This blog is the first part of the talk I did at Womanifest 2026. You can read more here 'Your abseil is ready for you'

Today I want to talk to you about taking Big Brave Steps...

And how choosing to challenge ourselves helps us make those big brave steps in our life and our businesses.

For 16 years I’ve been creating challenge events.

This year I qualified as a Personal Trainer.

I also help people take the big brave steps to start up and grow their own businesses.

When I started putting this talk together there was a question I thought about asking you.

What do you want to do when you grow up?

But we’re supposed to already be grown ups right?

Just think back to when we were younger… when we had big dreams to be a pop singer or a stunt driver (the equivalent of an influencer or gamer today I guess) …

Anything seemed possible didn’t it?

Then we get older our dreams adapt to fit our life circumstances…  we start choosing safer dreams.

And I was pondering over that question  when I came across someone who who asks sort of  the same question in a much more eloquent way than I ever could… the poet Mary Oliver.

“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”

The poem  ‘The Summer Day’ is actually about stepping back, stepping away from the busy world and taking time to notice what’s around us…

And I thought it fit quite nicely because for me, that stepping back, taking time out of life has turned into being outdoors, walking and hiking and - I know it might seem like a contradiction - but taking part in challenge events.

And It’s what I’ve learned from these events that I want to talk to you about today…

Medals

I want to share the story of two medals with you…. Each of them are symbols for something very different to me, but are equally important….

One is from my first big challenge event back in 2009 - Nijmegen Marches.

The Walk of the World, as its also known, is a 4 day walking event in the Netherlands which started over 100 years ago as a military training event.

It’s a very special medal because it’s Dutch Royalty acclaimed, if I was in the Dutch military I could wear it on my uniform.

I walked 200km during those 4 days and it’s the single biggest event in my life that has taught me about myself, my characteristics and what my body and mind can be capable of.

And here’s what surprised me… Not only did it teach me a huge amount about myself, I also realised that the skills that got me through those 4 days - resilience, determination, teamwork, decision making, self awareness…

Are the exact same skills that we use  every day, the skills we need in life, in business, are exactly the same as the ones we strengthen when we challenge ourselves

When I look at this medal it reminds me that I was successful in completing one of the hardest physical challenges I’ve ever done in my life.

Nijmegen marches was the inspiration behind Snowdonia Challenge.

The other medal is my most recent…

In May, I set out to do 100km London to Brighton, a challenge I set myself a few years ago and only just got round to.

But I failed….

I got myself to London, got to the start line, felt like I’d done everything right…

Cue surprise heatwave! By 30km, it was 33 degrees and my body made the decision it wasn’t carrying on.

It didn’t matter what my mind told it… the heat was just too overpowering.

But don’t worry, I know I didn’t 'fail' in completing 30km, and that doing it in 33 degrees was a huge achievement.

When I say failed… I mean I didn’t achieve what I set out to do. I didn’t complete my challenge - I didn’t reach my goal!

What I see when I look at this medal is not failure.

Because I know I did the most important thing in setting myself a challenge- and taking the big brave steps necessary to get me to the start line.

But days like that, they really aren’t any different to most other days - except nobody usually gives us a medal just for getting through a day!

Because on most days…

- We prepare ourselves the best we can - on some days that might just mean getting dressed in the morning!

- We make sure we have everything we need

- We turn up with a positive mindset - well, setting out thinking its going to be a shit day isn’t the best way to start…

- We do the best we can

- We surround ourselves with the people who have got our back

BUT

Sometimes like that day it was 33 degrees - there are variables we have no control over and it just isn’t our day

It’s not bad to fail - The important thing is we tried - There’s always something we can learn and we probably learn more from the days that don’t go to plan, than the days that do

If it didn’t work out how we wanted it to we can try again! - the same goal - another goal

What stops us from choosing to challenge ourselves, for going for those big dreams?

Fear - genuine fear of what might happen - did you know its a fact of evolution that our mind will try and keep us safe - it just doesn’t want us to die

Fear of failure - what will happen if I don’t achieve my goal

And then there’s the Self doubt - I would never be able to do that!

Do you know what feeling I have learned is worse than fear?

Regret!!

What’s a challenge?

This will be different for all of us

You might want to walk 200km

You might want to climb a mountain

Maybe you’d love to write a book

You might have always thought about starting a business

Or standing up in front of a room full of people…

Or doing a qualification - I was 57 this year when I qualified as a personal trainer - I’m a bit of a late bloomer… I did my first degree at 40 and my second at 55

Age should never be an excuse which stops us challenging ourselves and standing up to the fear and self-doubt

Because they are the same whatever the challenge.

The fear  of what could happen is the same.

The fear of failure is the same.

The self doubt can be the same.

The fact is - if we never try we’ll never know

Or in the words of Richard Branson - the brave may not live forever but the cautious do not live at all.

Your invitation

Who has set themselves a challenge this year that scares them?

I want you to think about those big dreams you used to have and a challenge you could set yourself.

If you need some help you can download the ‘Taking the Big Brave Steps’ worksheet below.

Or book a free call with me below.

What are you waiting for? :)