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The suggestions are there to stretch you, to have you do things that you may not have considered doing before. The idea is to face fear, to stare it down and show fear that it better move on to someone else because you don’t accept it.

The great thing about fear is that once it is conquered in one area of your life, you will automatically start to see how fear can be conquered in other areas of you life. Release from fear by facing fear is a fantastic way to boost your performance.

We have given each one a ‘Fright Factor’, 10 being terrifyingly fabulous, 1 being a stroll in the park. This is based on our experience, you may be totally calm or a little more freaked out!

1. Parachuting

Jumping from a perfectly good plane may seem crazy and dangerous. The fact is that it is both crazy and dangerous, that is the point! I did it and the second I rolled out of my landing I wanted to be up there again. This was from someone who was afraid of heights!

Fright Factor 8

Resources:
UK Parachuting
Parachuting USA
Sky Dive Switzerland

2. Paragliding

Lots of heights things at the beginning here, it was stuff I did to conquer my fear of heights. There is something serenely motivating about being able to fly like a bird with only the sound of the wind for company.

Fright Factor 8

Resources:
Paragliding Switzerland
Paragliding USA
Paragliding UK

3. Hang Gliding

I found this to be the most scary of the three ‘flying’ experiences. Mainly because you felt least in control for the first few days. After that, however, when your confidence starts to build and you can actually make a flight it, is truly amazing.

Fright Factor 9

Resources:
Hang Gliding UK
Hang Gliding USA
Hang Gliding Switzerland

4. Skiing

If you haven’t done this before you have to try it. I was a late starter at 20 years old and I was addicted. The challenge of learning a new skill is always performance enhancing but the pay off here is also inspiring.

Last season my son and I spent some time in Chamonix. My skiing was rusty and I found it a challenge, but the beautiful scenery and the risk of some of the runs was awesome. Not particularly scary if you have been skiing but I often hear people say “I would love to learn how to ski”. Do it this year, you won’t regret it.

Fright Factor 4

Resources:

Switzerland
USA

5. Karaoke

Both my sisters in law are great singers and my wife can pop out a tune to. However, I am not a good singer, even at my best moments in the shower. Standing up in front of people and letting go would be a terrifying situation for me. We are hopefully in Australia at Christmas and I can see this is one fear I will have to banish there.

I will make you a deal, you send some pictures of you doing it and I will post some of me doing it!

Fright Factor 7

Resources:
Karaoke USA – This would be so cool!
Karaoke UK
Karaoke Switzerland

6. Public Speaking

The fear of public speaking has often been cited as the number one fear. A lot of this came from a Times of London article who surveyed 3000 Americans, 41% listed public speaking as their number one fear, while only 19% listed death as their number one fear. Pretty compelling.

I can say that I was terrified of public speaking. My first speech was at college, I was studying business while in the Royal Air Force on a day release and we had to do a presentation. My legs shook uncontrollably, my mouth was dry, basically I sucked big fat style.

I got over my fear and now love it. I have done talks to hundreds of people in a room and a few people. I don’t need an excuse I just enjoy it immensely.

How did I get over it? I just did it. In my first job selling pension, my boss heard of my fear and made me do a talk every Monday and every Friday for six weeks. After that it was a walk in the park and has been since.

Trust me on this one, you will thank yourself if you just go out there and do it. Do a talk at church, at your school, at you works conference out at your local social club. This is one fear once conquered will have a massive and direct impact on your life.

Fright Factor 9

Resources:
Public Speaking Help

7. Ask Out That Date

OK, hardly an extreme sport or dare devil situation but I bet there are some reading this who have their eye on one person. A person they really, really like and would love to have a date with but the fear is too much.

Just go for it, do it now, call them, lean over the desk ask them in the bar tonight, do yourself a huge favour and just ask. I know it is terrifying but they are not going to shoot you. What is the worst that could happen? They say no. Even if they do, imagine the self-esteem you will get just for asking in the first place.

I spoke to a grandmother at a party, she was 80+ years old. I am fascinated by our senior citizens, they have all been through so much and are, to a man and women, totally awesome. I asked her “Lilly, you have lived a life and I am willing to learn. Tell me what you would have done differently if you were my age”. She paused for a second and said “I have great kids, great grand kids, and fabulous great grand kids, so I can’t complain but if there was one thing… well I would have asked more people out and had more sex”

After almost spitting out my gin and tonic she laughed and said “Listen, I remember when I was 20 like it was yesterday, life flies by so quickly you have to grasp every opportunity every day and don’t care what people think. All those people I worried about are now dead, what does it matter?”

Fright Factor 9

Resources:
Dating Help

8. Write A Book

You may not be into this but I hear people all the time say “I would love to write a book” and they never do. I was one of them so, at the beginning of this year I wrote one. It is not great, but I got more out of just writing it and finishing it and ticking off a goal then a lot of things I have done in the past.

My son is a great story teller so it was super bonding time when he got into the story and told me what I should write. It is called The Ponzi – If anyone wants to see, let me know I will upload! Any cool writers who would like to critique it and give me feedback are more than welcome to comment!

Fright Factor – 5

Resources:
Writing Help

9. Climb Kilimanjaro

I have not not done this, but my friend Tim did. He is full of awesomeness anyway, but he went for it and completed what is an amazing feat. He trained for months, almost curled up wanting to die from lack of oxygen, but he did it. This is video of the chap he did it with, hitting a gold ball off the summit.

Fright Factor 9

Resources:
Climb Kili

10. Fly A Fighter Jet

My wife is a a commercially rated pilot, so one day I am hoping we can do this together. I joined the Royal Air Force because I loved planes. I was an engineer however, but one of my life’s regrets is not trying out as a fighter pilot. To replace that, and to prove I could do it, one of my goals is to have one of my own. The cool thing is my wife can teach me to fly!!

Fright Factor 9

Resources:
Fly a MiG Fighter Jet
This is Awesome Too!

11. Dive with Sharks

This is one of the things that is on my list. It would be pretty much the most terrifying thing I can imagine – no wait – that is number 12. Anyway it is pretty close.

Fright Factor 9

Resources:
Dive With Sharks – Too Awesome!!!

12.Handle Snakes

I am pretty much not afraid of anything these days. I mean, of course you have fear, but it is not a limiting thing. I have created strategies by facing fear that have dulled how fear feels in certain situations. This one, however, is my biggy.

Even seeing snakes on TV makes my skin crawl. I was once waiting for a client in my boardroom and I had the documentary channel on. A snake show came on featuring a cobra, with all the music build up and the strike I jumped and spilled hot chocolate all over my shirt.

I need to address this one, but it is something I am not looking forward to.

Fright Factor 11

Resources:
Handle Snakes

Finally, if you do some of the things on the list, which I really hope you do, give us some feedback in the comments, it will help others who come here and read the post. If you have a story about how you conquered fear doing something on the list let us know too.

Regards
David
@TheMarketMaker