Lift As You Climb – A Full Circle Moment on Courage
You know those full circle moments that take you by surprise and leave you smiling at the timing of it all? I had one of those last week.
As part of the Elevate community I’m in—led by the wonderful Janine Garner we were treated to a session with Margie Warrell. She was speaking about her new book The Courage Gap and sharing her insights on bravery, belief and showing up fully as yourself.
Now, when I saw Margie’s name pop up as a guest speaker, I had one of those moments where you stop scrolling, tilt your head and say, “Wait a second…” Because ten years ago, I actually emailed Margie out of the blue.
I’d just stepped away from a 12-year corporate role at Verizon, where I was VP for the APAC Women’s Employee Resource Group, and I’d been deeply inspired by an article Margie had written on the idea of “Lift as you climb.” The idea of achieving success while simultaneously reaching back to lift others along the way.
So, I sat down that day found her email, and sent her a message—poor spelling and all. I had a big dream to create an event in Melbourne that would bring women together to connect, contribute and grow. To share ideas, stories, support, and strength. Essentially, to live that “lift as you climb” philosophy out loud.
And to my absolute delight, Margie replied. She agreed to meet me. She probably doesn’t even remember, but that small act of generosity meant the world to me at the time.
Last night, ahead of the Elevate session, I dug out that original email and it was like opening a time capsule. The concept I wrote about, the ideas I was so excited to bring to life, they didn’t materialise at the time. But they were the seed. The origin story. And they’ve since grown into everything I now stand for: creating spaces where people feel supported, heard, and lifted.
The phrase, “Lift as you climb”? It still inspires me every single day. Because it’s not just a lovely quote, it’s a call to action. A reminder that success isn’t about standing alone at the top, but about looking sideways and backwards and saying, “Come with me.”
So, I dropped Margie a thank-you email last week. Just a small gesture to let her know the impact she had on me, that her words, and more importantly her willingness to listen, helped light a fire in me that’s still burning strong. Even if it took a few scenic detours to get here.
Because here’s the thing we sometimes forget:
We don’t always realise the power of our words or our willingness to listen.
And those who help light the fire in us often have no idea they did.
During Margie’s session, there were so many little truth bombs I scribbled down in my notebook. But a few really stayed with me.
One was this line:
“As humans, we often have Teflon for good and Velcro for bad.”
How painfully true is that?
We brush off the praise, the kind words, the compliments. But the doubts, the rejections, the mistakes? Oh, we wear those like a weighted blanket.
And then there was this beauty:
“Breathe in courage. Breathe out fear.”
It reminded me that courage isn’t always loud. It’s not always about making a bold leap. Sometimes it’s choosing to keep showing up when everything in you says hide. It’s speaking up when your voice shakes. It’s asking for help, admitting uncertainty, or trying again after a fall.
And speaking of falling…
Margie shared her 5 steps to braver action from The Courage Gap—a model I just love. And of course, I was especially drawn to this one:
“Find the treasure when you trip.”
That one might as well be embroidered on a pillow for me.
I trip a lot. (literally and figuratively.) But I also always find a lesson. My Positivity strength kicks in, I dust myself off (sometimes literally), and I say, “Well, that’ll make a good story later!”
Here’s her full model:
- INTENTION – Focus on what you want, not what you fear
- BELIEF – Rescript what’s kept you scared or too safe
- CONNECTION – Breathe in courage
- ACTION – Step into discomfort
- LEARNING – Find the treasure when you trip
These steps are a reminder that courage is a practice, not a personality trait. It’s something we can build and strengthen—especially when we’ve got a community around us cheering us on.
And that’s what I’ve found time and again: the power of shared stories, of genuine connection, of lifting others up while being lifted in return. That’s why I do the work I do. That’s why I show up.
And that’s why I’ll keep choosing courage, even if I trip along the way.
A little something to reflect on…
Courage looks different for each of us—and your CliftonStrengths can offer clues to how you naturally find and express it. So, here are a few questions to ponder (or journal with, if that’s your thing):
- Which of your strengths help you be courageous?
Maybe it’s Activator helping you leap before fear talks you out of it. Or Relator giving you the courage to have the honest conversation. Or Learner reminding you it’s all growth, even when it’s messy. - Where are you being invited to “breathe in courage” right now?
Is there a conversation you’re avoiding? A decision you’ve been putting off? A dream you’ve been quietly shelving? - What story might you need to rescript?
What belief has kept you safe but small? What if it wasn’t true? - And when was the last time you found treasure in a trip?
How did you get back up? Which strength helped you stand tall again?
Remember, courage isn’t always loud. Sometimes it’s quiet and wobbly and whispers, “Let’s try again.”
You are braver than you think and there are always others to help if only you ask.
