Jordan Peace is Co-Founder & CEO of Fringe, the first lifestyle benefits marketplace, and Greenhouse Money, financial services.
It’s the difference between “no fear” versus “no, fear.”
A comma can be a very powerful thing. Back in 1989, a clothing brand called No Fear was created. As a child of the ’90s, it was a big deal for me. I wore that brand and message proudly for all to see.
I was an invincible, fearless, strapping (not really) young pre-teen boy, and I wanted the world to know that nothing could stop me in life. Oh, how little I understood about the world at 10. In fact, many of us missed a comma.
Fear As Part Of The Journey
What entrepreneurship has taught me is that there is no such thing as “no fear.” However, what is required of us to be successful in this game is to consistently and vehemently resolve to tell our enemy: “No, fear.”
The comma is everything. Fear is a part of the journey. Fear is part of the game we are all playing in life. We can no more eradicate fear than we can block out the warmth of the sun. One is unwelcomed and one is welcomed, but both of these things are inevitable.
It is often said that “pressure makes diamonds.” Similarly, I’d offer that there is no courage without fear. Courage is not the mere absence of fear, but rather the choice to take the right action in the face of fear.
The Defensive Versus Offensive Position
When it comes to one’s career, one’s life, one’s relationships, I see only two basic choices when it comes to dealing with this inevitable and inescapable adversary. Most people make the choice to play defense.
This strategy is two-fold. First, one must dream small. Setting small, simple and obvious attainable goals reduces the risk of failure, which in turn can avoid most battles with fear.
Secondly, people build walls. They build emotional walls to protect themselves relationally. They build financial walls to protect against any and all market risks. They build intellectual walls to trap in their known and established way of thinking and interpreting the world.
Playing defense can work—at least for a while. The problem is those who choose this strategy rarely build the emotional muscles necessary for wrangling and subduing fear, and even what strength they carried out of childhood slowly atrophies. When an unforeseen and unstoppable event comes about, and fear with it, often all the walls come crumbling down.
The other choice is to attack. Attack fear with all you have. Few brave souls choose this approach, but you likely know the names of many business leaders who go this route. These leaders have faced fear enough times to know that their enemy is formidable but beatable—especially when exposed and seen clearly. As country artist Zach Williams recently put in his song: “Fear is a Liar.”
Overcoming Fear
When it comes to innovating or scaling a business, I think it’s important to understand that fear is simply our inner bully out to limit us at every turn. But fear isn’t all that clever, really. Consider its message: “You can’t.” “You won’t.” “You’re not good enough.” “You’ll fail.” Basic bully stuff.
Those who opt to play offense have realized that while there is no way around fear, there is a way through it. When fear is overcome, leaders often experience the most important and defining moments of their lives immediately afterward.
A single victory over fear reveals to us that we are capable of courage and that we can win more and more victories along the way. There is no secret to success. There is no amount of higher education, self-help books or podcast listening that will make one bit of difference in a person’s life unless they decide to face fear instead of running from it.
I believe that the 1% are the 1% not because the other 99% can’t, but because the other 99% won’t. Of course, there are factors like inequity, privilege and other advantages and disadvantages at play. But considering none of us can change our starting line as entrepreneurs, I suggest we focus on what we can control. And that is our lifelong wrestling match with fear.
Take my word for it, fear cannot defeat you. You can only defeat yourself, and 99% of the time it’ll be because you simply don’t try.
Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders. Do I qualify?
Read the full article here
