💣 Dropping the F-Bomb: Why I’m Talking About Fear

Let’s get one thing clear:
I’m about to drop the F-bomb.

No, not that one.
I’m talking about FEAR - the thing no one wants to admit, but everyone feels.

Especially smart, capable people doing hard things.
People like you. People like me.

Over the years, I’ve faced fear in some pretty high-stakes places:

• On a balance beam, in international competition..

• In a live TV studio, covering breaking news.

• In tech boardrooms, leading through market meltdowns.

• Backstage, before stepping in front of thousands.

• And alone, rebuilding my life after a personal experience that flipped everything upside down.

And through it all, I’ve learned something powerful:
Fear doesn’t mean you’re weak. It means you’re human. It means you care.

But left unaddressed, fear can quietly run your life. It becomes the silent driver of our decisions, the quiet reason we hold back, play small, or stay stuck.

So I’m doing something about it.

I’m launching a new series:
💣 The F-Bomb Blog Series
Short reads. Sharp insights. 10 posts on how fear shows up - at work, at home, in success, in silence. Plus tools to help high achievers face fear, reframe it, and rewire how we respond.

Because the goal isn’t to be fearless.
It’s to be fear-wise, A new term I am playing with.

No fluff.
No toxic positivity.
Just real talk, brain science, and tools that work.

💣 F-Bomb Blog #1: Fear Isn’t the Enemy. It’s the Signal.

Let me take you back to a moment that stuck with me - not because it was dramatic, but because it was true.

I once missed a turn on the way to a big client meeting in Florida, because my GPS didn’t ding.
No alert. No voice. Just silence.

And in that silence, I kept driving… right past the exit.
I took a full lap around I-295 to get to my destination.

It wasn’t being late that stuck with me. It was the idea of something bigger,

Fear is like a signal. If you don’t know how to hear it, you’ll miss the turn.

We’ve been taught to treat fear like a flaw.

To hide it. Push through it. Power past it.
But here’s the truth:

Fear isn’t the enemy. It’s information.
It’s not drama. It’s not weakness. It’s not a character flaw.
It’s your nervous system saying, “Hey! pay attention here.”

And in a world where change is constant, uncertainty is the norm, and everyone’s pretending to be “fine”…
that’s a message we can’t afford to miss.

What’s Actually Happening in Your Brain?

When fear kicks in, it lights up your amygdala, your brain’s alarm system. It overrides logic. Floods your body with cortisol.
Your muscles tense. Your vision narrows. Your heart rate spikes.

That’s great when you’re running from a tiger.
Not so helpful when you’re leading a team, pitching a big idea, or just trying to survive your Thursday.

Unchecked, chronic fear leads to:

• Shaky decisions

• Sleepless nights

• Burnout

• Playing small when you’re capable of more

And yet… fear isn’t trying to stop you.
It’s trying to signal you.

🔁 The Rewire Move: Flip the Role of Fear

The next time fear pops up, ask:

• What is this trying to tell me?

• Am I in danger, or just uncertain?

• Is this fear protecting me… or preventing me?

If you’re launching something new, navigating change, or stretching into success… of course fear shows up.
That means it matters.

You’re not broken.
You’re wired for this.

Fear doesn’t mean stop.

It means pay attention.

It’s not a red light.
It’s a green light for growth.

Fear is what tells you:

• This is important.

• This is unfamiliar.

• This is where the next version of you lives.

And if you learn how to read that signal?
You learn how to lead through it.

Coming Next:

💣 F-Bomb #2: “Smart People Feel Fear. They Just Don’t Let It Take Over.”
Because fear isn’t weakness, it’s intelligence looking for direction.

Follow along.
Share this with someone who’s pretending they’re “fine.”
And remember: You don’t need to be fearless. You just need to get fear-wise.