Stepping Into the Arena: The Words That Changed Brené Brown’s Life

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For much of her career, Brené Brown was an academic deeply immersed in research. As a college professor at the University of Houston, she spent years studying courage, vulnerability, shame, empathy, and leadership. Yet, at that point, she wasn’t widely recognized or considered a leading expert in her field.

Then, one seemingly ordinary day changed everything.

While home alone, Brown found herself watching a historical drama set around the turn of the 20th century. A question popped into her mind: Who was the U.S. president at that time? A quick Google search led her to Theodore Roosevelt. As she scrolled through the results, something unexpected caught her attention—Roosevelt’s legendary Man in the Arena speech.

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”

These words became life altering for Brown.

In just 140 words, Roosevelt had encapsulated everything she had spent years researching. Vulnerability. Courage. The willingness to try, fail, and try again. His message wasn’t about perfection—it was about showing up, risking failure, and embracing the struggle.

Delivered on April 23, 1910, at the Sorbonne in Paris, the speech has stood the test of time. It remains a rallying cry for anyone striving to make an impact. Roosevelt made it clear: it’s not the bystanders or the critics who matter—it’s the ones who dare to step into the arena, regardless of the outcome.

That speech changed the trajectory of Brown’s life. It fueled her groundbreaking TED Talk, which now has 22 million views. It inspired her bestselling book, Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead, and catapulted her to international recognition.

Brown’s husband likes to joke that Roosevelt’s words made her “dangerous.” She stopped caring about the opinions of those who weren’t in the fight. She had no patience for couch critics—people quick to judge but unwilling to step into the ring themselves.

And that’s a lesson for all of us.

If we want to lead, grow, and make an impact, we must learn to tune out the noise. The doubters. The uninformed. The people who offer opinions without experience or being in the arena themselves. Roosevelt made it clear: their voices don’t count. Here’s how we can follow his advice:

How to Ignore the Noise and Stay in the Arena

1. Assess Expertise: Recognize the difference between informed opinions and casual advice. Consider whether the person’s background and experience are relevant to the topic before taking their input seriously.

2. Seek Trusted Sources: Build a network of mentors and peers who can offer valuable insights. When receiving advice, refer to your trusted sources to help validate or question the suggestions given.

3. Practice Mindfulness: Stay focused on your own goals and values. Remind yourself of your expertise and why you chose your path. This mindfulness can help strengthen your confidence when faced with unsolicited advice.

4. Use Reflective Listening: When receiving advice, listen politely but don’t feel obligated to act on it. Acknowledge their perspective without committing: “Thanks for your thoughts! I’ll consider what you said.”

5. Stay Confident: Trust your judgment and expertise. Confidence in your decisions can help minimize the impact of outside noise.

Roosevelt’s words gave Brown the push she needed to step fully into her calling. His message continues to challenge and inspire those of us who are willing to show up, risk failure, and embrace the fight.

Because in the end, history remembers the ones who dared greatly.

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