I’ve just started reading this book called Uncertainty that ponders and discusses the role of fear and anxiety in our lives and the possible ways to handle the fear and anxiety that comes with life, and particularly that comes with business. In even reading the first chapter I started thinking about what that means to me, and I thought I’d write a little bit about it here.

Fear Should be Embraced

Fear should be embraced. When feelings of fear and anxiety are upon us, we shouldn’t try to brush them aside or suppress them. Quite the opposite, actually. We should acknowledge that fear and let it lead us to better places. Fear means we are getting outside of our comfort zone. The mind is doing everything it can to feel safe. Using that feeling to push ahead is what allows us to reach success.

For example, I know this guy, he’s a Tacoma DUI lawyer. His practice has been growing steadily over the past couple of years, but he’s primed for some real growth. He knows how to do it, but it involves taking some steps that are tremendously outside of this comfort zone. Instead of running from those fears and coasting, the guy is pushing forward just as hard as the fear is pushing him. Acknowledging the fear allows it to empower you.

Fear Means You are Doing Something Right

Since the time we were babies, we’ve been inundated with messages of fear. “Don’t touch the hot stove.” “Be careful on the ice.” And on and on and on. Those messages, obviously, are good for you. If you don’t follow them there’s a high likelihood you’ll get hurt. The problem, though, is that the voice of fear in your head doesn’t know how to differentiate between the things that can actually hurt you and the things that are just foreign to you. In the world of business, fear typically means you are doing something right.

Going back to the DUI lawyer example. This guy knows he’s one of hundreds of attorneys competing for business. If he wants to be successful he’s going to have to set himself apart from the crowd. But to do that he’s going to have to do things no other Tacoma DUI attorney is doing. He’s going to have to potentially face his peers talking about what he’s doing. He’s going to open himself up for criticism. And that’s great, because that means he’s probably making them uncomfortable, and he’s probably doing something right.

Fear isn’t something you should run from. Embrace it, and embrace the success that follows.