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Introduction

Former U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt once said in a speech, "We have nothing to fear but fear itself." If you take the statement literally, it doesn't really make sense because you can't really be afraid of fear. What Roosevelt was trying to say is that fear is a crippling emotion that can hold back nations and individuals from achieving greatness. In that sense, the consequences of fear can be terrifying.

Good fear vs. bad fear

Fear is a strong emotion, an instinctive reaction that we're endowed with to ensure the survival of our species. It’s also a primeval instinct that we see in animals as well. As human civilizations became more complex and advanced, so did our fears become more varied and compounded. The caveman in prehistoric times wasn't worrying about the financial risks of taking out a second mortgage or making a career change. His primary goal revolved around one thing - survival.

Our current fears stem from the same core instinct but in comparison to our earliest ancestors, are much less of a threat. Oftentimes, rather than help us survive in the modern world, they hinder our ability to lead our best possible lives.

Now, this book is in no way trying to underplay or belittle your fears. Your fears are very valid. In fact, some actions should be tempered with a little bit of fear and caution. However, some fears can get blown out of proportion and take over your life. In this case, you need to pay attention.

Your fears could cause you to miss out on amazing opportunities that could change your life. Letting fear control you could be the reason you feel stifled, lost, and demotivated. Your fears, rather than protecting you, could be destroying your chances for happiness and success.

For example, the fear of swimming in shark-infested waters is a good fear. The fear of quitting a job that you hate and that offers no chance for advancement is a bad fear. It can hold you back from pursuing your true passion and showcasing your skills. It's these types of fears that this book will help you address.

This book is going to help you identify 7 types of fear that could be limiting your ability to achieve success These are fears that could hinder your care advancement or hold you back from building strong, healthy relationships. They can be the roadblocks to finding happiness and fulfillment.

Here are these 7 most common fears and a few tips on how to overcome them.

1.Fear of Risk

Risk is related to a perceived loss resulting from an action. Oftentimes, there's also a potential gain but we tend to magnify the loss while minimizing the gains. The fear of taking risks is a very strong primal fear related to our survival instinct where our prehistoric ancestors were surrounded by peril. Taking risks could mean getting eaten by wild animals or some other horrible death.

This fear remains very strong in us and is the first emotion that overcomes us when we think of taking important action.

How it holds you back

Let's say you want to start your own business. You have a great idea for a useful product or service that's scalable. There's an audience for it and your initial market research tells you it will be in demand. You're very excited. Then, the fear of risk kicks in and your mind starts bombarding you with 'what if?’

What if the idea's not so good after all? What if you take out a loan and can't repay it? What if the product doesn't sell? What if the market collapses? What if there's a nuclear war and you lose everything?

The 'what if' questions typically escalate into gloom and doom scenarios until the fear paralyzes you into inaction. Realistically, if there's a nuclear war, everybody's going to be out of business, aren't they? This is how the concept of risk can really play on your fear of loss.

Your fear ends up holding you back from, doing something that can have some real benefits for you. So, you ditch the idea and decide to stay on in a job you hate that's stifling your potential and ambition. You convince yourself that being miserable is safer than failing miserably!

Now, consider the alternative: you realistically assess the risks involved, plan for them and start your own business. You embark on an exciting journey when you become your own boss, take control of your life, and grow a super successful business. This is just one example of how fear of risk can hold you back from great things.

Action steps

Assess and evaluate risks

Identify your desired outcome. Let's stick with the example of starting your own business. Realistically and honestly assess the risks related to the outcome. In this case, they could be using your savings for capital, taking out a loan and changing interest rates or liabilities or hazards related to your product. I would also include the risk of not making any income from the business for a few months until it's up and running.

Weigh the desired outcome (establishing a successful business) against the risks involved and honestly assess the possibility of these risks really happening. You'll most likely find that the outcome or goal is worth the risks.

Assessing possible risks and putting them into proportion usually shows you that they're not as bad as you imagined, not likely to happen or if they do, can be managed.

Plan for risk

When you've identified all the possible risks, create a risk management plan for each one. This will give you tremendous peace of mind and confidence because you're mentally prepared and your back is covered.

Having a risk management plan or a plan B will arm you with the tools to immediately take action to mitigate or eliminate risks with the least possible losses. Oftentimes, many of the imagined risks never come to pass but having a plan B is one of the most powerful ways to break your fear of risk.

Set clear goals

Always define your goal or goals clearly and factor in the potential risks. Include sub-goals of steps you need to take to avoid risk. Your goal map should include benchmarks or timeframes where you stop and assess your progress to ensure that all is on track and to make modifications if something seems to be heading towards a risk.

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Introduction

"Grit is what separates fruitful lives from aimlessness." John Ortberg

The standard definition of grit is "firmness of strength or spirit". But really, the essence of grit is elusive and complex. It's doubtful that an exact definition actually exists.

Grit is a combination of resilience and courage, boldness and resolve. It is a mindset of passion, perseverance, hope and strong self-belief.

Grit is a fierce determination to succeed. It's when you bravely take the blows and setbacks that life deals you, defiantly pick yourself up and keep going. It's believing in yourself and in your ability to succeed against all odds.

