Lessons I Learned From Climbing Out of a Blimp
20 years ago, I climbed out of a perfectly good blimp, while hovering 1,000 feet over the Atlantic Ocean.
Why in the hell would I do that is probably on your mind.
I was a contestant on a show that ESPN created called "I'd Do Anything" which was pretty much a sports version of Fear Factor. The video explains the task at hand:
That experience, and this video, remain with me at all times because it taught me a few valuable lessons that have shaped my last two decades of growth.
These are the core of what has driven me to challenge and push myself into situations that have either benefitted my goal progress, allowed me to be more resilient, and put me in some really fun situations.
1. We Create Fear - In the video, I share that I have a massive fear of heights. On the way up, I was thinking everything from "What if the blimp deflates?" "What if I fall?" "What if the harness breaks?"
All situations that never happened, but our fear does that to us. It creates scenarios that are likely to never play out.
When have you done that to yourself about anything? Job application? Promotion request? Speaking engagement?
Takeaway: Think positively. I convinced myself before I even approached the opening that I was going to be fine, nothing was going to go wrong, and I was going to do what I needed to do. In the video, when I said I was ready, I really was.
2. Courage Involves Fear - Anyone who discusses courage or bravery and doesn't include the concept that fear still remains is missing the point. Anyone who acts bravely or courageous still has fear in them, but has just chosen that the decision is greater than the fear that remains. Don't think for one second that you're not doing it right if you're still afraid. The fact that you're moving forward is what's important.
Takeaway: Let the fear in and then make a choice that standing still isn't acceptable. Right before you start speaking at a team meeting or before you walk into a networking event, take a deep breath and then move.
3. Make it About Someone Else - The premise of the show was that the contestant, if they won, didn't get anything. We were all competing on behalf of someone else and that person was granted a sports dream of their choice. I was competing for my dad to be able to play with his favorite pro golfer and my competitor was playing for his sister to practice with the U.S. Women's Soccer Team.
Both of us had listed our fear of heights as our #1 fear, but both of us got out of the blimp and gave it our all.
Why? Because it wasn't about us.
Sometimes we get wrapped up in "What's going to happen to me?" as opposed to "What can happen FOR someone else?" Had it not been for my dad being there, I doubt I would've even gone up in the blimp.
Takeaway: When you're thinking about the fear you're facing, how can you make it about someone else in some way? Public speakers are providing change and hope for others. The new project you're going to present on is to benefit clients or the company. The change you're proposing will help the company and the employees work smarter, not harder. By removing ourselves from the equation a little bit, we think about others and want to be accountable to them.
