I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear. ~ Nelson Mandela

Today we’re sharing insight from guest blogger Greg Downes, Chairman Emeritus at Gibson. We hope you enjoy Greg’s wisdom and perspective.

Today we’re sharing insight from guest blogger Ron Kitchens, Chief Executive Officer of the Southwest Michigan First Group of Companies. We hope you enjoy Ron’s wisdom and perspective.

Creating open teamwork is the best way to encourage innovation. - Kay Koplovitz

I remember well the first time I recognized someone as being a great leader – not just an authority figure, but a true leader.

Today we’re sharing insight from guest blogger, Dr. Eric Bricker, Chief Medical Officer of Compass Professional Health Services. We hope you enjoy Dr. Eric’s wisdom and perspective.

Today we’re sharing insight from guest blogger Jerry Scott. We hope you enjoy Jerry’s wisdom and perspective.

The winds of change are blowing in our community. In my 35 years living here, after relocating from Tennessee, I have never been so excited and optimistic about our future. There are so many cool things happening: Metronet, Renaissance District, Regional Cities Initiative, US Tech Center, Innovation Park, Ignition Park, Ignite Michiana, and on and on. Entrepreneurial spirit seems to be flowing everywhere with the possibility for dramatic job growth and regional prosperity.

Today we’re sharing insight from guest blogger Steve Camilleri, Executive Director at the Center for the Homeless. We hope you enjoy Steve’s wisdom and perspective.

Would you be surprised to learn that a University of Scranton study found 92% of people who set resolutions don’t succeed? Probably not, because you, like me, may be one of those people. As much as we hate to admit it, resolutions usually don’t work. This is heartbreaking news to me. Not just because I’ll continue to eat unhealthily, but because I also won’t get around to saving money nor will I purge the closets like I promised myself.

Today we’re sharing insight from guest blogger Karen Moscato. We hope you enjoy Karen’s wisdom and perspective.

2015 was the year of the consultant. I offer that reflection because so many of my professional colleagues left their corporate positions in search of owning their own business. They felt they had wisdom to share to improve the health of the corporate business they just left.

“Forever is composed of nows.” - Emily Dickinson

Ernest Hemingway’s famous novel, For Whom The Bell Tolls, is built around a few days in the life of an American volunteer, Robert Jordan, fighting in the Spanish Civil War in 1937. He was tasked with a dangerous mission he knew he likely wouldn’t survive. Jordan was the consummate soldier, never worrying too much about his own safety. However, as he lay dying and the fait accompli of his work comes into focus, he ponders a bigger theme:

Another year of blogging comes to an end. I owe a big thanks to the guest bloggers who shared their wisdom and perspective with our readers throughout 2015.

Here are the most popular #WhatsTheRisk blogs of 2015:

You would be hard pressed to miss the sound of ringing bells this time of year. Church bells, sleigh bells, and of course Salvation Army bells all proclaim the joy and happiness of the Season. It makes me wonder – do we all hear the same bell?