What it Means to Be Bold

"Showing an ability to take risks; confident and courageous."

"Necessitating courage and daring."

"Beyond the usual limits of conventional thought or action; imaginative."

 - Dictionary.com

With boldness comes personal empowerment. Co-founder of iLOLA, Tim Hill, sat down with me to reminisce about some of the bolder moments of life. He shared a few riveting tales of times where he not only faced, but challenged and conquered, his fears.

Tim recalled a moment in which fear could have easily eaten him whole. I am going to refer to this story as Tim’s James Bond Moment, since it takes place on the same Swiss mountain top in Mürren that the James Bond film, Her Majesty’s Secret Service, was shot.

Ready for a venturous day of snowboarding, Tim and his friend walked into the Shilthorn building lobby, making a b-line for the elevators to the slopes. While waiting for the elevator, their eyes were drawn to a flat-screen featuring Her Majesty’s Secret Service on a loop. Undetected foreshadowing, they slipped into the elevator, pressed the bottom floor button, and down they went.

The bottom floor was dark and smaller than expected, and it was cramped as Tim and his friend dawned their snowboarding gear: black boots and thick visors. Boards in hands, they met their snowboarding instructor in front of the cold metal doors leading to the slopes.

The doors swung open.

A fierce blizzard of snow whipped and zipped past Tim’s shielded face. He may as well have been walking into a wall of snow, the flurries were so intense. Blinded by the whiteout, the snowboarding trio could not see past five yards. It took a moment for Tim to realize what was right in front of him: the steepest slope he had ever encountered, embellished with layers of crystalline snow.

"This," the instructor said, "is what you're riding today."

Big gulp. Tim and his friend looked at each other, their fear masked by falling snow.

"After you, Tim." remarked his friend, as he painfully looked at what was in front of them. 

Another big gulp. Blinking rapidly behind his visor, Tim glanced down the mountain. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest. The fear was creeping on, but there was no way he was turning back now. It was now or never. In this moment, Tim developed a motto which has shaped the way he has lived his life ever since: feel the fear and do it anyway.

Quick inhale and go! 

The first turn was the most petrifying. Would he fall? Would he tumble? How far down the mountain would he slide before he would stop? Surrounded by moguls (a snowboarder’s arched nemesis), Tim’s first turn was bumpy and nerve-wracking. As he sped down the mountain (still unable to see past five yards), he remembered everything he learned in preparation for this very moment. He zoomed down the mountain at warped speed, readying himself for the next twists and turns the run would throw his way. The second turn was smoother than the first, and a rush of adrenaline and confidence took over every fiber of his being. What came next was exhilarating. Freeing. Electrifying. He thrived off his fear for the rest of the piste.

At this point in Tim’s story, he looked up and said, “I would rather be the first than to follow someone else.” Keywords when it comes to taking bold ownership over one’s life.

When he reached the bottom of the mountain, Tim exhaled a deep sigh of gratitude. He did it. He faced his fear and conquered it.

Boldness is stepping out of your comfort zone and owning your every moment. It lies within your daily resolutions. Whether it is choosing to apply for your dream job or stepping away from your 9-5 to start a business, the power is yours.

Start small. Begin your journey to a bolder life by taking baby steps. This could mean doing one thing a day that is out of your comfort zone. You will soon discover indestructible self-love and personal empowerment. Your life will be layered with unforgettable, beautiful memories.

Boldness is not being the loudest person in the room, it is loving yourself enough to brave every challenging moment life unveils. Boldness is seeking joy in your every day. Discovering who you used to be, who you want to be, and who you have become. Snowboarding down the steepest mountain. Cage diving with white sharks off the coast of South Africa. Following your dreams. Taking ownership of your actions. Falling in love. Falling in love with yourself. Living your best life. Because a bold and eccentric life is enriched with qualities of flourishing self-love.

So be bold. Be adventurous. Feel the fear and conquer your challenges, because you are worth it.