Don't Be Afraid

Today (Halloween) is the only day of the year where most people embrace fear. Haunted houses, scary costumes, and creepy chimes are celebrated by kids and adults. The rest of the year, many people live in fear but a different kind of fear.

Fear of failure. Fear of rejection. Fear of leadership change. Fear of (fill in the blank). Suffice it to say, fear can be a debilitating state of mind that stunts forward progress, and overall happiness.

How is it that fear has become one of the leading causes of anxiety, depression, and anger? Is it the media? Social upbringing. One’s DNA? Whatever the reason, it is important to be cognizant of the fact that we can take fear head on and do something about it.

I was working with a client last year who refused to write down in his Business Development Plan a stretch revenue goal. A revenue target that seems almost unattainable but still lies in the realm of possible. His reason for not identifying that stretch target was due to his fear of feeling like a failure if he fell short of that goal. He would rather focus on his realistic target number than stick his neck out and aim for something greater. I tried to explain to him that even if he fell short of his stretch goal but exceeded his realistic goal, it would still be a successful year. In the early stages of our time together, his fear would win that argument every time. Over time, he eventually learned to overcome that fear by slowly sticking his neck out and seeing the positive results.

When my 7-year-old boy, Lukas, was first learning how to ride a bike, he was afraid to get on the bike after his first crash. I get it. It never feels good when you fall off a bike, but when you realize that falling off a bike is part of learning how to ride a bike, you are more willing to try again. Once Lukas embraced the concept of "falling is part of learning," he was willing to get back in the saddle and push his limits.

In the business world, the results of “crashing” typically doesn’t end up in physical harm rather a ding to the ego. It is difficult for most professionals to park their ego at the door before diving into their business day. If they could do this everyday, fear would not be clouding their willingness to take chances. Whether it is asking a prospective client for a meeting, asking the boss for a raise, or publishing your first article; whatever comes out of it is going to be okay.

One of the biggest challenges in any new endeavor is the willingness to stick your neck out and be okay with the result. Sometimes the result will fall short of your expectations, and other times it will exceed your expectations. If you want to improve and grow your business, it is important to embrace both results. More importantly, it is important to be aware of your fears and embrace them rather than fear them.

On that note, I hope that you enjoy and celebrate this “fearful” holiday and find ways to celebrate and overcome your other fears during the other 364 days in the year.