Overcoming Fear

Fear is the fuel of life. It can make you freeze in your tracks or propel you to success and get you out of your comfort zone.

Fear is just part of the job. It means go. You can do it. Don’t quit. Work through it and be a student – Learn.

I was an enlisted infantryman and paratrooper most of my life.

My scores were too low on my SAT college acceptance test. Since I was a veteran they gave me One Semester to prove I could make it. I graduated with honors at BYU.

I was enlisted Infantry and they said I could not become an officer, my scores were too low. I did. As an officer, they said I did not have the swagger or smarts to be of one of the boys. I became an Airborne Infantry LT, Captain and Major with two company command with one block OER throughout my career; many of my senior raters were One Star Generals.

They told me am not a leader because I was an enlisted man with no skills. I led a 44 man Airborne Infantry platoon for over 18 months, commanded an Army Major Headquarters Company in Germany during the Gulf War and was the rear detachment Commander with a manning roster that bumped up to 2600, Commanded in Cuba, led an IT company, led on numerous Government and Commercial Contracts. I lead my own business.

They said I would not be a paratrooper. I did. Then they said I could not pass Jumpmaster School. I became a Jumpmaster, a Master Parachutist leading 50 to 100 paratroopers in combat equipment jumps; mostly at night.

I had no sales training. Mastered sales. Won an IT contract when I knew nothing of Government Contracts or IT. I have won helped win or manage $1 Billion in opportunities for the companies I supported in IT, Logistics, Aerospace, and Defense.

I had no business degree, became a business owner.

I knew nothing about Airplanes except how to jump out the back of them at night. Became an expert and now Agencies around the globe want my advice on aerospace commercial, business and military, Logistics and IT programs.

Yes, fear can eat you up. When given an opportunity just look at it and say, “I can do that.” Then put your heart in it, learn, become an expert.