains in Switzerland, and is speaking on courage, kindness and never giving up.

Bear communicates that all leaders experience summits in their journey but also (at one time or another) will have deep valleys to walk through, struggles that will try to defy us and self-doubt that will rage within us. He says that “It’s what you see in the mirror that defines you. It’s what you see in the mirror that makes you or breaks you.”

In his talk he shines light on four specific things that shaped his leadership and carried him through the storms and he asks us to consider how these four things could impact our journey.

The Failures
Bear shares when he first went for SAS training, he wasn’t fast enough, smart enough, or good enough for the Special Forces. He communicates that his failures far outweighed his successes, but it was these failures that built resilience in him over time. He says: “There is no shortcut to your goals that avoids failure.”

What failures in your own leadership journey have created doorways of opportunity because you embraced them and built resilience? Are there any failures that you are running from?
Write out a brief 3 step plan of action for your leaders when they show signs of mental, physical, or emotional failure. How can you encourage all of your team members and/or employee to embrace their failure in a healthy way?
Your organization (at one point) will experience some type of failure. What is your organization doing consistently (or could it be doing) to create resilience within your employees or staff?

The Fear
Bear believes that life rewards those who walk toward their fears. And often, as we edge toward our fears—even tentatively—they melt way. He challenges us to use fear as a driver and an emotion to sharpen us.

Write a brief description of what you’re fearful of and how it might be holding you back.
What can you do today to face it head on instead of avoiding it? What are specific ways you can use your fear as a driver to move you forward?

The Fire

Bear communicates our failures and fears need to be turned into power. We need a fire to keep moving on, and to move from ordinary to extraordinary. It’s the fire inside of you that dictates the results around you—giving a little bit extra or going a little bit further.

Take a few minutes to reflect on a time that you felt the “fire that burns inside” move you forward—even against the odds. When was it? What did it feel like?
What systems or practices do you or could you have in place that encourage your leaders to use and grow their fire? How can you help your leaders access their internal fire when it really counts?

The Faith

Bear talks about the exhausting climb of Everest—and how we all face our own Everest. He talks about how he leaned on faith as his backbone to go through difficult seasons and draws on it every day. He says that faith says, “I am known, I am loved, and I am forgiven— regardless of how many times I fall down or fail.”

Reflecting on your own faith journey, how has it helped you in a difficult time? In what ways did you lean on it? Or, in what ways might have faith helped you if had lean on it?

Bear understands that his strength always come from a place within. He understands that to get to every summit of life we have to have to use failure, fear, fire, and faith. The final element of finding True Wealth he says is in the power of kindness, and gratitude. It’s about seeking humility and knowing our place in the universe.

Take some time to write down some specific ways your leadership could reflect more kindness, gratitude, and humility

ACT

Decide which ONE element (kindness, gratitude, or humility) you’ll focus on over the next few weeks and make a list of three things you’ll do on a regular basis to practice it.