The Courage to Create: Daring Greatly on the Path to Innovation
- Oluseyi Ekanem
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
In the world of creativity and innovation, fear is often a constant companion. The fear of failure. The fear of rejection. The fear of stepping into the unknown. But there’s one quote that has always carried me through these moments, and I find it more relevant now than ever before:
“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.”— Theodore Roosevelt
I carry this quote with me because it encapsulates the journey of being a creator, an innovator, and an entrepreneur. I lead a film production company in Nigeria, striving to push the boundaries of African storytelling with the help of AI and computer graphics. In a world where perfection is often the standard, where critics are loud and expectations are high, I’ve learned that failure isn’t the end—it’s a part of the process.
Embracing Failure as a Stepping Stone
Every new venture, every bold idea, comes with the risk of failure. In fact, failure is often inevitable. But if we fear it too much, we might never take the first step. The arena is filled with dust, sweat, and yes, sometimes blood. But it’s also where the magic happens. It's where we dare to fail and rise again.
If we stand on the sidelines, waiting for the perfect moment or for all the fears to disappear, we miss the chance to do meaningful work. The critics will always be there, pointing out where we stumbled or where we could have done better. But the true credit belongs to those who show up—to those who take action despite the fear of falling short.
The Courage to Dare Greatly
In my work, I’ve made it a point to not only lead but to create through the fear. As we introduce new technologies like AI and computer graphics to African cinema, the risk is significant. Some projects will fail. Some ideas won’t work out. But that’s okay. What matters is that we’re daring to try. We’re putting ourselves in the arena.
Every failure is a lesson, every mistake a stepping stone toward progress. And, just as Roosevelt said, if we fail, we fail while daring greatly. Because we can’t innovate without risk, and we can’t build without failure.
A Legacy of Creation
Part of my vision is not only to tell stories but to create an ecosystem where young creatives can thrive. We’re training the next generation of filmmakers, artists, and tech innovators—helping them see that failure is not a roadblock but part of the journey. When they step into the arena, they’re not only learning to create—they’re learning to embrace the fall, knowing that they will rise stronger each time.
Moving Forward Despite the Fear
To anyone standing on the edge of their own dreams, afraid to fail: this is your invitation to take that step. The fear won’t disappear, but action can. The arena may not be comfortable, but it is where we create, where we risk, and where we thrive.
Dare greatly, fail often, but never let fear hold you back from the creation that is meant for you.
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