This video above is of my first skydive. For years, I have wanted to skydive, but have been afraid to go for it. Each year, I force myself to face my fears. In 2007, I jumped out of an airplane at 11,000 feet. I faced a few other fears too. Did you?
Why is it important to consistently face our fears? It is important to face our fears because fear has a tendency to hold us back in life. Consider your New Year’s Resolutions for 2008. New Year’s Resolutions are goals, right?
To achieve your goals, you must face your fears. This is true for almost any goal we have in life.
For example, let’s assume that you have a goal to increase your income in 2008. Don’t we all have this goal? What do you have to do in order to achieve this goal?
1) If you work for a company, you probably have to go to the next level with your position. Going to the next level will require you to take some risks. You may have to step up and recommend new strategies. Or you might have to make a few tough decisions. Both could result in negative consequences such as making a mistake, losing your job, offending someone at work. Many people are afraid to face these potentially negative consequences. Their fear holds them back from going to the next level at work.
2) If you’re an entrepreneur, you probably have to implement a few strategies that you haven’t tried before. Maybe you have to make a few presentations which require you to speak in front of a large group. Or maybe you have to invest money into a new marketing campaign that hasn’t been proven. In any event, you must pursue new strategies which may or may not work. You must take risk to grow your business. Many entrepreneurs of small businesses are afraid to take these risks.
3) If you’re a real estate investor like me, you must be willing to risk some of your money with your investments. Every investor is afraid to lose money. However, to build your wealth, you must face this fear and invest when others are telling you to sell. You must be able to see opportunity and go after it. I’ll write about seeing opportunity in an upcoming post to this blog. Be sure to check back soon!
As you can see, it really doesn’t matter what your goals are in life. In almost every single goal, you must learn to face fear. You can shortcut this process by facing smaller fears first, like I did by skydiving. Your self confidence increases with every single fear you face. Facing my fear to skydive did not directly relate to any of my business or investing goals; however, it did increase my self confidence. Facing this little fear allowed me to become bolder. It led me to face other fears. This will happen for you too.
As my self confidence grows from facing little fears, I’m able to achieve more and more goals in life. I can still remember acquiring my first investment property - a two family home. My hand was shaking when I signed the final papers. I was extremely nervous. I faced my fear on investing and went on to acquire own millions of dollars worth of real estate. Had I not been willing to face my fear on my first real estate investment, I would not be where I am today. I would still be a CPA hating my job.
Sadly, I watch many people go through life too scared to do anything. What fears are holding you back? Where would your life go if you were to face your fears? This is a big question, isn’t it? How can you start to face these fears? What can you do to consistently increase your self confidence? Think about it…
I believe that facing fear is the foundation to goal achievement. You cannot achieve your goals unless you learn to face your fears. I wish you a very scary 2008!
Rob Minton
www.IncomeforLifeBlog.com
Congrats on overcoming your fear! The video was awesome! I think I'll add this to my 2008 to-accomplish list.
Scott D. Overbeck
Region Owner
NH Income for Life
Posted by: Scott D. Overbeck | January 10, 2008 at 05:26 PM
Hello Rob. This is Janet's husband Pete. She is a region owner in Nevada.
Facing your fears is the biggest challenge to any investor. Goal setting is a must if we are to achieve any growth in 08. Greatness does not come by chance.
Pete
Posted by: Pete Vossler | January 01, 2008 at 02:05 PM