Tag: fear

Blog Post

Ambiguity and Patience (Pick this one – It’s Hard, But Worth It)

Post author By jrlsage
Post date July 20, 2018

Resisting “shiny” things when the next step is ambiguous takes courage.

Remember, patience is a virtue.

Unfortunately, patience can look a lot like fear, and if you aren’t careful, it can evolve into it.

So, here is a quick heuristic:

Patience is surrounded by fact-finding. Fear is driven by “perception.”

An example:

A tech team has shut down production and is looking to find what the next step is.

A patient team is spending that time going over old work, trying to come up with goals that support the business. (“Let’s spend some time sharpening our understanding – pull up old research and see what insights they provide”)
A fear -driven one is looking to be busy for the sake of other teams (“Whoa what about that thing people are asking for, we better build it”)

One is spending the time to fact find; the other wants to fit in.

The work is learning how to manage the inner fears of your team so that they can focus on value.

That’s how you get here:

I marvel at what @netflix hasn’t built:

-day-and-date, secure distribution experience
-live
-acquired premium sporting rights
-a social API (what are my friends watching? Load up my queue with friend’s picks)
-co-viewing
-shorter form content

That’s called discipline

— Norgard (@BrianNorgard) July 18, 2018

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Tags fear, patience

Blog Post

I’m Scared

Post author By jrlsage
Post date May 14, 2018

All the time.

Walking with fear is a lot harder than running.

With running, it seems like you cover more ground since you are moving so fast, but truthfully, you aren’t.

It’s like a plastic bag in the wind; no one knows it’s there unless they see it, and even so, it’s forgotten about quickly.

I’m trying to learn how to walk with fear instead. I don’t know what I’ll leave, but at least it will be with intent.

I’ll take that.

Tags fear

Blog Post

Your Fear Needs A Check

Post author By jrlsage
Post date March 7, 2018

Coach is good for that

We all screw up.

This mistake isn’t the end of the world.

The important thing is, you have to make sure you don’t live in the screw-up, have it make a home in your head, and then drive your decisions from then on.

A coach is good to double back and help you move forward.

Mistakes only live as long as we let them.

Tags fear

Blog Post

Fear, For Me

Post author By jrlsage
Post date December 22, 2017

Fear is…

Staring at work that I don’t think I can do

Situations I don’t know

Writing this post

People

A warning mechanism

The Truth

Sleeping in the wrong position

Letting someone down

Being honest

a benchmark for courage

Tags fear, for me

Blog Post

Get To Work

Post author By jrlsage
Post date October 12, 2017

Stop qualifying yourself

You aren’t doing yourself any favors by adding “My degree,” “I heard,” or “Someone important told me.”

Before you get there, we may care if we don’t know you. We have to understand what you bring to the table.

Other than that, we don’t care.

It is a form of CYA. “If I went to Harvard, they might look elsewhere when something fails.”

I don’t care what Barack Obama told you that day, roll your sleeve up and get to work.

You might show us why he said it.

Tags fear, making, qualifying

Blog Post

Self Assurance

Post author By jrlsage
Post date July 7, 2017

Stop looking for confidence.

It isn’t coming from anyone.

Your teacher can’t do it.
The boss can’t do it.
Mom can’t help you.

In fact, no one can make that “it” happen.

If you chose the life of a creative leader, fear isn’t going anywhere.

Best to do as Seth Godin says and dance with your fear.

Tags faith, fear, reassurance

Blog Post

Don’t Get Trapped by False Ambition

Post author By jrlsage
Post date April 23, 2017

Don’t fall for it

Ambition is great.

When you level up, it feels good.

So, we want to do it often.

Stop. That is a trap.

Sometimes, the need to get better isn’t growth, its hiding. You are avoiding vulnerability by striving for the next thing.

Be still. You’ll be better for it.

Tags ambition, false, fear

Blog Post

Two Fears of “I Don’t Know”

Post author By jrlsage
Post date January 4, 2017

Saying I don’t know is scary for many reasons

Two fears that come to mind today:

What do people think?
What happens after I admit my ignorance?

These two questions deal directly with the fear of showing up.

We all think them, no matter where we are in our careers. If we aren’t careful, they can stop us from the projects that propel us.

If you are in charge of a team, deal with those questions often.

Tags fear, i dont know

Blog Post

Commit – Think About It and Go

Post author By jrlsage
Post date September 11, 2016

When you take a chance, do your due diligence, and go.

Chance comes along. There is no rushing or delaying it. When it happens, make a choice.

Go. Or don’t.

If you do decide to go, take it on. Don’t hedge.

Do the work. Understand the world you are walking into, know who the players are, and don’t trip over yourself – make sure you do the research.

Once that is over, if it still makes sense, go.

Most plans don’t fail because of failure being inevitable. They fail because the “fear of failure” makes people believe failure is inevitable.

Don’t let the fear suffocate the possible.

Tags fear, hedge, possible, work

Blog Post

Small Risk,Please

Post author By jrlsage
Post date April 12, 2016

If you do work without a bit of edge, it’s a form of hiding.

It doesn’t need to overshare (also hiding), but in the same vein, doing anything that doesn’t take a little chance, a little risk or a little piece of yourself is hollow.

How do you know if there is risk involved?

When you press publish, schedule, or upload, is there a little apprehension*? We’re not talking about a life-changing amount of fear, just enough for you to feel something.

If so, ship it.

*I feel it with this post – I’m little scared it’s too small, too ephemeral, too commanding, and I am going to let it go.

Tags fear, hiding, publish, risk