Fear can be absolutely crippling. This powerful emotion has buried great ideas that humanity will never see. It has shackled people from sharing their talents with the world.
“What if I’m not good enough?” “What if I fail?”
Ok…maybe you aren’t good enough, but unless you’re responsible for the health and well-being of others, failure is simply a learning opportunity.
However, you’ll never know unless you let go of fear (and pride) and put yourself out there.
In 2017, I started a livestreaming company called ParaSportsLive. I never considered myself a businessperson and didn’t know anything about running a business. I was scared. “What if it fails?” “What if no one wants my services?”
It turns out people did want my services. The problem was that they had no budget for them. Since launching in February 2017, business has been minimal. Did I fail? Absolutely not! Although I haven’t reached my goals for the company, I learned so many new skills along the way: the art of making cold calls, negotiating contracts, and most importantly…letting go of fear.
While working my current job, an acquaintance told me about a voiceover workshop at a local community college. This was my chance. I knew that if I didn’t attend, I would never again find the courage to achieve this goal I’ve had. It turned out to be put on by Such A Voice and the wonderful Justine Reiss. After the workshop, I was encouraged to sign up for the VIP Masterclass…and I did.
I waited 15 years before finally pursuing my voiceover dreams. Casting my ego aside and dismissing the fear of failure in 2017 prepared me for this moment.
Will I realize my dreams? Maybe not. Maybe I’ll far exceed anything I ever dreamt.
The only way to know is to get out there and go for it.
