The Fear of Change

This post originally appeared on the John Maxwell Team blog.

For over three decades, Lonnetta Albright taught transformation and growth to others. With a talent for simplifying complex ideas and empowering others to embrace change, she was nearing a crossroads in her life.

“I was at a point of wanting to start the next chapter in my life.” Wanting to retire, Lonnetta worried about losing guaranteed income, walking away from her career, and she wasn’t sure her team was ready to go on without her.

In late 2013 she received a LinkedIn message from John Maxwell. A longtime reader of his books, she was excited to learn that he was starting a team and thought he could add value to her life. “To be honest, I hesitated,” she says. “I discovered that what I was telling people held them back was holding me back too. It was fear!”

After three months, she decided to give herself a birthday gift and enrolled with the John Maxwell Team. “I spent a lot of time teaching and coaching others about transformation and mindset change, but before I joined the team I hadn’t spent much time with my own transformation.”

Soon, Lonnetta began investing in herself and she found that with the right mindset, she can always overcome her fears. “Without the Team, challenging myself and getting past my fears would have been a lot harder. I learned how to take a leap of faith. Now, I’m courageous and I’m not afraid of falling.”

Upon retiring, she immediately secured three coaching contracts, and she continues to help others tap into their potential. “Do what you want to do,” she smiles. “Don’t seek the approval of others. Know your why and believe in yourself.”