Fear: Friend or Foe?

“You don’t need courage if you’re not going to do anything.”
Rev. Mary Tumpkins


We all know the feeling; heart racing, palms sweaty, head feels a little light. Something has triggered the fight-or-flight response and we revert to the frightened cave-dweller under attack from wild animals. In our minds we know that there is no life-threatening danger facing us, but our bodies are convinced that if we don’t run or defend ourselves then it’s all over.

Fear serves an important purpose, because it can make us cautious in a dangerous situation. Sometimes fear saves our lives. Fear can also be the thing that stops us from acting; which stops us from getting the things that we want in life. When you feel fear it is important to stop and check with yourself. Is the fear you are feeling a warning about a life-threatening situation? If so, you better listen to it and proceed with caution. Or is the fear warning us about something that could be uncomfortable if we fail? If that is the case maybe the right course is to put fear behind you and go “full speed ahead.”

Fear is such a powerful emotion, flooding our body with hormones and feelings that seem impossible to ignore, that it can be very difficult to distinguish between the “warning” fear and the “paralyzing” fear. There are some techniques that can be helpful in overcoming this powerful feeling. The first thing to realize is that the physical feelings that come with fear are the same physical feelings that we get when we are extremely excited.

Think of the last time you did something that was exciting and a little dangerous. Maybe you were riding a roller coaster, or a motorcycle. Maybe you were white-water rafting or paragliding. Whatever it was, remember how it made you feel. Fear can be an exhilarating feeling; a whiff of adrenaline can make the whole world seem brighter and more fun. Of course an element of risk and danger is part of the process; you can’t really get that feeling without risk and danger.

Mark Twain said, “I am an old man and I have known many troubles, but most of them never happened.” I understand what he meant because most of the danger I have ever faced has all been in my imagination.

That’s not to say that fear isn’t real when you are embarking on a career change. There is always the valid fear that you might fail and be worse off after trying to change your career. Will you listen to the fear that can stop you from taking action to improve your life, or will you face that fear with courage and not let it stop you from doing and being the things you dream about? You get to decide.

Timothy Ferriss, in his wild book The 4-Hour Work Week, gives us an exercise that can be very helpful in determining the meaning of fear and acting anyway:

1. Define your nightmare, the absolute worst thing that could happen if you did what you are considering.

Our imaginations are powerful tools and can invent danger where none exists. Let your imagination run wild. What’s the very worst thing that can happen? Could your decision result in you dying homeless and alone on the street? Or can you think of something worse? Inoculate yourself against the very worst outcome by imagining it fully.

2. What steps could you take to repair the damage or get things back on the upswing, even if temporarily?

I bet you have recovered from terrible setbacks before. Have you ever had the very worst thing you imagined happen to you and then felt, “That wasn’t really so bad.”? Think about it now. What resources would you be able to call on? What actions could you take to get back on your feet if the worst happens?

3. What are the outcomes or benefits, both temporary and permanent, of more probable scenarios?

The exercise of your imagination will allow you to dream up worst-case scenarios that probably couldn’t even really happen. Get real now. What is more likely to happen if you take the action you are afraid of? Are there benefits to that outcome?

4. If you were fired from your job today, what would you do to get things under financial control?

Losing our job or our ability to meet our financial obligations is often the worst thing that we can imagine. This is the modern day equivalent of the caveman’s fear of a saber-tooth tiger. You’ve probably been there before; devastated at the unexpected loss of income. What did you do to get back on your feet? What could you do now if the worst happened?

5. What are you putting off out of fear?

What action is causing the fear you are feeling? What are you avoiding because of the fear? Someone once said, “We can’t grow until we take the uncomfortable step.” What step are you shying away from?

6. What is it costing you – financially, emotionally and physically – to postpone action?

What would be the benefits of taking the action you are afraid of? If there are benefits to doing something you are afraid to do, it is costing you something to not take action. Think about it now. What is it costing you to hesitate in the face of fear?

