| "The Only Thing We Have to Fear Is Fear Itself" | | | | and two children was stronger than his fear of |
| - From the Inaugural Address of Franklin Delano | | | | heights. He retrieved his check and went on to |
| Roosevelt, 32nd U.S. President | | | | graduate pole climbing school without further |
| Fear is the great barrier to success. "What if I | | | | incident. |
| fail?"; "What if I fall?"; "What if I lose?" Take away | | | | Is there some fear that's keeping your feet on |
| fear and all that is left is opportunity. Fear is a | | | | the ground? Is there some success that lies just |
| blessing and a curse. Having a healthy fear of | | | | beyond your reach because you're too afraid to |
| Crocs is a good thing if you're thinking about | | | | climb high enough to reach it? If so, you need to |
| diving into some remote billabong, but it can | | | | take action. |
| destroy your life if it keeps you from achieving | | | | Fear, and its two companions - uncertainty and |
| success. | | | | doubt, are powerful psychological forces that hold |
| Years ago a friend of mine went to work for the | | | | many of us back from being what we are meant |
| telephone company. During his training he spent | | | | to be. But, like anything else that resides solely in |
| time at pole climbing school. Each student was | | | | our own minds, we have the power to overcome |
| required to strap special spikes on to their work | | | | these forces. |
| boots and use those spikes to climb up telephone | | | | All it takes is a conscious decision to face our |
| poles. He couldn't do it. He was afraid of heights. | | | | fears head on and examine what it is that we are |
| Every day he would stand at the base of that 18 | | | | really afraid of. Once we understand the |
| meter tall poll and his feet would refuse to move. | | | | underlying reason behind the fear, we can build a |
| Slowly, over the course of a week, he managed | | | | plan to combat it. Here's how you do that: |
| to reach a height of 6 meters, then 9. But that | | | | 1. Stop using the word "fear" replace it with the |
| was his limit. His fear refused to allow his feet to | | | | word "risk" instead. |
| carry him any higher. The instructors didn't harass | | | | 2. Examine the risk you face if you take the |
| him. In fact, they mostly ignored him. | | | | course of action you are considering and come up |
| Friday came and the instructors handed out | | | | with a plan to mitigate those risks. It's that easy. |
| paychecks to all of the students. No one handed a | | | | Once you fully understand the risks involved with |
| check to my friend. When he asked where his | | | | your course of action, and you make a plan to |
| pay was, one instructor pointed to the very top | | | | minimize or reduce those risks, your mind |
| of the pole and said "I nailed it up there. If you | | | | releases you from the grips of fear and frees |
| want to get paid, you'll have to climb up and get | | | | you to act. Action breeds success. Fear holds you |
| it." Evidentially, the need to buy food for his wife | | | | back. It's your choice. |