What Do You Fear
Fear is embedded in the stories we tell ourselves. From the fear of public speaking and small spaces to spiders and snakes, most people can readily identify something they are afraid of. Left unchecked, fear can creep up on you and begin to seize control of your choices. When that happens, I encourage you to face it head-on – be willing to feel uncomfortable, anxious, embarrassed, or judged – and regain control.
Caroline – The Wise One
I had the genuine honor of hosting the great Caroline Ferguson on this week’s episode of Collective Conversations. She is the accomplished interviewer of the Solutions by Southwest Utility podcast and is a tremendous human overall.
As we kicked off the episode this week, Caroline reminded me that I was the first guest on her podcast back in 2018! She shared the story from her perspective – it was the first time she had ever traveled alone, and she was terrified. She arrived at our offices to sit down for the interview and was so nervous – hands shaking, heart pounding, armed with a laptop and tiny microphone. I remember feeling her anxious energy, and before we hit record, I recall saying something like, “Hey. We are just two people chatting over a cup of coffee.” When you listen to that interview today, it’s hard to tell that she was anything other than a seasoned pro.
Caroline felt the fear and did it anyway. She knew in her gut that she would struggle to create intentional connections and build genuine relationships with others in the industry if she wasn’t willing to face her fears and do the work. She makes a valid point that we consider growth as it relates to sales, rents, bottom line, etc., but change should also be counted in relationships without regard to whether you ever do business together.
Free Your Mind – The Rest Will Follow
Last year, we discussed this topic. Conquering fears is not accomplished in one fell swoop. If the thought feels overwhelming, it is not necessary to become instantly fearless – but to fear (a little) less – just enough to allow you to take the next step. Small steps lead to more giant steps and a life less burdened by fear.
In our conversation this week, I could feel Caroline’s command of the medium as our chat moved on to leadership – something she feels passionately about. Facing her fears paid big dividends in her life and freed up her mind to build on her aspirations.
Caroline spoke eloquently about leadership and the importance of listening. She credits her mentor with saying, “Listening is so close to love that most people can’t tell the difference.” What a profound statement! Listening with intention (and without distraction) is the most loving thing we can offer another human. It conveys a simple message – I see you, I hear you, and you are worth my time. What you are saying is more important than whatever is trying to pull my attention away. That feels a lot like love to me.
You can live without ever facing your fears, but it is almost guaranteed to be a smaller life than you are destined for. Fears can slowly shrink your life, but trusting yourself to fear (enough) less is like a muscle. The more times you do it – the more robust your courage becomes, and fear begins to wither. As your courage grows, so does your sphere of influence, your ability to connect with others, and to listen intently.
My encouragement to you is this – shut down the stories you tell yourself that constrain you from reaching for your professional, personal, relationships, or other goals. Don’t restrict yourself – fear (just a tiny bit) less.
When you feel the thrill of facing your fears and doing the thing anyway, please share it with us. We are encouraged by your stories.
Never miss another Multifamily Collective moment. Sign up to Catch the Weekly Rundown to see all our weekly content plus bonus material for our subscribers. It’s FREE, easy, and we promise not to spam your inbox!