Carry Bear Spray

When you are hiking in bear (and moose) country, two rules can make all the difference. First, always carry bear spray. It is the safety net you hope you will never need but would never forgive yourself for leaving behind. Second, make noise. Talk, sing, clap, tell stories—anything to let wildlife know you are coming. Bears do not want to be around humans, and the sound of your voice gives them time to move away before you cross paths.

I followed these rules without fail during my recent trip to Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks during my recent PTO and wellness weekend (thanks F5!). Bear spray on my hip, voice echoing along the trail, I hiked through miles of forest and meadow. Sometimes my “noise” was chatting with my husband about the scenery. Sometimes it was narrating the path ahead (“Big rock. Tiny creek. Oh look, another hill!”). And sometimes, when the trail was empty and quiet, I spoke just to hear my own voice break the stillness.

It was not about loving the sound of my own voice. It was about survival. In bear country, silence can be dangerous.

And the more I thought about it, the more I realized the same is true in life.

In our careers, our communities, and our relationships, silence carries its own kind of risk. Stay too quiet, and you risk being overlooked, underestimated, or misunderstood. You miss opportunities to contribute, to lead, to change the direction of a conversation, or even an entire project. Just like a hiker rounding a bend into the path of an unsuspecting bear, you can find yourself in a situation you did not see coming simply because you did not speak up soon enough.

Speaking up, in any environment, serves as both a signal and a safeguard. It lets people know you are present, engaged, and invested. It opens the door for dialogue, debate, and collaboration. It ensures you have a say in what happens next.

This is something I have wrestled with in my career. Early on, I often stayed quiet, convinced I did not have enough experience, worried my words would not be “smart” enough, or assuming someone else knew better. But over time, I learned that staying silent does not protect you. It limits you. You miss the chance to shape the outcome, to influence the direction, and to grow from the exchange.

What matters most is not whether every idea is flawless, it is that you share it. If someone does not agree or appreciate your idea, that is okay. Disagreement is part of the process. The truth is, progress rarely comes from a single perfect thought. It comes from the collision of perspectives, from different angles, experiences, and approaches coming together. Every contribution, whether embraced, challenged, or debated, expands the view.

And perspective is essential. It fuels problem-solving by revealing paths you did not know existed. It sparks creativity by mixing ideas in unexpected ways. It builds trust because it shows you are willing to be open and vulnerable enough to contribute. 

And it shapes the kind of conversations where good ideas have the space to become great ones.

Speaking up does not mean you have to dominate every meeting, raise your hand for every question, or share every passing thought. Just as you would not shout for the entire duration of a 10-mile hike, you do not need constant volume to make an impact. What you do need is presence, the willingness to add your voice at the moments that matter most.

The more you do it, the easier it becomes. Over time, you will find that speaking up is not just about making noise, it is about finding your voice. You will notice that people begin to turn toward you in conversation, to ask your opinion, to include you in decisions. Not because you have become the loudest person in the room, but because you have become a trusted and consistent contributor to the conversation.

That is the real lesson the trail taught me. In both the wilderness and in life, your voice is a tool. In one case, it can keep you safe. In the other, it can help you grow, lead, and make an impact.

Life is the same way. From a distance, our careers and experiences may look like a single sweeping path, but they are built from a bunch of small moments where we decide to show up, to speak up, and to make our presence known. Each time we do, we shape the course, not just for ourselves, but for those walking beside us.

So carry your bear spray. Make noise. And above all, speak up. The view from the top, whether it is a mountaintop, a career milestone, or a personal breakthrough, is worth every word.

And so for the next part of my personal journey, I will write more pieces like this from time to time, sharing something I hope will be useful, with a good chance it will be wrapped in a travel anecdote or analogy. Why? Because travel teaches, stories connect, and, let’s be honest, it is just more fun that way!