The dictionary defines gutsy as showing courage, determination and spirit. Plucky is another word they use, but plucky reminds me of the women from movies in the 40’s with their rapid repartee and bold entrances. They worked in newsrooms and wore pants like Katherine Hepburn, who was known for doing her own stunts. Maybe that was gutsy back in the day, but today I can’t say I feel it defines the word for women today!
Let’s look at the root word ‘gut’. Gut can be referenced to mean a feeling or reaction based on an instinctive emotional response rather than a considered thought. It also means your intestines. Can intestines think? No, they cannot. Your gut feeling originates in your brain, but you feel your response way down in your belly, like butterflies or a heaviness or lightness- it’s like an early warning system or a confirmation tactic that you can definitely train and rely on. I do.
I used to be someone who would take a dare and even double down on it if the mood was right, but I don’t see that as gutsy. That's reckless in my book, and they aren’t the same thing. The word reckless comes from the Old English word receleas, meaning "careless, thoughtless, heedless." If you have a reckless attitude, you aren't concerned about what happens to yourself or others who might be affected by your actions.
So what or who determines what’s gutsy? Would engaging in risky behaviour be considered gutsy? Let’s examine this for a moment.
I was tested for risk tolerance by my bank. They like to assess clients before they start investing in stocks and bonds on their behalf. I showed as having a high tolerance for taking risks. That’s why I bought a motorcycle, why I started a business, and am comfortable with hare-brained schemes. Having said that, I never say ‘yes’ before checking in with my ‘gut’.
I would say to myself, with hands on my stomach, “How does this make me feel? Did I feel hesitant or confident? Should I do this or not?’
This is operating with your gut, trusting your gut, but again, it’s not necessarily gutsy behaviour. I think taking calculated risks is gutsy. Coming out of your comfort zone, overcoming fears, or modelling new behaviour is gutsy.
Being gutsy is a prerequisite for an entrepreneur, in my opinion. One must have some propensity for risk-taking; otherwise, how could one go all in after their dream? Giving birth, whether to a child or a business, is gutsy. There’s a risk associated with both, and depending on the country you are in, that risk factor can go up or down.
There are no absolutes or 100% guarantees when it comes to life. We don’t know what will fail and what won’t, and that’s where I think ‘gutsy’ comes into play.
I believe that you must be prepared to lose in order to win! Whether it’s money or pride, with opportunity comes risk, and with risk comes gutsy behaviour.
Whether you put your talents on display for the public or you open a storefront, write a book, or give birth to new ideas, when you put yourself out there on stage for everyone to see, you are being Gutsy!
No matter how determined you are, how hard you work, or plan for everything that can go wrong, when you take a risk, even a calculated one, you must be prepared for the day Lady Luck isn’t on your side.
Stay Gutsy, stay Gamechanging!
