The greatest deterrent to success in life is fear. It drains our ambition, denies us power, and strangles our ability to overcome the challenges we face in our personal and professional lives. When we let fear control us, we are destined to fail. When we control our fear and channel that energy in productive ways, we win.
Regardless if you are a manager in business, leading a team of salespeople to meet your quarterly goals, or involved in a serious relationship that is going through some tough times, we all deal with fear everyday?fear of failing to meet a deadline or a budgetary constraint, fear of letting down our co-workers or our children, or fear of rejection from a loved one. These are normal fears, but it's how you deal with them that matters.
How do you handle fear? Does fear control you, or do you control your fear? Do you become overwhelmed and give up, or do you take action and face it with courage?
As a former combat decorated Air Force fighter pilot with 65 missions in hostile territory, I had to face my fears every day?fear of getting shot down, fear of letting down my country and my wingmen, and the fear of failing to accurately perform my mission responsibilities. If I wasn't able to handle this fear and not let it control me, I would have surely failed. I had to realize that although there was no way for me to completely eliminate this fear, I still had the power to overcome it.
The key to my success was in my ability to direct my focus towards 3 distinct areas. First and foremost, I needed to focus on my mission. What was my mission objective or purpose for going into battle? Why was it important that I succeed? Who needed my help? Second, I needed to focus on my wingmen. No fighter pilot flies a combat mission solo! We always fly as a team, and we are all responsible for accomplishing the mission. In essence, we trust each other with our lives, and we need each other to achieve success. Third, I needed to focus on winning. I had to erase doubt and think positive. By 'chair flying' each mission ? mentally performing the mission perfectly in my mind before doing it for real ? I was able to experience victory, rather than failure, in my imagination. This encouraged a positive mindset of trust and confidence that ultimately gave me the power to face my fear and win.
Obviously, we are all not fighter pilots flying combat missions. However, the same lessons of focus can apply as we seek victories in our own unique experiences. Here's how you can apply these fundamental principles for overcoming fear in your personal and professional life:
? Focus on your mission ? Accept responsibility for accomplishing your mission objectives and feel confident in your training and preparation. Ask yourself, 'What am I fighting for?" Why are you needed, and who is depending on you to get the job done? Perhaps it is your organization, your family, or the customers you are serving. What are the positive benefits that can result from accomplishing the difficult mission ahead? When you take the focus off of yourself and away from your fear, and direct it towards how your mission will positively impact the lives of others, you find purpose and meaning in life, and your fear diminishes.
? Focus on your wingmen ?Who is on your team that you can trust to get the job done? Who are the trusted and reliable partners in your personal and professional life? Who can you turn to for love, inspiration, advice, and courage? Perhaps it is your spouse, best friend, business partner, or even a co-worker. By focusing on your teammates and all the wonderful, supporting relationships you have, you become more courageous and confident to tackle life's challenges. In essence, they absorb some of your fear and make it easier for you to cope with life's challenges. You don't have to fly through life solo?have faith and trust your wingmen!
? Focus on winning ? see the success you want in your imagination first. Experience the exhilaration of winning in your mind. Remember, the body achieves what the mind has rehearsed! If your mind thinks failure, you are setting yourself up to fail. But if you train your thoughts to envision winning; if you imagine with perfect clarity overcoming your challenges with courage and achieving victory, then you are destined to win. Just as I 'chair flew' my combat mission and experienced victory, you can do the same. It's what athletes do before a tough game, and how the top salespersons prepare for their big sales presentations. It's not easy. Remember, WIN stands for Work it Now!SM. Winners understand it takes effort and sacrifice to win the challenges of life. And they don't put it off until tomorrow; they do what it takes today!
Finally, the most important part in handling fear is to embrace it with courage. Accept your fear and learn from it. Don't fight it or attempt to eliminate it, for it is a battle that can never be won. As Mark Twain once stated, "Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear--not absence of fear." By experiencing fear, we become more human. Fear teaches us that we are not perfect nor are we superior to anyone else. It makes us more compassionate as we realize the frailty of life and emphasizes what truly is important in our lives.
