Lessons from a Top Facebook Executive: Reboot Podcast

After listening to the recent Reboot.io podcast with Noah Kagan, the founder of AppSumo and former early Facebook employee, I wanted to share some major takeaways around effectively dealing with fear as an entrepreneur and leader.

Fear is the number one blocker I see in the leaders I work with. Yet, when explored, we can typically "pop the fear balloon" with a few pins. I found Noah's strategies for addressing fear highly insightful. This drove me to contribute this article. Fear is the dark force that robs our careers (and lives) of joy.

Noah spoke extensively about the strategies he employs today compared to earlier in his career. In the past, it was all anxiety and avoidance - something I am guilty of as well in my early career and now strive to unpack with teams.

One critical new strategy he uses is pausing when problems arise instead of reacting emotionally at the moment. As we know, triggering the primal "fight or flight" response inhibits thoughtful response. By pausing, we give our prefrontal cortex time to assess and problem-solve. It's incredible what a short pause can do to create needed space for broader thinking.

In addition to pausing, Noah stresses self-awareness through ongoing therapy, reflecting on leadership lessons, seeking regular feedback, and documenting effective emotional strategies. This aligns with my coaching experience - those pairing therapy and coaching progress twice as quickly as just one or the other.

Why? Self-awareness is essential for high emotional intelligence, which studies show is vital for leadership. People with high EQ handle uncertainty better, empathize more, and create psychological safety - where people take risks and speak up. Safety = awesome teams = engagement = success.

As an entrepreneur and leader myself, I connected with Noah's journey. Surrounding himself with coaches and mentors rather than going it alone was inspiring. We need objective sounding boards to process fears, gain insight, and find support. In my experience, I enjoy helping others this way.

If you similarly notice fear or doubt inhibiting your leadership, I highly recommend Reboot's podcast and working with a certified emotional intelligence coach like myself. Mastering these skills unlocks potential and transforms businesses and lives. As Noah discovered, courageously facing fears creates space for deeper success beyond validation-seeking and momentary highs.