Jill Schulman is a former U.S. Marine Corps officer turned leadership development expert and founder of Breakthrough Leadership Group.
Drawing on a deep background in psychology, neuroscience, and behavioral science, she blends rigorous research with practical strategies to help individuals and teams cultivate resilience, increase performance, and enhance well‑being through the science of bravery.
Her upcoming book, The Bravery Effect, offers accessible, evidence‑based tools to help you develop a courageous mindset, take bold action, and build meaningful support systems.
Jill’s philosophy is simple yet powerful: “Courage over regret”—embrace discomfort, start with the hard stuff, and live a life led by bravery, not comfort.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN:
00:02 – Michael Gardon introduces guest Jill Schulman, a Marine Corps veteran, keynote speaker, and expert on the science of bravery. Her upcoming book The Bravery Effect explores courage as a skill, not just a trait.
01:10 – Jill explains bravery is not innate but a skill you can build. It’s like a muscle, you strengthen it over time by moving forward despite fear.
03:40 – Bravery isn’t just physical (soldiers, first responders). It also includes everyday actions like asking for a promotion, raising your hand in a meeting, or starting a business.
06:02 – Jill shares her Marine Corps story: arriving unprepared but learning to build confidence by pushing forward in fear. Bravery transformed her into someone she was proud of.
07:24 – Inspired by her grandfather’s Marine service, Schulman joined ROTC for college and became a commissioned officer. For her, the Corps was a ticket to a bigger life.
08:39 – Bravery often comes from imagining the cost of inaction. Choosing discomfort over regret pushes us toward growth.
10:23 – Connection to positive psychology: Marty Seligman’s concept of learned optimism helps people overcome setbacks realistically—not Pollyanna thinking, but believing you can act and adapt.
12:30 – Positive psychology studies flourishing, not just fixing problems. Optimism fuels action, while pessimism breeds helplessness.
15:40 – Learned optimism is about realism: acknowledge challenges but see them as temporary and solvable. This perspective fuels bravery.
21:31 – Jill stresses seeking discomfort proactively. True happiness doesn’t come from ease but from challenge and growth (PERMA model: Positive emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, Accomplishment).
24:17 – Our culture over-prioritizes comfort, but neuroscience shows bravery rewires the brain: repeated small steps toward fear strengthen resilience.
27:47 – Building bravery requires three areas:
- Mindset (cognitive) – growth mindset, stress-as-enhancing, generating positive emotions, reframing self-talk.
- Behavior (actions) – setting meaningful goals, breaking them into steps, anticipating obstacles, habit-stacking, and doing hard tasks first.
- Environment (social) – surrounding yourself with people who encourage and normalize brave actions.
37:18 – Cognitive training examples:
- Growth mindset (“yet” principle).
- Stress reframe: stress = preparation to perform.
- Gratitude done right: identify 3 positive things from last 24 hrs.
- Self-talk: shift inner critic into a supportive voice.
42:47 – Positive emotions act like a generator that powers progress. Tools include gratitude journaling, music, exercise, mindfulness, or creating a “positivity portfolio” (images, scents, activities that lift your state).
52:29 – Behavioral steps: set self-concordant goals (deeply meaningful), plan implementation, anticipate obstacles, and replace unhelpful habits with productive ones. Start small to build momentum and self-trust.
59:59 – Avoid setting goals too big, too soon. Instead, focus on tiny consistent steps to build self-confidence and momentum.
01:04:50 – Jill shares her recent bravery: leaving a successful corporate training path to research bravery, write her book, and step into new arenas like podcasts and social media. She applies the very model she teaches.
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BOOKS AND RESOURCES
- The Bravery Effect – book by Jill Schulman
- Learned Optimism – Martin Seligman
- Flourish – Martin Seligman
- The Upside of Stress – Kelly McGonigal
- Research on stress mindset – Alia Crum
- Positivity – Barbara Fredrickson
- High Performance Habits – Brendon Burchard
- The Power of Habit – Charles Duhigg
- Grit – Angela Duckworth
- The Happiness Advantage – Shawn Achor
- Meditations – Marcus Aurelius
- 10 to 25 – Dr. David Yeager
- Free bravery assessment
- Connect with Jill on her website, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.