Psychology defines grit through two key components:

• The ability to adhere to long-term goals

• The ability to continue pursuing those goals despite adversity

Grit is an extremely attractive quality to have. People with grit stand out and give the impression that they are a race apart. Mahatma Gandhi is a classic real-life example. James Bond is a classic example of a gritty movie character.

But this book isn't about how to become a babe magnet - although you may find it an added bonus! This book is about cultivating the quality of grit and achieving amazing success in your life.

Grit is not an innate trait we're born with but a skill that can be learned and cultivated. This can be done through seven powerful strategies that will very quickly enable you to grow your grit.

This book will walk you through these seven proven steps that will enable you to develop lasting grit. The result will be life-changing.

Chapter 1- The Grit Quiz

Some people talk about getting things done but never get around to doing them. Other people take action to consistently get things done. The difference between those two types of people is grit.

Which type of person are you? Are you somewhere in the middle? Do you swing between indifferent procrastination and enthusiastic action? Where do you stand on the grit scale?

Answer the following questions with yes/ no/ somewhat. The answer to each question is self-evident. Just be honest with yourself and take some time to reflect on your answers and recall specific examples in your life. As you read on, you will understand why you are lacking grit in certain areas.

1. I'm not discouraged by setbacks.

2. I tend to get passionate about an idea or project then lose interest.

3. I stick to my long-term goals and don’t let myself get distracted by new side projects.

4. When the going gets tough, I roll up my sleeves and confront the challenges.

5. I don’t give up easily.

6. I often set a goal but halfway through, switch to another one.

7. I am a hard worker.

8. I see my setbacks as learning opportunities to help me do better the next time.

9. I know where I want to be in 10 years.

10. I don’t procrastinate.

Wherever you stand on the grit scale, there's always room for improvement. Your answers should help you recognize which behaviors or traits are holding you back from developing grit and achieving your full potential. These are the areas you need to focus on more as you're going through the seven steps.

The grit quiz highlights the essence of grit. It's all about homing in on your goals and taking action to achieve them.

Actor Woody Allen summed up the proactive mindset of gritty people beautifully. ? He said, “80% of success is showing up.” Read on to learn how you can achieve success by consistently showing up and being present.

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Introduction

Our dreams and goals are what give our lives meaning. They give us purpose and keep us passionate and motivated. Our vision of what we want to achieve in life gives us the courage and strength to keep going in difficult times and fuels our determination to succeed in the face of adversity.

Surprisingly, our digitally-centered world, while simplifying our life in many ways, makes it harder to stay focused on our goals. As we try to keep pace with our hectic lifestyle and unending commitments, we often get sidetracked and lose sight of our vision. We put our dreams on the back burner or shelve them away in our minds. The danger is that we get so caught up in the proverbial "rat race", we risk losing our vision altogether.

This is why a vision board could be just what you need. As the name implies, it's a tool that helps you keep your goals and visions alive.

This book will explain how a vision board works and why it can be an amazingly powerful tool. It will provide step-by-step instructions on how to create your personal vision board and how to use it.

Our goals and visions are unique to us. Whether your dream is to create a successful online business, own your own house or become CEO of your company, a vision board can help. If your vision is to become rich or famous, find true love or provide a good life for your family, a vision board can bring you closer to your dreams. The beauty of a vision board is that it can be customized to fit any vision or aspiration.

Creating a vision board is easy, enjoyable and costs next to nothing - but the results can actually transform your life!

Chapter 1: Why a Vision Board

First, let's get familiar with the basics and benefits of a vision board and understand why it's such a helpful tool.

What is a vision board?

A vision board is a surface (such as a bulletin board, magnetic board, or even a computer desktop) on which you display images of your future goals and dreams. These can include what you want to be, what to want to have in your life, and even people related to your goals who inspire you.

A vision board works to keep you focused on your goals and aspirations by looking at the images daily and visualizing your future life.

Benefits of using a vision board

• It brings clarity by helping you identify your specific goals.
• It gives your vision tangibility.
• It reinforces your purpose and keeps it strong.
• It relieves stress and anxiety.
• It's a powerful daily affirmation that wires your brain to recognize its importance.
• It gives clarity on your priorities.
• It boosts motivation and productivity.
• It boosts your creativity.

Who can benefit from a vision board?

Absolutely anyone can benefit from a vision board, even children. A vision board relies on visualization, one of the most powerful tools available to each and every one of us.

For adults, a vision board can help with career, relationship, and family goals. It can help with personal health and fitness goals as well as financial goals. For children and younger adults, it can be perfect for educational goals and personal dreams.

Creating a vision board is a wonderful family activity where you can all get together and create your personal boards. It's a great creative activity for children as well as a great learning experience where they learn to identify the things that matter to them.

Now, you may be thinking, all of this sounds fun and the benefits seem great - but does a vision board really work? Read on!

Chapter 2: How Vision Boards Work

The vision board is not a bogus fad but it's understandable that people may be skeptical. After all, how can looking at a bunch of pictures lead to anything effective or tangible? Vision boards are fun to make and use but can they realistically achieve any results? The answer is an emphatic yes.

The concept behind how vision boards work is backed by some very powerful research. Some of these scientific findings give us reasons to take vision boards very seriously.

On the other hand, proponents of the Law of Attraction present a plausible theory, although with less conclusive scientific evidence.

Let’s see how vision boards work according to both of these categories.