Photo by Jordan Pérez Ordenes

What are you afraid of in your business life? How much does the fear control your (in)actions? We all know people who eased through the solving the problems that confound us, yet the fear paralyzes us.

First: quantify what you’re afraid of. Are you about to risk your life savings launching a new product? Are you worried that you won’t have something interesting to say at your next networking event? Perhaps you’re afraid that the next person you cold call will hang up on you?

Next: look around you. Is the fear that you’re facing something that others have faced? Have you asked others to validate that the fear you’re facing is of the same magnitude you’re imagining it is? What you need to do is determine if your perception is accurate. Based on our own backgrounds, values, and experiences, we interpret similar situations vastly differently. Have you ever noticed that others seemingly blow through the thing that stops you (and vice versa)?

Finally: acclimate yourself. No matter what you’re afraid of, your fear of the action is worse than the action itself. Try:

• Take smaller steps to overcome the fear.
• Act in situations where you don’t care about the outcome.
• Interview others that don’t have the fear you do.

Let’s say you’re public speaking at your next networking event. Here are some ways to acclimate to your fear:

• To take smaller steps, you might ask questions of the person who is speaking publicly. You’re not the focus, but it’ll make you stand up to ask the question, have people turn their heads to look at you, and be heard in the room.
• To act in low-risk situations, give your speech to friend, to your dog, into the mirror, into a video camera, at a highway overpass, or your religious group.
• Call the person who’s the center of attention at your networking event and ask them for their “secret”. At worst, you’ll build a support network.

Give yourself a big gift – the gift of personal growth. Align your perceived fears to “reality”. The freedom from overcoming one hurdle will empower you to make other changes in your (business) life.