Today Is a Great Day to be Fearless

Today Is a Great Day to be Fearless

How are you fearless? I was asked to answer this question today for a video profile being created for me as a part of Fearless Women Day. 

The fearlessness I described in my story had to do with placing my son for adoption. Before submitting my application for this award, I never really thought about the adoption plan as fearless. It was just me doing what I needed to do. I think that is how many of us face fear - we put it aside and do what we need to do. Sometimes, though, it's easy to let fear get the most of us.

A few years back, I read a great book by Linda Austin, What's Holding You Back? Eight Critical Choices for Women's Success. In it, she describes the reasons women tend to achieve less than their male counterparts - or take a lot longer to match men's achievements. The reason that stood out the most for me was women's tendency to fear taking risks. I'm paraphrasing here, but Austin says that men (first as boys) have an inherent willingness to try anything, whereas women often play it safe, put our toe in the water first, and then once we know all is well, jump in, albeit timidly.

Thing is, there's nothing much to be gained by jumping in when we know it's safe. Of course nothing bad will happen - but neither will anything extraordinary.

Playing it safe in our businesses is smart, though, isn't it? Only if you want to remain average. If you want to move on up to REMARKABLE, you've got to be willing to stir the pot a little bit. 

When it comes to setting goals, for example, do you set small goals you know you can achieve, or big hairy audacious goals (also affectionately known as B-HAG) that will take time, work, money, and energy ... things people tell you are impossible, or really, really, really difficult? Do you have a grand vision for the difference your business will make in the world, or figure since you're just one small person, you can't make much of an impact? Do you tell the whole world about your ideas - thereby making them concrete, and committing yourself to their completion - or do you keep them to yourself, because if you don't tell anyone, you won't look foolish if it doesn't work out?

It doesn't matter what your business is - whether you own a nail salon or a jetpack research lab - if you perch safely on the fence, keep your ass glued to the bench, or continue to settle for the status quo, your results will always be mediocre, and so will your success. 

You have an immense wellspring of creativity, vision, purpose, and grand thoughts within you. Perhaps you've never given yourself permission to dig down and really explore them. If you've been reading along, you know what's coming next ... SNAP OUT OF IT! Grant yourself that permission. Put on your creative wizard genius cap. Dream big. And be willing to take a risk to make that dream come true.

I promise to support your dream and vision. And I'm willing to bet, if you look around, there's a whole stable full of people who are willing to support you, too. Conquer the fear that's been holding you back. Today is a great day to be fearless!

Share your vision in the comments section so that we can all support each other!

This is Day 24 in the 60-Day Content Challenge. See you tomorrow for the next post!
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Sign up today for Laura's next workshop, Want to Charge More? Start Writing! And let me know how I can support you in stepping out and becoming fearless.

Awards: You Can't Win if You're Not Nominated

Awards: You Can't Win if You're Not Nominated

If you're a business owner, it's likely that you have at times treaded the fine line between tooting the horn of self-promotion and worrying that you're coming across as too self-serving. Women, in particular, seem to struggle with this challenge. International sales coach and trainer, Connie Kadansky, has seen it many times in her work to teach sales professionals of all stripes to overcome the fear of prospecting and self-promotion: "Women almost always seem more hesitant."

Interestingly, one of the best ways to gain visibility for your business is to be nominated for an award. All the better if you actually win! You might be surprised to learn, though, that the award often does not go to the best-qualified candidate, simply because there are often too few candidates. The awards go to the candidates who have the best self-promotion skills.

Think about how others' view of you and your business might change if you were a nominee/winner of an award for:

• Your book or written materials
• Outstanding customer service
• Best downline retention for your direct marketing company
• Most ecofriendly small business
• Volunteerism and/or community involvement
• Best office design
• Woman/Man of the Year

Awards like those are being presented to entrepreneurs and business owners across the country. What's the single thing they all have in common? They were nominated.

Reasons You Talk Yourself Out of the Nomination

• Anybody could have done it.
• My achievements weren't that great.
• I don't have anyone to nominate me.
• It will look tacky if I nominate myself.
• I'm not a good enough writer.

Going to have to license that clip of Cher from Moonstruck, because again I say, "Snap out of it!" Those aren't reasons - they're excuses. 

Anybody could not have done it - because if they could have, they would have.

Stop belittling your achievements. Instead, take some time to celebrate them. If need be, look back at the last year, two years, five years, 10 years. Where were you then, and how far have you come? I'm willing to bet the progress might just surprise you - so give yourself a little credit, will you?

Chances are there are lots of people who'd be willing to nominate you. The only problem is that they aren't mind-readers ... which means, you have to ask them! Would you nominate a friend, colleague, or vendor for an award if they asked you? If you would, don't you think they'd nominate you?

Self-nomination is not tacky - it's smart. Who knows you and your accomplishments better than you do? Who can write with the same passion and conviction about your achievements?

If need be, write the outline and find someone to flesh it out for you. Or write a draft and hire someone to edit or rewrite it. And if none of those works, get someone to interview you and have it transcribed; write the application from the transcription.

Folks, I'm not just singing into the wind on this one. I once had a client who hired me to write her application essay for a national award from her direct marketing company. She won - and the award included an all-expenses-paid trip to the national convention and a cash prize.

More recently, I saw a call for applications for the Fearless Women Day award. As a birthmother in an open adoption, I decided to share my adoption story and nominate myself. I'll admit to being more than a little surprised when I received a phone call last Thursday informing me that I am one of the 10 finalists. But it never would have happened if I hadn't decided to take the time to submit my 400-word essay.

You can do it, too! Keep your eyes open for awards you qualify for - and submit those applications. And remember, wherever there's an award, there's someone who's offering it. Put your thinking cap on, and I'll bet you can also come up with an award of your own to promote. More on that in a future post. 

This is Day 21 in the 60-Day Content Challenge. See you tomorrow for the next post!
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Sign up today for Laura's next workshop, Want to Charge More? Start Writing! Or e-mail your questions on making the most of your marketing strategies - to Laura.