Do it Scared: Pushing Through Fear into Action
In high school, I read the book The Gift of Fear by Gavin de Becker. It was a very successful book – definitely pop psychology, but a fascinating exploration of how our brains quickly analyze the situations around us. Sometimes, the elements combine in a way that triggers a fear response even before we understand what there is to be afraid of. This is what I understand as the “reptilian” part of our brains – the part that operates on instinct without deeper thought or meta-analysis.
For a pretty timid, risk-averse, and very introverted kid, the idea that fear was a gift felt… validating. While I admired bold, decisive people, I exercised whatever power I had through the need to control my surroundings carefully. I viewed my “analysis paralysis” as preparation, and my hesitation as proper caution.
I remember the first time I saw the phrase. It was on an early Internet list (hey, I’m an elder Millennial); a collection of “the best advice” that people lucky enough to be surveyed had heard.
“Do it scared.”
To my open yet still cautious mind, it sounded both impossible and liberating. The idea of ignoring my fear and acting anyway made me think of the heights I could reach, but also of the potential lows of “leaping before I looked." However, as I heard in a movie I can’t quite place right now, courage isn’t the absence of fear. It’s moving forward anyway. The truth is, you may never reach a point where you're not afraid, but that can’t stop you from trying.
However, I struggled for quite some time to actually implement this advice into my life. For example, years after finishing college, the idea of earning a master’s degree called to me quietly but persistently, from the sidelines. I was torn between fields: Educational Policy, Psychology, Organizational Change, Curriculum Development… the list went on. I have many interests and things I want to do, and I didn’t want to feel stuck. My old friend “analysis paralysis” was back in a new and not immediately recognizable form. I debated for so long that life eventually nudged me along. My employer at the time announced a partnership with a university, inviting alumni to apply for advanced programs. Non-Profit Management initially caught my eye, but something lit up inside me when I saw the M.S. in Leadership. This was my spark.
Yet, even after researching the program, I hesitated. Fast-forward to 2019, and I decided to summon the courage to actually apply. While searching my computer for information to write the personal statement that would accompany my application, I made a surprising discovery: a fully written, polished personal statement for that very program, buried in my files. I had nearly applied three years earlier but was held back by fear and indecision. I realized that if I had applied when I originally wanted, I’d already have my degree. I could almost see crystals of time falling like sand through my fingers. Still, I applied, was accepted, and matriculated. I graduated in April 2021, proud but mindful of what might have been if I’d acted sooner.
As it does, life gave me another opportunity to incorporate this advice, and I completely whiffed again. My fascination with leadership continued to grow, and I watched as great leaders transformed not just individuals and organizations - but entire communities. While studying for that MS in Leadership, the earliest ideas for what would become The Leadership Remix began to form. I wanted to help others unlock their potential in an approachable way, and blending my love for leadership and music seemed to really strike the right note, so to speak.
Still, I hesitated. Fear made excuses easy: “The timing isn’t right. What if I fail?” Then March 2025 arrived. My position was eliminated. What a scary, destabilizing moment. At first, I panicked. Then I quickly realized that I didn’t have time to spiral forever, so I started building. As I began to take action to establish my brand and my work, the realizations slapped me in the face. My domain name? Registered three years ago. The Instagram handle I desperately wanted? I went to grab it and was devastated to find it was already taken. And then was relieved but frustrated when I realized it was already mine, claimed two years ago. I’d been laying the groundwork in the background, even when fear delayed my greater action.
Looking at my journey, I believe things happened in their own time. Would life have been easier if I’d acted sooner? Perhaps. Would I have been able to leave my previous job on my own terms instead of being unceremoniously pushed out? Definitely. Still, the bright side is this: I’m now working on something I truly believe in, feeling more prepared and purposeful than ever. The fear hasn’t gone away, and in fact, it has only grown. But I keep moving forward anyway, because that’s where success lies.
You might never feel completely ready. Fear may insist on tagging along. But being a little scared shouldn’t stop you from shining. So whatever you dream of doing, do it scared - just make sure you’re also prepared. The magic is waiting for you on the other side of that leap.
