What Would You Do If You Weren’t Afraid?

Today I had a really great day.  I was able to go down to BYU in the morning to do a mentoring session with the female students.  I absolutely loved meeting with the girls and getting to know them.  It was so fun to hear about their hopes and dreams for the future.  The one theme that came through in my talks with the girls was the fact that they had huge dreams for the future but they weren’t allowing themselves to take those dreams seriously because they were afraid of failing.  So rather they were telling themselves to shoot for something less in their lives.  I asked the girls “So let’s say you do try to go big and you fail…so what then? “  One of the girls replied, “try something else?”  Exactly!  What is really the worst thing that can happen if you try and fail?  BIG DEAL!  So you might feel silly or embarrassed, or you might thing other people are judging you, but big whooping deal!  So you try and fail…you simply get back up, brush yourself off, and try again…only this time you are smarter and you have learned some valuable lessons on what not to do, and you likely made some good connections along the way – so was any of it really a failure if you learned?  NO!  It’s only a failure when you stop trying…that is when you fail…but there is no shame at all in trying with your best efforts and having something not work, so long as you don’t let it stop you from continuing to move forward.  I shared with the girls one of my favorite quotes that hangs on my wall.  It reads:

It will all be okay in the end,

If it’s not okay,

It’s not the end.

That quote has helped me hang in there more times than I can count.  And it’s true.  It’s not the end, so pick up and try again, and I can tell you that you will be amazed where it takes you.  I hope I was able to convince at least one of those girls that I met with today to put aside their fears and go for what they really want in life.  Never be afraid to dream big.  Never be afraid to try and never be afraid to fail.  Only be afraid of giving up.  Never give up. 

Next I was able to head up to Salt Lake to be a celebrity judge in the Grow America TV Show.  I get to be one of the three judges that pick the winners of the prize money for the best business ideas and plans.  It’s like the American Idol of Entrepreneurship.  We had a ton of fun at the show and Casey Scott and Debbie Worthen from KUTV Channel 2 news anchored the show.  I have to say that they two of them are just awesome.  Casey cracks me up and Debbie is a sweetheart.  Alan Hall is the man who put the entire program together and he funds the huge money prize giveaways.  Alan is the most generous, amazing man ever and I feel very lucky to have him as my friend.  He is fully dedicating his life to helping entrepreneurs and he is my hero and my idol.  I love that man.  Fraser Bullock of Sorenson Capital and Will West of Control4 were the other two celebrity judges and the three of us had a lot of fun with each other doing the judging.  The companies that presented did an awesome job and it will be fun to see the TV show when it airs.  There was a huge studio audience at the show and they seemed to enjoy the event as well.  All in all it was a really great day and I loved being a part of all of it.

Seeing all these talented people with big hopes and dreams for their future is awesome, and what is even more awesome is seeing those who are brave enough to go for their dreams without fear of failing.  Everyone should ask themselves this question – if someone gave me 100 million dollars and said I could start any business I wanted to start and I would be guaranteed not to fail at it, then what business would I begin?  Your answer to that question is exactly the kind of business you should be starting.  The answer to that question is the key to knowing you passion in life.  So figure out your own answer to that question and then GO FOR IT!!! 

Have an incredible Friday!
~Amy

8 Comments

  • Brittany says:

    Very inspiring! Thanks Amy!

  • Kim says:

    Loved the article… I have 3 businesses in mind that I am just trying to figure out how and were to go…. I can’t stop thinking of them and where I go but hit brick walls but everything I read this type of blog I sit and say ok how to make idea unique. SO thank you.

  • Brandon Bouck says:

    Amy, it was great meeting you last night, I’ve been so impressed with what Alan Hall has created. I’m proud to be an entrepreneur today even when everyone claims the chips are down. I see so much potential in this economic climate, especially when people like the proponents of Springboard are involved. Thanks for being an awesome judge.

  • Anonymous says:

    Great post Amy. Thank you.

  • Tim Miller says:

    One time you said to me “Don’t give up…EVER!” It was something simple I have never forgotten. Half of my ideas are lame (OK maybe 90% are lame) but all the others are Legen……(Wait for it)……dary!!!!!
    I love how you believe in yourself and more importantly how you believe in others.

  • Steph Featherstone says:

    My biggest dream, aside from becoming a published author and raising a family, is to start an academy designed to help young people discover their artistic talents, particularly writing. If I had 100 million dollars, I’d be on that real quick! 😀

  • Gypsy G Designs says:

    One of my dreams is to be the gypsy I want to be! Free to travel designing treasure maps to sell. We have so many beautiful natural treasures to map out for fun creative dates, touristy treasure maps, and inspiring treasure maps for youth camps. One of my biggest struggles for starting a home-based business is getting noticed online. Do you have any tips, Amy? Right now, I need free tips. So many SEO type offerings cost money. I do know I need to get better at blogging every day like you. But how do I get my blog noticed? hmm… I love the Dream Big and never give up. Even though my business dreams aren’t “big” per se, they are big to me.

  • mchristy says:

    I love that quote also. I remind myself all the time that if it’s not alright it’s not the end. I find this blog inspiring especially for women. Being a female entrapreneur is difficult to say the least. Women like Amy give us a role model and mentor to keep us focus on the fact that we can do it…
    many thanks to Amy

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