Do the Thing That Scares You: Why Growth Needs a Little Fear

Every successful woman eventually faces fear, but not the kind that stops you. The kind that signals growth. A lot of times, we think of it as a negative thing, but it's actually saying you are expanding.

Right now, I'm doing something completely new: writing and performing a one-woman show. Honestly, it's equal parts terrifying and thrilling. As I got off a recent Zoom meeting with my one-woman-show coach, it made me think. Whether you're scaling your business, stepping out on stage as a speaker, or finally launching that next big idea, product, or book, growth always comes with a little fear.

In this blog, I'm sharing how high-achieving women like us can use fear as fuel, not a stop sign. We're going to use it as a way to step into bigger confidence, bigger creativity, and more impact in the world.

The Comfort Crossroad

Even though I've spoken on hundreds of stages to massive audiences and published podcasts, books and blogs, writing this one-woman show then performing it as an actor putting feels raw, personal, and it's stretching me.

Every successful woman hits this crossroad where comfort feels safe and nice, but it also feels small, and you're craving something more. That was the spark I needed for writing my own one-woman show. I needed that expansiveness.

For women entrepreneurs and leaders, growth doesn't just come from more strategy, more work, more hours. It comes from courage, and it's going to give you some really great stories. If you've been playing it safe recently, this is your reminder. Your next level is waiting on the other side of what scares you.

Fear Is a Sign of Expansion

Fear means you're in new territory. As you start to leave your bubble of comfort into something new, your inner self says, "Danger. Fear means stop. Fear means we're in trouble." But actually, you can't grow and expand without fear. Fear is telling us we're going out of that zone, but you're safe, you're okay.

Just because it can feel scary doing the show, and it's an industry I don't know, it doesn't mean I'm failing. It means I'm expanding. When you're growing your muscles and there's a little pain, it doesn't mean it's a bad thing. It means there's been growth and progress.

The show terrifies me in the best way.

• Will people come?
• Will I forget my lines?
• Will people leave mid-show? ​

But that's how I know this is the right next thing: I care, and it's helping me feel alive rather than apathetic or complacent, which happens when high achievers reach that peak of success.

Fear is proof you're stepping into unfamiliar territory, and it’s good because that's where the next level lies.

The Science Behind Fear

Did you know that moderate fear actually increases your focus, creativity, and motivation? When you're in that heightened state, it pushes you into higher performance. You know that feeling right before you have to be “on”, or right before an interview?

Being scared is just the next step. Rather than being a red flag, it's actually a green light saying, "Go, move forward. This is good for you" because it's building your confidence mindset and it's leadership development. You're learning to regulate that fear, building emotional mastery and resilience.

I'm not saying that tomorrow I'm going to fill a 700-person theater and pitch to Netflix. I'm doing the steps that make sense for where I'm at.

Meeting Your Inner Critic

When I first sat down to start writing part of my show, my inner critic was super loud. "Who are you to do this? What if it's not good? How are you going to fill a theater?"

Then I realized this voice shows up when I'm doing something new, something that matters, something that stretches me. Those saboteurs start barking and saying stupid things that aren't true, but we can pull some truth nuggets from them.

• "Who are you to do this?" becomes "What expertise do I have?" Then I can apply it.
• "What if it's not good?" becomes "I'm going to make sure it's good, because I care."

Every time I get on stage, I still feel a bit of that fear. A speaking colleague told me yesterday, "Before I get on stage, every time I feel a little bit nervous." Feel the fear and do it anyway.

Fear isn’t a stop sign. It's just a signal that you're standing on the edge of your next breakthrough.