7. What are you waiting for?
A risk is only scary until you take it.

Why Should I Return the Call from New Horizons?

You’re looking for work, or you’re looking for a better job than the one you have. You’re answering a lot of ads and sending your resume everywhere you can think of. Somewhere along the way you encountered some on-line information that says: There is a Career Boom in Information Technology that is going to make it feel like 1999 all over again!

Maybe you answered the ad because you are curious and you want to know what I.T. is. Maybe you want to find out if it’s really true that there are a lot of jobs in Information Technology. Maybe you’ve wanted to get into I.T. for years and just don’t know how to get your foot in the door. Maybe you have worked in I.T. for a long time, but are finding that your experience isn’t as valuable as it used to be.

There are probably as many reasons to respond to the bulletin as there are people who respond to it. Whatever the reason you responded; congratulations on taking the first step to a new career. I don’t know you, so I don’t know whether an I.T. career is for you or not, but we will never know if we don’t talk about it.

It takes courage to start on a Career Change. You’ve taken a courageous step by answering the ad. Don’t waste it. Follow through. Return the call and maybe you will find that I.T. is a good career for you and you’ll be on your way. Maybe you’ll find that I.T. is not a good career for you. Either way it is worth your time to return the call to New Horizons; there has never been a better time to advance your career in Information Technology.

What Will Happen if I Return the Call?

The unknown can be scary, so let me tell you what will happen if you return the call from New Horizons. One of our professional Admissions Advisors (John Chandler or Mark Rubin) will call to have a brief phone conversation with you. This call doesn’t have to take longer than two minutes.

John or Mark will ask about your previous work experience and your motivation for exploring an I.T. career. They will give you a brief background on New Horizons and what we do. If it looks like our Career Program might be interesting and helpful to you they will be happy to set an appointment to visit the school and see how our Career Program works.

If it becomes clear after a brief conversation that our program isn’t for you or you’re not really interested in an I.T. career, the Admissions Advisor will politely end the phone call and that will be it. What do you have to lose?

What Will Happen if I Agree to an Appointment?

Some people have had bad experiences making appointments on the phone. We are completely aware of the problem. First thing you need to know is that our Admissions Advisors are not interested in convincing you to come to our school or pressuring you into anything.

New Horizons Oregon has been successfully helping people improve their computer skills and enhance their careers for 26 years. We did not get to where we are by pressuring people and selling them things they don’t need. We have been successful in this business by listening carefully to our clients and giving good advice that solves problems. We are leaders in our field because we always look for what is best for our clients. What is best for our clients has always been the best for New Horizons, too.

When you arrive for your appointment you will be greeted at the front desk by our friendly registrars, who will let your Admissions Advisor know you have arrived. The Admissions Advisor will greet you and then take you on a short tour of the school.

While you are touring our luxurious facility you will learn a little about the business we have done for 26 years. You will get a chance to see the names of some of the 6,000 local employers who use our training for their employees. You will get to see the well-equipped and comfortable classrooms and labs. You will have a chance to review the certifications and awards of our teaching staff and you will get to hear some of the stories of our successful students.

Once you have completed the tour, you will sit down with your Admissions Advisor to see how the program works. Our Career Presentation takes about an hour and it will bring you up to date on the latest information on career opportunities in I.T. and let you know exactly how the Career Program works including tuition and financial aid. The Admissions Advisor will also take the time to get to know you a little bit, so he can understand your career goals and the motivations that are leading you to career change or enhancement.

At the end of the presentation the Admissions Advisor will explain the next steps if you want to be considered for admission into our Career Program. If it has become clear that our program or the I.T. career is not for you, the Admissions Advisor will politely thank you for coming and that will be it.

You answered the ad because you want a better career. You have taken the time to read this because you were curious. Momentum is already moving you toward your new career. Why not find out if I.T. is for you?

Call John Chandler at 503.641.0201 or Mark Rubin at 503.641.0987