Courage Is the Rare Thing

Tobi Lütke has built one of the most valuable companies in the world. He's met countless brilliant people along the way. And he's come to a surprising conclusion.

'I found a lot more high IQ in industry than courage. I found a lot more maybe even genius than courage.'

Courage is rarer than intelligence.

This reframes everything about what we're trying to teach our kids. We obsess over reading levels and math skills and whether they're 'advanced.' But the skill that actually matters?

'The rarest thing in the world, it's not even creativity or genius, it's courage.'

Courage to try when you might fail. Courage to say the thing nobody else is saying. Courage to start something without knowing how it ends.

Your kid doesn't need to be the smartest in the room. They need to be the one willing to raise their hand when it's scary. To try the hard thing. To stand up when everyone else sits down.

Intelligence is common. Courage is rare. And courage can be practiced.