3 Ways to Tackle Fear

It has been a prosperous year for women entrepreneurs. From owning new businesses, gaining new accolades and pursuing new careers, women have worked to debunk the claims that we cannot be as successful as our male counterparts. My ladies are #winning!

I am especially excited to see my melanated ladies taking charge and breaking custom stereotypes as the two tech geniuses Angel Davis and Lauren Washington did with their recently launched app KeepUp. The app was designed to filter out the non essential posts from six major social media platforms. It is aimed for small business owners who would rather read about major events than what their high school classmate had for lunch. The two women were friends for a decade and traveled from SIlicon Valley to Buffalo for a chance at some startup money in the 43North business-idea competition. With their $250, 000 win, they catapulted into the tech world to shift the ratio for black women tech entrepreneurs.

“It’s a hard road to be a woman tech entrepreneur, even harder as a black woman but it’s something we knew about going in,” Washington said in an interview.

It’s nothing short of brilliant when women take on a challenge and when they succeed, it can open doors for others alike. It’s not awfully hard to admit that I have side eyed jobs that I knew women weren’t dominating and even diverted from certain avenues, like tech, because of the intimidation factor. I shortchanged myself out of my own growth. What I am intimidated by should not scare me but propel me forward.

Have you ever felt as though you dismissed a career path, a school decision, or a project because there was an unfamiliar barrier? Have you felt as though you missed out on an opportunity because of fear?

I’ll let you in on a little secret.

Fear is good. It’s one of those pesky things necessary for growth. It’s hard everytime but everytime I try to remember some key things to keep my momentum rolling forward.

1. There’s Brilliance Behind Fear

We all get it. That feeling that ‘OMG what am I even doing?’ It’s one of those feelings that can paralyze and fuel at the same time.

 

“Do one thing everyday that scares you.” – Eleanor Roosevelt.

For every great moment in my life, I was scared of it: my blog, changing careers, motherhood.  Prior to any of these pivotal moments in my life, I wanted to disappear but because I didn’t, I have moved on. I have grown past those fears and onto new ones. I hate to sound cliche but I have conquered them. Fear is what I make it and like the women leaders today, I’d rather embrace it.

2. Positivity is Necessary

We’ve all heard it, stay positive and surround yourself with the like. It’s one of those age old hymns we hear when stress is threatening to consume. But its important. Staying positive on the daily ensures a clear head. When you inhale nothing but positivity, only positvity can be the result. There’s a sea of negative situations, places and especially people that can swallow and destroy. Like parasites, they can leech onto the good inside of you until it deteriorates to nothing. Preventing that from happening can be the difference between success and failure.
3. Pain is temporary; Pride is forever

My highschool coach used to drill these words at track practice and I used to think it was his excuse for being tough on us. As I grew older the saying stuck with me. That pinnacle, that goal that’s sitting at the top of your list can only be achieved with hard work. All the long hours, extra coffee and tiresome days disappear after your victory settles in and why is that? Because it was all worth it.

You reap what you sow.

Simple as that. Only hard work can reap rewards so keep fighting.

What are some ways you try to stay true to your mission? How do you react to fear?