Regardless if you are in business, in a committed relationship, or on a sports team, when you transform your fear into focus - on your mission, your wingmen, and on winning - you are sure to be victorious in all that you do.
Now, Focus your Energy, Accept Responsibility and make it happen!
Waldo Waldman builds team unity within organizations as a high energy inspirational speaker and sales/leadership consultant. A former combat-decorated fighter pilot with corporate sales experience, Waldo brings an exciting and valuable message to organizations by using fighter pilot strategies as building blocks for peak performance, teamwork, leadership, and trust. He has worked with dozens of corporations such as Honeywell, NY Life, and Federated Department Stores, and national associations such as Meeting Professionals International and the Int'l Sanitary Supply Association. To learn more about Waldo's seminars or to register for his newsletter," The Wingman", visit http://www.yourwingman.com or call him at 1-866-WALDO-16 (925-3616).
Wood Dale Chicago prom limo .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareOne of the main reasons that may hinder us from... Read More
As a professional speaker, father and business owner I often... Read More
"Well, you're just a busy beaver, aren't you?" You've either... Read More
Have you ever made plans in your career but never... Read More
All too often, people pursue a vision of material success... Read More
Ask yourself the following:1. I have created a life-strategy plan... Read More
Self-change is a personal phenomenon. In order to accomplish it,... Read More
Did you see or hear about 'The Masters' golf tournament... Read More
Dare to Dream~It is said that every person has at... Read More
There is one big "secret" to success that can help... Read More
Deep down, where it counts, many people do not believe... Read More
You already have all the resources you need to accomplish... Read More
If we hope to achieve any worthwhile goal it will... Read More
This summer (2005) huge crowds in England and Australia have... Read More
Measure twice, cut once Just as in carpentry, making sure... Read More
Does the thought of failure send a cold shiver down... Read More
I receive several emails every week asking me about how... Read More
If you were to evaluate the major influences in your... Read More
You're enjoying a perfectly shallow conversation with a good friend... Read More
It is often said that the only things in life... Read More
Are there any universal laws that most successful people seem... Read More
Do you ever wonder how some people consistently get what... Read More
Noted author and self-worth teacher Eric Butterworth* says, "Poverty is... Read More
Visualize success, and what you'll do to reward yourself A... Read More
Energy and persistence conquer all things. - Benjamin FranklinThough Ben... Read More
Antigo wedding limo ..I got a big reminder over the last couple of... Read More
How can anyone with the brain of a cockroach make... Read More
Being a spiritual teacher has continually frightened me. Not because... Read More
This morning, on TV, I was amazed to see how... Read More
I've just sent an email to my mailing list based... Read More
Have you failed before and wished the earth could open... Read More
All too often, people pursue a vision of material success... Read More
Do you believe that? Do you believe we can all... Read More
Think how often you see a friend or an acquaintance... Read More
I am going to tell you something you already know... Read More
Self-esteem is very important. It is the way we view... Read More
I was at a dinner party the other night when... Read More
Are you looking for the secret or magical formula for... Read More
"Enthusiasm is worth any pot of cream ever offered."Can you... Read More
From time to time I receive correspondence from individuals with... Read More
Are you getting frustrated because the work you continue to... Read More
The best way to predict your future is to create... Read More
Pain. All of us have felt that emotion some time... Read More
You can be a master achiever by developing the same... Read More
Management by Objectives, strategic planning, quality, teams, re-engineering. Passing management... Read More
"And when it rains on your parade, look up rather... Read More
I want to relate to you a story, READ it... Read More
Hey,Josh here from Investor Wealth Academy sitting 29 stories above... Read More
Several years ago, I attended a "success" seminar in northern... Read More
Nobody becomes a success alone, period. There is no such... Read More
Success |