Fear has resonated through all of us in one way, shape or form: the fear of fitting in, of taking and passing a test, or of not making a team. And the greatest fear of all : the fear of failure. Why do some embrace fear and turn it into motivation while others are paralyzed by it?
Soup Anyone?
Author of Chicken Soup for the Soul series Jack Canfield offers, ‘Everything you want is on the other side of fear.’ He seized that fear and turned it into a best-selling motivational series. Within a month of submitting the first manuscript to publishing houses, the creative team behind this multimillion dollar series got turned down 33 consecutive times. Publishers claimed that “anthologies don’t sell” and the book was “too positive.” Total number of rejections? 140. Then, in 1993, the president of Health Communications took a chance on the collection of poems, stories, and tidbits of encouragement. Today, the 65-title series has sold more than 80 million copies in 37 languages[1]. Chances are, none of us have come even close to trying something that many times without success. Most likely, you tried, failed and that was it. If he can be rejected 140 times, dust himself off, get back up and keep trying, why can’t you?
So now what?
If you are asking why do we feel fear that is the wrong question. The better question to ask is how do we handle it in a way that allows us to grow, learn and turn it into an ally?.
- The first step is to assess what you are afraid of. This is simple: Just what is it that ignites that fear?
- Second is to look at that fear and determine is it real or imagined?
- Third is to make a plan of how you will overcome that fear and get to the other side.
The steps in motion
In my profession as a trainer and life coach, I make new connections every day, whether it is through a referral, a passerby or through social media. However, in order for me to be successful at my craft, I had to overcome the fears of speaking to people I didn’t know, trying to sell who I was and what I stood for, networking and asking for the sale. It wasn’t until I realized that if I didn’t do any of the above, I might as well change careers. It was my passion for helping people, the desire to be better and grow as a person that I harnessed the fear. I used it as motivation every time I came into a new situation and challenged myself to speak to new people and not let my fear get the best of me.
#NoFear14 at work!
My suggestion is turn overcoming fear into something fun by making a game of it. See how many steps you can take towards what is holding you back. The further you progress, the more power you take away from your fear and the more power you give back to yourself! The Get Smart theme is #nofear14 so take your fear, show it who is boss and take back what you deserve! You will do more than come out on the other side. You will find everything you want is waiting for you and has always been.
Check out more information about Sean and his work as a trainer and coach here!
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