(~3 minute read.)
Brad Cox is our guest blogger today, sharing his stories of courage. In his own words …
I grew up in Melbourne, Australia and I’m the proud father of three children with my incredible wife Shae. I’ve forged a 20+ year career in the pharmaceutical industry which has been incredibly rewarding and has now given us the opportunity for a courageous and amazing adventure in the USA.
As the clock ticked away on a Friday afternoon in late 2021, I was working in my home office, eagerly awaiting a phone call that I’d been waiting weeks, if not years for.
When I first stepped into the pharmaceutical industry as a sales representative in 2001, I recall the admiration I had for our commercial directors and envisioning a career trajectory akin to theirs. To date, my career path had gone to plan and now this phone call would see me realize that early career goal. Unfortunately, the phone call was not what I hoped for – I’d been unsuccessful in permanently filling the role. It was the lowest point of my career.
The immediate aftermath was a mixture of emotions—grief, doubt, frustration, and anger. Two weeks of reflection led me to a crossroads, where I faced an important choice—continue to wallow in self-pity or take control of what comes next. The decision itself was an obvious choice, however, emotionally it was extremely difficult and I was incredibly grateful for the support of family & friends. Over the next several weeks I explored a variety of possibilities and I continued to come back to the one option which promised to be the most challenging and rewarding.
The prospect of an overseas opportunity had been on the cards for a number of years, but the timing had never been right. But, this time was different and with determination and the support of family, friends & colleagues, I successfully secured a role in the US that would enable me to propel my professional growth and set our family up for the adventure of a lifetime.
Two weeks of reflection led me to a crossroads, where I faced an important choice—continue to wallow in self-pity or take control of what comes next.
On a personal front, my wife Shae stood as my rock, and together, we braved the daunting prospect of uprooting our family of five and venturing into the unknown. From shutting down our Australian lives to laying the foundations of a new beginning in the US, the journey spanned several months of meticulous planning, countless phone calls, meetings, and paperwork. Yet, amidst the chaos, courage revealed itself in a myriad of forms, not least in the unwavering resilience of our children.
Watching them embrace unfamiliar challenges – boarding yellow school buses to foreign schools with no fuss, mastering new sports with a “give it a crack” attitude – filled us with pride and inspiration. And as we settled into our new reality, the dividends of our courage began to manifest.
Professionally, the positive growth from that first courageous step to the US has enabled me to once again step back into discomfort and re-challenge myself with an exciting new role preparing to launch a new medication worldwide. It’s a new role for me and the learning curve is steep but it’s a challenge I’m relishing and one that is extremely rewarding.
… amidst the chaos, courage revealed itself in a myriad of forms, not least in the unwavering resilience of our children.
The decision to embrace the unknown has yielded countless rewards—new friendships, enriching experiences, and professional growth. Looking ahead, we’re optimistic that the lessons learned and the bonds forged will pave the way for long-term benefits, both personally and professionally.
Looking back on that fateful Friday afternoon call, I’m filled with gratitude for the courage that propelled us onto this transformative path. It was a sliding doors moment—a juncture where the choice to embrace the unfamiliar set us on a course of adventure and growth, for which I am forever grateful.
Brad, thank you for sharing your story with us. When I consider the different elements and skills of courage, there are many in your story: determination, perseverance, resilience, emotional intelligence, the support of others, curiosity and growth to name … quite a few.
I have had the privilege to work, learn and laugh with you, for which I am grateful. I am also grateful that you have shared your story with me, and as a result, with us. I have no doubt that it will inspire others.
If you would like to connect with Brad, you can connect with him here.
Thank you,
@CourageChick
Leading with courage 