Book SummaryBuilt Through Courage, by Dave Hollis

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of Built Through Courage

Do you ever feel stuck—like you’re just going through the motions instead of doing something really meaningful? Have you recently experienced upheaval in your life, and you don’t know what to do now? In Built Through Courage, Dave Hollis offers a solution to these common problems. According to Hollis, the key to living a happy and fulfilled life is achieving your unique purpose—a specific role you’re meant to fill.

Dave Hollis (1975-2023) worked as a Disney executive for 17 years before [changing...

Built Through Courage Summary What Is Purpose?

Purpose is a driving force that motivates and inspires you, guiding you throughout your life. Hollis explains that every person has specific talents and unique experiences. These talents and experiences are gifts, and every person has a responsibility to share their gifts with others: This is your purpose.

(Shortform note: In The Light We Carry, Michelle Obama explores several reasons why we each have a responsibility to share our unique talents and experiences with others. For example, Obama says that sharing your uniqueness (what she calls your “light”) encourages others to do the same. By noticing the ways you openly share your light, they’ll feel more comfortable sharing who they are with the world. This ultimately has a positive effect on society: People who nurture their light are more...

Built Through Courage Summary How to Achieve Your Purpose | Step #1: Understand Your Current Circumstances

To fulfill your purpose, you must first understand your current circumstances, Hollis says. Since your previous actions weren’t helping you achieve your purpose, you’ll have to change certain aspects of your life and behavior to better fit this goal. To make these changes, you must first understand what you're changing, how you arrived at your current circumstances, and why you don’t want to remain in that state.

(Shortform note: When reflecting on how you arrived at your current circumstances, consider following Dale Carnegie’s advice in How to Stop Worrying and Start Living: Accept that you can’t change the past. Doing so will prevent you from ruminating on the past, thus allowing you to focus on your present (understanding what you want to change and why) and your future (planning how to achieve your purpose). To further prevent yourself from ruminating on the past, consider reframing your past mistakes as learning opportunities, as Robin Sharma advises in Who Will Cry When You Die? For example, reflecting on your...

Built Through Courage Summary Step #2: Believe You Can Change Your Circumstances

As discussed, many people don’t fulfill their purpose because they don’t recognize their own potential for change. Thus, an important step to changing your life and fulfilling your purpose is believing you can do so.

(Shortform note: In The Magic of Thinking Big, David J. Schwartz further explains why it’s essential to believe that change is possible: If you believe you can’t do something, you’ll subconsciously search for confirmation of this belief. He notes that you can even subconsciously confirm it yourself by working less hard or less carefully. In contrast, if you do believe in yourself, you’ll search for confirmation of your abilities, which can make you subconsciously work harder or more carefully.)

Hollis offers a few tips for cultivating the belief that you can change your circumstances:

Tip #1: Use Imagination

Imagination is an important tool for believing change is possible. It lets you picture different opportunities and paths forward rather than simply accepting your current path. In turn, realizing you can make...

Built Through Courage Summary Step #3: Change Your Circumstances

Once you understand your current circumstances and believe that change is possible, the next step is to actually change—to take actions that help you achieve your purpose. Hollis points out, however, that you can only have one priority at a time. If you focus on one specific goal, you’re more likely to achieve that goal than if you split your attention among several. This will help ensure that all your actions are focused solely on achieving your purpose.

(Shortform note: In Essentialism, Greg McKeown says that many of us waste time on minor, nonessential things that distract us from the truly important things in our lives. McKeown discusses this in the context of activities, but the same idea applies to goals: We tend to accumulate them over time without much thought. This creates a packed schedule that doesn’t help you achieve your main goal: your purpose. Some of these activities or goals may be good and enjoyable, but they don’t ultimately serve you and must be dropped. For example, you may enjoy going dancing every night, but if doing so causes you to be...

Shortform Exercise: Identify Your Purpose

Achieving your unique purpose increases happiness and fulfillment. To identify yours, consider the five components of purpose: ideals, enthusiasm, proficiency, positive effect, and financial stability.

First, identify your ideals. What traits do you want other people to see in you? What kind of behavior and traits make you feel good about yourself? (For example, your ideals are helping others, honesty, and courage.)