Top performers, like sales expert Jeb Blount and Army Golden Knights, still experience fear before high-stakes activities. They don't eliminate the fear; they manage it by relying on a consistent, practiced routine to push through the initial emotional resistance and execute their tasks effectively.
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A mental performance coach taught diver Molly Carlson to visualize fear as a piece of paper in front of her eyes. Instead of trying to destroy the paper, she gently shifts it to the side, allowing it to exist without consuming her focus, freeing her to perform.
Instead of daunting, long call blocks, break prospecting into 5-15 minute 'high-intensity sprints.' Crucially, alternate these sprints with consuming inspirational content like a book or podcast. This creates a feedback loop where manageable action builds momentum and positive input reinforces courage.
The key differentiator for top performers is that their mind overrules their feelings. Feelings suggest quitting, offer excuses, and lead to overthinking. A strong mind makes a decision and executes, driving resilience and action despite emotional resistance or doubt.
Top performers don't conquer nervousness; they listen to it. Self-doubt is an indicator to lean into, not a signal to stop. Performance coach Giselle Ugardi suggests talking back to your inner critic as a way to reframe and manage the feeling, rather than trying to suppress it.
When facing the immense pressure of doing Oprah's eyebrows on live TV, Anastasia Soare’s calm came from having performed the task thousands of times. This deep, repetitive mastery creates an autopilot mode that overrides fear and ensures quality performance when the stakes are highest.
Top performers don't eliminate the fear of rejection; they diminish its power through repeated exposure. This 'obstacle immunity' conditions them to act despite their brain's natural fear response, just as an expert skydiver still feels fear but jumps anyway.
Professional athlete Chiney Ogwumike conquered her fear of shooting free throws not with psychological hacks, but through relentless, repetitive practice. This brute-force approach builds mastery and confidence, demonstrating that true freedom from performance fear is earned through dedicated work, not just mindset shifts.
Do not wait to feel confident before you start a new venture. Confidence isn't something you find; it's something you build through the repetitive act of showing up and doing the work, even when you're terrified. It is a result of consistent courage, not a cause of it.
Top salespeople aren't just skilled; they've mastered their internal psychology. Most performance issues stem from fear, lack of information, and self-limiting beliefs, which prevent them from taking necessary actions like making calls.
To overcome the fear of tasks like cold calling, you need a powerful long-term goal (the 'big pull') that you desire more than the immediate comfort of avoidance. This goal provides the motivation to sacrifice what you want now (ease) for what you want most, making discipline a choice rather than a chore.