On Doing it Afraid

‘Everything you want is on the other side of fear.’ Last week, I read these words in a number of places, it seemed like they were chasing me around.

A lot of people think, I must be very brave to have started a consulting business, especially being relatively young at the time, I was 33. They think perhaps I am bold and courageous, assertive or aggressive or had lots of money stashed away somewhere. Truth is, I am none of those things. I

thank God, my parents ex-colleagues are still here. I was actually, the least likely, based on my personality. Probably the reason why I still struggle in some regards. Story for another day.

My favorite definition of courage reads, ‘Courage is not the absence of fear but the ability to act inspite of the fear.

That’s me. I did it afraid. Scratch that, I do it afraid and I am still doing it afraid. The fear never really goes anywhere. Just like faith is not the absence of doubt, courage is not the absence of fear. In faith and in courage, what matters most is our ability to act inspite of…that indeed is the game changer; execution.

A lot of you may not know this, but the HR Bootcamp Conference was the first product developed under Kendor Consulting. It all started in my bedroom, I had resigned my job a few months back, had started working independently and figured I didn’t want another job. I knew I had something to offer but not the way the world had programmed us to work. I also knew that you can design the very best product in the world, you can be gifted and even talented but if nobody knows about your ability, you will serve no one and probably die a pauper.

I knew that the only way I could make a living from my decision to not work another job was to put the word out there. The next logical step was to announce it. The most effective way was via email, so I had gathered all the email addresses I could get from my network. All that I had to do next was compose the email and press send. I didn’t realise that just pressing a send button could be so daunting. I probably dilly-dallied on that one action for what seemed like hours. So I eventually asked myself, ‘what’s the worst that can happen?’ Rejection or no response right? At least, I will know my fate.

And then I did it! I pressed send. Shut my laptop quickly with a loud snap and I ran out of my room. Running to only God knows where. But I did it, I did it afraid.

I still remember it vividly, because it was around this time 9 years ago. If you think that one day, you will be fear-free and ready to take that action you have been procrastinating, I really doubt it. Exercising a leap of faith has everything do with doubt, uncertainty and fear. We just need to believe that there’s something greater than our fear on the other side.

Remember, ‘ everything you want is on the other side of fear.’

Just do it! Do it afraid.

Copyright, Adora Ikwuemesi, 2018.

Adora speaks, writes, and advises on Human Resources Management.

You can find out more about her on her website www.adoraikwuemesi.com