“The Magic, you are looking for is in the work you’re avoiding”

Fearless Entrepreneur & Leader. JULIA LECKEY’S BLOG

by Julia Leckey . 30th October 2024

Welcome to the 8th bi-weekly edition of Think, Plan, Do for Fearless Entrepreneurs & Leaders. This week's focus on the Fearless Entrepreneur & Leader centers around embracing the magic in the work you’re avoiding. I dive deep into ways we can harness fear as a pathway to growth, sharing insights from my own experiences and my recent interview with neuroscientist Louise Baker .

Julia x

Thinking Fearlessly

THINK ??

“The Magic, you are looking for is in the work you’re avoiding”

I’ve found magic by facing more than my share of fears—launching my first business as a new mother, raising a premature baby, battling aggressive cancers, and navigating constant change. Now, I’m in the magical place of building two passion businesses: Thinking Fearlessly ?and Land of Colourful Creatures . At 51, this is about stopping procrastination and diving into what I love doing—small actions daily to build something magical.

Life isn’t easy, but, as Roald Dahl said, “Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.”

Why is this important?

Over time, I realised that success doesn’t come from eliminating fear but from learning to use it as fuel for growth. Fear isn’t the enemy; it’s our response to it that matters. As I discovered, this is an inside-out challenge.

Example:

Below is a diagram that captures my life’s journey, highlighting the moments where growth truly happened. Notice that the biggest leaps in growth weren’t at the highest points but in the valleys—the dips where fear and challenge resided.

These were the times I made the most transformational life changes: jumping jobs, setting up my own business, selling it, going travelling. It took facing my fears like, “What if my business didn’t work?” or “What if my health failed?” But by confronting these, I’m here today, growing.

How can You Find Your Magic?

I interviewed neuroscientist Louise Baker last week to discuss how fear works in our minds and how we overcome it to find our magic. I met Louise at Spa Fest (one of the fabulous speakers) and loved her insights. Each step she shared, from her extensive reading and experience, is a tool for turning fear into a growth pathway.

1.??? Acknowledge the Fear

- Name the Fear: Pinpoint exactly what you’re afraid of and what you’re avoiding.

- Reflect: Is it a real or perceived threat? Are you avoiding (flight) or self-criticising (fight)? Awareness alone can reduce fear’s power. Notice your thoughts—write them down.

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2.??? Pause and Ground Yourself

- Calm Your Mind: Use breathing or grounding exercises to ease the fight-or-flight response.

-‘Cushion of Kindness’: Practise self-compassion, giving yourself space to work through the fear.

3.??? Shift Fear to Curiosity

- Ask, “What if?”: Turn fear into curiosity and magical ideas. What opportunity could emerge if you face this fear?

?4.??? Create a Simple Plan

- Break Down Challenges: Start with small steps if the goal seems overwhelming.

-Focus on Control: Direct your energy toward what you can change and influence (circle of control), letting go of the rest.

5.??? Take Small, Bold Actions

-Take a First Step: Address the fear directly, even if it’s a small action.

- Celebrate Wins: Acknowledge each success to create positive associations with action.

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6.??? Practise Self-Compassion

- Stay Kind to Yourself: Progress isn’t always linear, so avoid self-criticism. Treat setbacks as learning points.

7.??? Visualisation and Repetition

- Visualise Calm Responses: Practise visualising positive, magical outcomes to build resilience and calm.

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8.??? Balance Action with Acceptance

- Acceptance as the ‘New Normal’: Balance taking action with accepting uncertainty. This balance helps prevent overwhelming fear.

Using these steps, fear shifts from a paralysing force into a pathway for growth and resilience. By combining self-awareness, compassion, and action, fear becomes a powerful motivator for progress and transformation.?“The magic you’re looking for is in the work you’re avoiding,”?so get stuck in!

If you’re seeking inspiration on self-awareness and growth, I recommend Know Thyself by Stephen M. Fleming , RisingStrong by Brené Brown, and Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert .

How can knowing this help you?

Take a moment to face what you’re avoiding or procrastinating about today. Do the inner work to find your magic. Go through Louise’s 8 points to see where you come out, and dive into practising mindfulness.

?Mindfulness expert Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn defines mindfulness as “the awareness that arises from paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgmentally.” He explores both the challenges and the deep rewards of practising mindfulness—a powerful tool for grounding yourself and embracing growth. For more insight, watch?this?video?on mindfulness .

Bringing it back to my two businesses:

At Land of Colourful Creatures , for years I’d grown further away from being a creative (where the magic is for me) toward running a business. Facing this fact led to LOCC being born.?

In? Thinking Fearlessly , my coaching business, I love helping Leaders and Entrepreneurs grow, overcome procrastination, and get stuck into life to find their magic.

Make time for THINKING ??

2/ PLAN ??

I love a Plan.

I believe nothing has weight unless it’s written down.

We have been working through our?Land of Colourful Creatures checklist plan for the event in MAISON&OBJET 2025, and I’m so glad we had a plan to keep us on track.

The artwork is finished and looking magical (right on time)!!

Marie-Julie Trijasson , you’re a star. And a huge thank you to my husband, Eddy Edwards , for helping us build such a powerful brand story.

I love a plan! ??

3/ DO ??

Small victories are incredibly powerful, so get stuck into the?Do, the actions that get you unstuck. In the spirit of doing, I’ve accomplished three big things in the last two weeks—fun, family-oriented, and foundation-building:

1.?? Fun: I saw Jon Ronson, the author of?The Psychopath Test. It was brilliant! I read his book in 2013 and have identified a few psychopaths since, using his test, worth a read!

?2.??? Foundation: I’m meeting a publishing expert on Thursday to talk about the first draft of my new book. It needs loads of work, but I’m not avoiding it—I’m leaning into the magic of my one life.

3. Family: I’m in Shropshire helping my mum and dad pack up their farmhouse of 22 years. They’re embracing change, looking to “future-proof” their lives. The memories are overwhelming, but I’m proud they’re leaning into this new chapter.

Something to DO: How do you face the things you’re avoiding and create magic in your life?

What can you…

THINK??

PLAN ??.

DO ??

This week to power your boat.

I hope this helps,

Julia x

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Next Event: “Next Event:?“Hargreaves Lansdown” Event -?Fearless Leaders, 20th November 2024.

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Julia Leckey: Parents: Salvation Army officers, Social Worker, Accountant, Headteacher, Artist, entrepreneurs. Studied at Nottingham Trent. WPP as a Director.? Started own business at 31 with a baby; grew to high 7 figures. Sold it. Started new business at 43 with two boys; grew to 7 figures. Sold it. Started Thinking Fearlessly. Started Land of Colourful Creatures.Two cancers. Learned not to let FEAR drive my car.

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