Do It Scared: Why Fear Can Be Your Invitation to Act

Fear isn’t always a stop sign. Sometimes it’s the signal that growth is knocking. I explain in my latest LinkedIn newsletter. Read on!

It was July and we were standing at the base of a mountain. The guide told us we’d be riding the ski lift all the way to the top. I was thrilled. I had never ridden a ski lift before, and I’ve spent my whole life climbing mountains, so the idea of a free ride up felt like a gift.

But as we waited, I noticed several people in our group were not thrilled at all. In fact, they were terrified. Fear of heights. Fear of the mechanics. Fear of falling to their death. Their panic was so strong that it made me pause and check in with myself. Why wasn’t I scared?

That’s when it hit me. Fear has always been an interesting trigger for me. When I feel scared, I get angry with myself. Not angry at the world, but at the idea of letting fear win. Fear makes me want to do the thing even more.

Now, let’s pause for the important disclaimer. Fear is not always the enemy. Sometimes it is a valuable warning sign of real danger, and that kind of fear deserves attention. But most of the fear we feel in our daily lives, whether in business, leadership, or personal growth, is not about danger at all. It is about discomfort. Those are the moments where fear should push us forward, not hold us back.

I haven’t always been this way. As a kid, I was terrified of everything! Rides, risks, adventures, I let fear steal experiences. But somewhere along the way, I learned that the loss of opportunity hurts more than the risk itself. I realized there is a whole lot more to be lost by doing nothing than there is by doing something.

And isn’t that the same in business and leadership? As we have discussed, there is no waiting for the “perfect time.” Opportunities don’t sit around waiting for us. They come, they go, and if you hesitate too long, they are gone.

I have made bad business decisions in my life. Some ventures failed, some partnerships fell apart, some risks didn’t pay off. But I can tell you this: the regret of not trying is far heavier than the regret of trying and failing. More often than not, the biggest factor pushing me forward was this question: How would I feel if I didn’t?

If I didn’t step up. If I didn’t take the leap. If I didn’t post the video. If I didn’t ride the ski lift.

Fear is always there. It shows up on the dance floor, before the first kiss, in the silence before you step on stage, or the pause before you hit “publish” on a bold idea. Fear isn’t always the signal to stop, remember that it may be the invitation to go.

Do it scared. Because if you wait for fear to disappear, life will pass you by.

---

If this message resonated, you might enjoy what's happening over at my LinkedIn Newsletter with weekly coaching insights and interesting takes on humanity. Subscribe on LinkedIn, explore more articles, or reach out if you’re ready to take bold steps forward.