Maybe you heard the entire dialog, but as I turned on the radio in my truck, I caught the tail of a conversation regarding Bravery vs Fear and the options you have available to you (in your mind) when you are feeling brave, vs when you are feeling fearful.

I have certainly felt this, as I am sure many of you have. 

The big question is, how do you get out of that fearful funk? How do you become brave?

As a creative person in business, these two concepts are in constant dialog. It is the way we do things. If you are being creative, in most cases, you are doing something that not only you have not done before, but something that has not been proven to work, succeed.  The brave me pushes the envelope, looks for something new, is an explorer looking to discover the unknown answer. 

Then comes the presentation. Fear sets in, I start to second guess myself. Confidence. I take a deep breath, I repeat in my mind that I have faith in my work, my process and my intentions. In most cases, the client is excited and thankful. In others, the client is feeling the fear. Did I project that on them? They are unsure if the design/campaign/content will give them the outcome they are depending on. My work ethic I gained from my father and grandfather forces me to be ethical to the clients needs. To provide them with the value that they are depending on me to deliver.

So what do I do?

I challenge myself. Constantly. I do things that I have never done before. I will open a retail store to learn what it is like on the sales side. I take a ride as a monkey on a Speedway Sidecar going for a turn at near 100 miles per hour dragging my butt (literally) in the dirt. I produce an incredible amount of work. I am constantly thinking and working on building something. (that also comes from my construction family ties)

I know you do stuff to challenge yourself. Share with me and everyone what you do. It will inspire us all and help us to be more brave and kick fear in the teeth.