What Fear Steals

Great moments, great leaders, and courage often make us feel something. Ever see the Michael J. Fox clip of him playing guitar with Coldplay?

You might know the one I’m talking about—where he went out onto that Glastonbury stage with Coldplay, picked up a guitar his hands struggled to hold steady, and played anyway. I’m not a guitar player, but I imagine the notes weren’t perfect. If you looked closely, his tremors were visible to 100,000 people in the crowd and millions more who pass this video along.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C82ekIhS2TV/?igsh=bzJ1a3A0anc2ajMz

None of that mattered. What mattered was this: He didn’t wait until he was "fixed" to play Fix You. The simple fact that he showed up, limitations and all, and decided the moment was worth more than the fear was the win. The potential to inspire was greater than the knowledge of his disease. Over 10 million people suffer from the same disease, how many has he inspired with his courage and refusal to hide?

The Camouflage of Routine

Too many of us don’t get moments like that because we never let ourselves get close enough to have one. Not because we lack talent, but because fear steps in and does what it does best—it makes you wait. It doesn’t need to beat you in some dramatic showdown; it just needs you to keep postponing.

I’m writing this to myself as much as anyone. I’ve long buried the depth of my consciousness under humor and distance. There’s a line by the Goo Goo Dolls that I’ve appreciated: “I don’t want the world to see me, because I don’t think that they’d understand.” Trust me, that’s not me being super dramatic. More matter of fact. I’m mostly fine with my weird complexities. But take this blog. I wrote it for years before anyone knew about it. And even now, I’m fairly resistant to pushing it out there more aggressively. So every sentence is a small territory reclaimed from not wanting to be misunderstood, disliked, or criticized. Strange side note: I hate calling it a blog. Don’t know why.

"Playing it Safe"

Too often, our insecurities force us into inaction. We postpone the risk until the conditions are right. We postpone being seen until we’ve smoothed out all the rough edges. Business leaders don’t always step into their true nature because it might not be conventional all the time. Eventually, we forget we were even postponing or resisting. We just think this is our life now because frankly, it seems to be working.

I’m not romanticizing recklessness. Stability and routine keep the world turning.

But routine is also a pretty good camouflage. It allows us to look busy while we’re actually just hiding. It’s the difference between managing a process and leading a movement.

Routine gets us to the playoffs. Having the courage to take the shot could win the championship. We trade the whimsical for the predictable. The guitar solo for the spreadsheet. The vision for the status quo.

The Cost

The cost isn’t just personal. Every time a leader buries a dream because they’re afraid of looking foolish, the world loses something. Every passion kept private is a moment that never arrives.

Fear doesn’t just steal from you. It steals from all of us. When you hold back because it isn't "perfect," sure, you might be protecting your reputation; but also potentially robbing your team of a breakthrough. We think we’re being "realistic," but really, we’re just being selfish with our potential.

What made Fox’s moment so powerful? He exposed his passion for music regardless of any fear or insecurity he might have. He let the world see his limitations right alongside his love for what he was doing. We don’t get multiple attempts at this. No rehearsals. No do-overs.

How many game-changing businesses didn’t start because the "moment" was never right? How many amazing, imperfect things never happened because someone decided they didn’t want the world to see them? When I see someone just go for it—exposing their passion regardless of the cost—I find myself envying them. I catch myself thinking they’re 'lucky,' even though I know luck has nothing to do with it. It’s grit, talent, and a refusal to stay hidden. There’s a certain kind of fortune in finally reaching the point where you stop caring if the world understands you.

I think we need more people willing to share their skills, dreams, and passions with the world. The best leaders live in that space.

So what if you do the thing? Ah, but what if you don’t?

P.S. I bought an old Porsche this week. Felt it necessary to timestamp it w/ this post.