April 15, 2025 | Issue Archive
Videos | Speaking | Blog | Course | Book
Bravery isn’t just pressing on. Sometimes, it’s choosing to let go.
Two weeks ago today, I stood in front of more than 800 managers and asked them to make one Brave Choice:
“What’s one thing you need to end?”
Not in a metaphorical way. Not someday. Right now.
We handed them a worksheet with this prompt:
“Today might be a good day to end ___.”
And you know what happened?
The room went still. Then you could feel an energy building. Decisions were made. Then came celebration.
They wrote things like:
- “Trying to do it all myself”
- “Overthinking every decision”
- “Avoiding tough conversations”
- “Saying yes when I mean no”
- “Waiting for permission to change”
The experience never gets old.
Because here’s the truth:
Sometimes, the most courageous thing a leader can do isn’t to keep going. It’s to let go.
To quit—on purpose.
Because on the other side is power. Freedom. Impact.
But here’s the twist…
A few days later, I shared a post that struck a different chord. Maybe you saw it:
“Comebacks don’t care what the scoreboard says.”
Because just as often, courage looks like staying in it—when everything around you says to quit.
So which is it?
Do we quit? Or do we come back stronger?
The answer? Leadership means having the wisdom to know the difference.
It’s not over—unless you say it is. And sometimes, you’re the one who has to say: “This ends now.” Other times, you’re the one who has to say: “Not yet. I’m not done.”
Both are brave. Both are leadership.
THIS ENDS NOW
Identify one habit, belief, or behavior that’s no longer serving you—and let it go.
Let’s end the belief that quitting = failure.
Sometimes, staying is the real failure—
if it keeps you stuck in the wrong story.
So ask yourself:
What’s one thing I’m holding on to out of fear… instead of faith?
THIS MOMENT MATTERS
One simple, actionable step to take to create a ripple effect of change in your life
Whether you’re leading a team, a business, or yourself—
now is not the time to react.
It’s the time to respond.
Because Calm, Courage, and Confidence are contagious.
So are Panic, Hesitation, and Doubt.
Choose what you’ll spread.
Want to bring this moment to your team—without the travel or big event budget?
I’ve opened 6 virtual sessions this quarter for Choose Your Ending—no plane tickets, no offsite space, no complicated scheduling.
Just a powerful, 45-minute interactive session you can drop into a:
- Monthly team meeting
- Leadership huddle
- Culture reset moment
Whether you’ve got 6 people or 60, this experience meets your team where they are—and helps them let go of what’s holding them back so they can lead forward with clarity, courage, and confidence.
Available with as little as one week’s notice.
Click here to learn more or request a session—or just reply to this email and let’s talk.
Your or your team’s next chapter might begin with one bold ending.
Here’s to making The Brave Choice.
Up we go—
P.S. If you haven’t already, add shawn@shawnellis.com to your contacts to ensure important updates and messages like this reach your primary inbox.