Fortitude Newsletter – October 2025

From the Desk of Colonel John

Recently, I had the privilege of hearing Ernie Garcia, founder of Carvana, speak. His story reminded me that leadership is never about playing it safe. It’s about courage, about daring when the stakes are highest. Given the turbulence we’re all living through—wars abroad, unrest at home, disruption in business—his message couldn’t be more timely.

 

Leadership Article: Who Dares to Lead?

Leadership has never been for the faint of heart. Look around:

  • A young man, Charlie Kirk, assassinated on American soil.

  • War raging in the Middle East and Europe.

  • Layoffs at home blamed on AI, or on “DEI hires.”

  • Businesses and entire sectors wobbling under the weight of disruption.

And what do we see? Too often—leaders playing it safe. Leaders protecting themselves rather than standing for what is right for their people, their organizations, their customers, and yes—the world.

The Temptation to Play It Safe

Fear of failure drives too many leaders to hug the middle, to hedge, to avoid bold decisions. But playing it safe rarely saves you. It just ensures mediocrity.

Ernie Garcia of Carvana looked failure in the eye. Carvana was staring down bankruptcy. Five years later, he’s built a company worth billions. That didn’t happen by hiding. That happened because he dared.

The World Needs Courageous Leaders

This is not about politics. This is about courage. About rejecting the grifters who wear the title of “leader” but make every decision through the lens of “what’s in it for me.”

It’s about those willing to stand up, even when the cost is high. Leadership is sacrifice. It’s vision. It’s grit. It’s putting others before yourself, and taking the hits that come with responsibility.

A Call to Action

So who wants to lead in this environment? The answer should be—those bold enough to dare.

If you’ve accepted the mantle of leadership, then hear this: be better than you ever thought you could be. Don’t shrink. Step up.

And if you’re unsure of yourself—get help. Hell, get a coach. No one leads alone. But don’t let fear paralyze you.

The nation needs you. The world needs you. Your people need you.

Dare to lead.

 

Semper Fi,
   John

Colonel John Boggs, U.S. Marine Corps (Ret.)
Because leadership is too important to get wrong.
fortitudeconsult.com

 

Quick Tip: 3 Acts of Courage This Week

  1. Have the conversation you’ve been avoiding. Silence rarely solves anything.

  2. Make the decision you’ve been kicking down the road. Clarity beats delay every time.

  3. Stand up for someone on your team. Even small acts of courage build immense trust.

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