Mentor Morning: Self-created failures

The pitch with no prep.

When failure is so fearsome that you invite it in and fail as expected.

The time was tight. The date near. I hid from my fear. I hid from the fear and the opportunity by doing nothing to prepare. By not thinking about it.

Why? I needed the new business. I knew preparation was needed. Yet I avoided even the thought of preparation.

I knew I was terrified that I’d fail. Worried that I’d let everyone down and look unqualified to lead my little firm.

Somehow, I was so afraid of failing that I avoided thinking about the upcoming meeting because the very act of thinking about it opened the gates to the horrible feelings of failure.

Fight or flight was in control and my frontal lobe in denial.

We didn’t have enough business we barely cash flowed. No debt, but every dollar in, went out the same day. We were desperate for new business.

Countering my fear was my belief that I could make that all-important human connection with a smile and a few smart comments. I knew better, but it took a string of failures before I took action and began preparing with real diligence.

I found my way out of the fear by thinking about preparation not as another way to try-out for the team and not make it but as a pleasurable search for insights that others might not have. A challenge. Not a loser’s game in front of winners.

How do you get past your fears? Join us this Saturday and let’s share methods for dealing with fear.