Fearless Growth: From Setbacks to Success in Business and Life
I was grunting, panting, and gulping in big chunks of air. A small pool of sweat was building around me as I heard the instructor scream into the room, “Do you feel that pain? Do you feel that? That is fear leaving your body.” As much as I hated the experience, I knew she was right. So, I kept showing up to my exercise class. My fears got replaced with confidence each and every time.
Okay, that’s the lesson—toughening up and keeping at it.
Just joking, that’s not my only message.
As an healing and leadership coach, I know that your fears are legitimate and can’t be swept away with just a brief pep talk. That’s why in this article, we’re going to talk about why setbacks suck, how we can use them to help us, and how we can grow from challenging experiences personally and professionally in order to become fearless.
First, I’ll talk about my personal struggle with fitness and then we will pivot into some professional examples.
Navigating Setbacks and Self-Discovery
Have you ever faced a setback that made you think twice about taking on a challenge again? I sure have, especially when it comes to those tough High-Intensity Target Training (HITT) workouts. Imagine this – super intense exercises meant to boost your heart health and build quick muscles.
In my late twenties and early thirties, I fearlessly tackled every HITT challenge until I hurt my back doing burpees to push-ups. I had to take a break and nurse it with a heating pad for a whole week. It taught me a hard lesson, and I swore, “I’m never doing THAT again!”—or at least, that’s what I thought for almost seven years.
Progress Is Imperfect, and That’s Okay
But guess what? Things have changed in the fitness world since then. They’ve come up with safer ways to do those intense exercises, with adjustments for folks like me who’ve had injuries.
Even though I had doubts about being “too old” or “not in good enough shape,” I realized that my past experiences shouldn’t stop me from trying again.
I learned that making progress is more about trying your best, not being perfect. It’s about listening to your body and figuring out what works for you now. So, I decided to give a 20-minute HITT routine a shot.
Navigating Setbacks and Self-Discovery
Did I do it perfectly? Nope, not even close. But did I give it my all? You bet!
My fitness journey is showing me something important – sometimes, we get stuck thinking about our past limits and forget that we can still grow and change. Taking on this new outlook helped me see my progress and face my fears bit by bit. And let me tell you, it’s made a huge difference for me.
For many of us, we don’t even show up for ourselves because we’ve faced one setback or mistake and think it’s game over. That’s rubbish!
We can show up and try again for the second, third, heck, even the 100th time. As long as you have breath and opportunities, you can do it again. That my friend is how we attract real prosperity into our lives.
Let’s take a detour from the topic of fitness and talk about embracing the power of making mistakes. When we fear making mistakes, it prevents us from experiencing transformative growth of any kind.
Our brains are wired to be scared of things that used to be dangerous, but now, many of our fears are just in our heads. It can be hard to challenge these fears because of our emotions and past experiences.
Shifting Your Perspectives on Failure
There are so many people who have epically bombed and failed. Did you know that a teacher once called Thomas Edison ‘too stupid to learn’? Or that director Steven Spielberg was rejected from the University of Southern California film school? And let’s not forget how Oprah was booted from her co-anchor position at the local news station WJZ-TV after just seven and a half months.
If these people stumbled and fell down on more than one occasion, dusted themselves off, and got better, why aren’t you channeling that same energy? To become fearless, we learn that rejection is part of progress and understand that we must stop imposing limits on ourselves and what we are capable of.
If you're constantly striving for perfection and never allowing yourself to make mistakes, I can promise you that nothing good will ever come of it.
Embracing Risks & Becoming Fearless: A Five-Step Approach
I’m not going to downplay the pain that comes from failure. It really stings to put in effort only to face criticism not just of our actions, but of our core values. It’s ingrained in us as human beings to strive for perfection and avoid being seen as disappointments. But here’s the thing: if you’re constantly striving for perfection and never allowing yourself to make mistakes, I can promise you that nothing good will ever come of it.
Taking risks is what fearless people do. They become successful because they keep showing up for themselves because they understand that persistence pays off. Just look at Warren Buffett, the co-founder of Berkshire Hathaway. He didn’t achieve financial success until he was in his mid-50s. Yes, you read that right – his mid-50s!
So you want to be more daring and take more risks in both personal and business life, it’s essential to confront and overcome fears. Here’s five steps on how you can do it:
Acknowledge setbacks: When faced with setbacks or challenges, like injuring yourself during intense workouts, it’s natural to feel hesitant to try again. But remember, setbacks are part of the journey.
Adapt and learn: As you face challenges, look for ways to adapt and learn from them. Being fearless is about showing up for yourself even when you feel discouraged. In the example of my intense workouts, there are often safer alternatives or adjustments you can make to continue pushing yourself.
Try again: Don’t let past experiences hold you back from trying again. Even if you’ve faced setbacks or made mistakes, keep showing up and giving it your best effort.
Embrace mistakes: Mistakes are a natural part of learning and growing. Just like Thomas Edison, Steven Spielberg, and Oprah Winfrey faced failures but kept pushing forward, you can embrace mistakes as opportunities for growth.
Value growth over perfection: Instead of striving for perfection, focus on making progress and learning from your experiences. Each step forward, even if it’s small, contributes to your growth and development.
So what are you waiting for? Go get it! By confronting fears, embracing mistakes, and valuing growth, you can become more daring and willing to take risks in both your personal and business endeavors.
When we focus on what we can do and how we can achieve it, it not only helps improve our confidence but also emits an aura of positive energy that inspires those around us. The image below summarizes my tips. In the next section, I will share my final thoughts.
Final Thoughts
If you’re feeling held back by your own doubts, I’m here to support you. As a coach specializing in helping business owners, I offer personalized help to unlock your full potential. Don’t waste time holding yourself back – let’s make progress together.
To learn more about overcoming fears, check out this episode from my podcast. It’s full of stories and tips that can inspire and guide you.
In summary, conquering fears is essential for business success. By challenging limiting beliefs and staying open to growth, entrepreneurs like yourself can face challenges with resilience and creativity. Remember, you have the power to overcome your fears and achieve your goals.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on overcoming fears and how it impacts your business journey. Feel free to reach out with any questions or ideas. Wishing you a great week ahead!
