Using Fear As Fuel

“Why would you do that? You won't have anything to fall back on.”

For most of my early career, fear kept me grounded. It prevented me from reaching my highest potential and kept me from making the impact that I wanted. It wasn't until I lost everything that I understood how powerful fear could be as fuel for growth.

I had always been risk-averse and hesitant to take on new challenges. I was afraid of failure and the consequences that came with it. As a result, I shied away from taking the action necessary to truly lead. I would work for positions of authority, but then I would settle into the comfort of the title. I did just enough to get by, and I heeded the advice I often heard from my dad – I kept my head down and my mouth shut.

But then everything changed. I bottomed out, lost my job, and found myself at a crossroads. I could either let fear continue to hold me back, or I could use it as a motivator to pursue new opportunities and take risks.

I’ll never forget the day that I chose the latter.

I had friends over at my house for a crawfish boil, and I told them that I was leaving my corporate job to help my friend grow his young business. I was excited about the possibilities and enthusiastic about the opportunity when my neighbor looked at me and asked, “why would you do that? You’ll have nothing to fall back on.”

As soon as she said it, I could feel the old stories returning to me. “It’s too risky.” “You’ll never make it.” “You’ll let everyone down.”

Instead of buying into those old messages, though, I turned her comment around. I also realized that she was right. I would have nothing to fall back on. But instead of using this as an excuse to stay stuck, I realized I better get to work.

Joining Kenny at Vecta was the best decision I ever made. Instead of letting the fear of failure paralyze me, I used it to fuel my motivation and drive. I took risks and pursued opportunities that I would have previously thought were impossible.

And it paid off. I took a job that was more challenging and rewarding than anything I had previously experienced, and I immediately started to see the impact of my work on the organization's growth and success.

Through this experience, I learned that fear could be a powerful fuel for growth and development. It can push us to take risks and pursue opportunities we may have otherwise ignored. It can also help us identify areas for improvement and develop resilience in the face of setbacks and failures.

But the key is to use fear as a motivator rather than a roadblock. Instead of letting it hold us back, we can use it to propel ourselves forward and achieve our goals. Here are a few ways to turn your fear into the fuel you need to reach your highest potential:

1. Use fear as a motivator to take action: Fear can be a great motivator to take action and make positive changes in our lives. For instance, if you're afraid of public speaking, use that fear to motivate yourself to practice and improve your public speaking skills.
2. Use fear to identify areas for improvement: Fear can also help us identify areas where we need to improve. For example, if you're afraid of taking on a new project at work, use that fear to recognize that you may need to work on your time management or delegation skills.
3. Use fear to develop resilience: Fear can be an excellent teacher of resilience. By facing our fears and overcoming obstacles, we can develop the resilience and strength necessary to persevere in the face of adversity.
4. Use fear to push yourself out of your comfort zone: Fear can be a great motivator to push yourself out of your comfort zone. Whenever you feel too comfortable or complacent, recognize that it's time to challenge yourself and step outside your comfort zone. By doing so, you can achieve things that you previously thought were impossible.
5. Use fear to embrace change: Fear can also help us embrace change. By recognizing that change is inevitable and that we cannot control everything, we can learn to embrace change and adapt to new situations.

Fear can be a double-edged sword. It can hold us back and prevent us from reaching our highest potential, or it can be a powerful fuel for growth and development. By choosing to use fear as a motivator rather than a roadblock, we can overcome obstacles and achieve our goals. So the next time you feel afraid, remember that fear can be a fuel that propels you forward, and use it as an opportunity for growth and development.