The Benefits of Facing Fear

1. Reclaims Confidence: Every time you try something new, you're building self-trust. You can do this. You can go for it without even thinking about the outcome.
2. Builds Emotional Strength: You stop being controlled by fear and start directing it. When I do a talk and feel that fear, I channel it into great energy. Otherwise, my mouth is dry, my hands are sweaty, and I'm freaking out, and I'll forget the words. Instead, I channel it, so the audience feels comfortable.
3. Sparks Creativity: New challenges bring out new ideas and perspectives.
4. Restores Fulfillment: Growth reignites passion and purpose when success starts to feel routine. Even though I'll be on a stage with an audience in this one-woman show (similar to keynoting, facilitation, and workshops), the idea that it's different is exciting. I'm thinking of costumes, props, cool lighting, and tech components I couldn't do in a keynote. This is how you stay magnetic, innovative, and inspired.

My One-Woman Show Journey

I had this spark after seeing a fellow Canadian Association of Professional Speakers member do her keynote in a theater. It seemed more as a show than a talk. Another member went on tour and built cool promo assets. At the Global Speakers Summit in Bali, one speaker wore costumes and developed this world. I thought, "This is exactly what I want to do."

Since then, I've taken a one-person show class, and two writing courses. This week I spoke to a local theater and will probably join their artists' community for a year. Hopefully late January, early February, I'll do my first Show Preview.

If you want more updates about my one-woman show journey, join my Facebook group. I’d very much appreciate your support.

Why We Avoid Fear

1. Afraid of Failing Publicly: You don't want to fall on your face.
2. Afraid of Losing Credibility: You've built this business or career. Doing something new might make you look inexperienced or not the expert you're portrayed as.
3. Fear of Judgment: What would people think if this flops? What will people say if it doesn't work out?
4. Illusion of Safety: "I'll do it when I feel ready." You want to stay in your safe bubble. But you're not going to feel ready unless you start working towards it. A one-woman show script isn't going to show up on my plate. I won't have expertise in acting, tech, lighting, sound, and video until I actually do it.

Many high-achieving women unconsciously trade expansion for comfort, especially with kids, aging parents, and everything else. But safety and stagnation can feel almost identical.

The Problems If We Stay Comfortable

1. Invisible Burnout: We keep producing, making results happen, keeping the output going, but we're not growing. There's nothing life-giving to it, no resonance, nothing that gives you energy.
2. Resentment: You might feel boxed in by the success you've built. Look at Jillian Harris (from Bachelor/Bachelorette), who expanded into home design, subscription boxes, speaking. She wasn't contained by "she's only the Bachelorette." Martha Stewart and Snoop Dogg did that show together. They weren't boxed in by their image or resume.
3. Stagnation: If you avoid fear long enough, it starts to feel like "this is my limit”. Without growing, you can't continue to live your purpose in a strong fashion. Your passion gets depleted. You know you're capable of more, but you're stuck doing what works, losing excitement.

Permission to Pursue What Scares You

I got to the point where I was talking with my business coaches about the next offering, what I'm marketing, what I'm selling. I said, "I don't know. What I want to do is just write my show. I don't want to do all those other things right now."

Permission granted for me to write my show and perform it, and for you to do the same.

Your Challenge

Don't wait. Do the thing that scares you. Send the pitch, raise your rates, share the post, make the video. Say yes to an opportunity that makes your stomach flip. Invite a new friend out. Go on a date. Take your spouse on a date. Take a class you've been wanting to take: painting, music, dance, whatever it may be.

Fear isn't failure. It's feedback that you're evolving, and we want to evolve to be satisfied in life. For every entrepreneur, high achiever, and leader reading this blog, your next level of confidence and creativity is waiting on the other side of discomfort.

Final Thoughts

Remember, fear isn't failure. It's feedback that you're expanding because you can't evolve and stay comfortable at the same time. That's where the magic happens.

Fear doesn't mean you're off track. It means you're alive, awake, and in motion. Do that thing that scares you, not because you're fearless, but because you're ready for what's next, and you want that growth. Growth will always ask for just a little bit of fear, and that's how you know it's worth it.

If this message spoke to you, let me know. Send me a message: [email protected] or on your favorite social platform. Share this with another powerful woman who's ready to grow, or who wants more courage.

Until next time, stay dynamic!