How to Overcome Fear and Gain Confidence in 30 Days

My 30-Day January Challenge

I’ve been posting quite a bit on LinkedIn lately. Perhaps you’ve noticed. What you may not know is that it’s evidence of me conquering a pretty sizable case of stage fright. Turns out, I can do hard things. It is something that I know to be true, but somehow, I'm surprised by it every time. I can do hard things. And you can too.

An important part of launching my business is making sure that people know about it! Establishing my role as a thought leader in the space is critical and posting regularly on LinkedIn is an obvious first step of establishing that expertise beyond my immediate network. 

But. GAH. Holy Imposter Syndrome, Batman! What will I say? Will I be judged? Other people are doing it better. Why bother? 

As I’ve learned from years with my own fantastic business coach - either you win or you learn. So, I looked that fear in the face and decided that I’d post 4x/week through the month of January. No exceptions.

What I learned through this experiment

Building Habits

Be specific about when and how you'll make it happen, and then just do the thing.

I love to write, but I’ve never considered myself a creative person. I knew developing this new habit would be tough, so I committed to sitting with my coffee to write and I wouldn’t start my day until my post was drafted. On the first morning, I had a brief moment of panic as I struggled to find a topic. But an idea came to me and that was it. Immediately upon publishing the first post, I had an idea for another one and just kept writing. I was surprised how quickly it started to feel easier. Now, I have new ideas coming through at all hours of the day. And I look forward to the quiet time with my coffee each morning as I write.

Gaining Clarity

To start, take a single step. And continue to make one decision at a time until it feels comfortable.

When I started writing, I was completely overwhelmed. What did I have to say that was worth sharing? I decided to just start. To write what I know. What felt top of mind and relevant based on what I was navigating in my own day to day existence. And it resonated. I started to get notes from people I’ve never met who shared my perspective. As the days went on and the posts added up, I became more clear in my voice. My perspective. My style of writing. It felt more authentic and true.

Getting it right.

Don't let perfection be the enemy of good.

I saw a post from a fellow Gen X’er recently that compared our generation's need to practice privately with the Gen Z’ers tendency to live out loud - making mistakes out in the social world for all to see. The takeaway of the argument was that we are seriously losing out when we refuse to practice new skills, even when they are imperfect. It’s only through time and effort that we develop experience and improve. 

Facing your fear.

The only thing we have to fear is fear itself - Franklin D. Roosevelt

We all fear change. We fear the ‘what if’s’. We carry deep rooted fears of failure. Of looking silly. But what I’ve learned above all else through this experience is that the idea of the thing is much scarier than the thing itself. But fear has something to teach us. It shows us where we should lean in, where we are aching to grow. It reminds us that we are alive, and ever evolving. And it helps us push the limits of what we are capable of. I’m barely three weeks into my 30 day challenge and I have already settled into the role of a content creator. My fear was unfounded. Sure, not everyone will care what I have to say. But there are plenty of other people who do. 

As a side note, I’m incredibly grateful to my amazing network who continue to cheer me on from the sidelines. This venture is only possible because of your faith in me and what I do. Because you already knew that I can do hard things. You’ve seen it. We've done hard things together. But most importantly, you believe that I can help other people do hard things too. And that’s what it’s all about.