Smart People Feel Fear.

💣 F-Bomb Blog Series #2

Smart People Feel Fear. They Just Don’t Let It Take Over.

Let’s clear something up:

You can be smart, strong, and successful - and still feel fear.
In fact, the smarter and more self-aware you are, the more likely you do feel it.

Because you see the risks.
You know what’s at stake.
And you care.

So let’s kill the myth that high performers don’t get scared.

💣Let's Drop the F-Bomb #1 (not what you're thinking)'F' is for Fear

I was an Elite Athlete, a News Anchor, and a Tech Exec (thus the silly pic of my 'I love me shelf'. Everyone should have one for the days we feel like failures)

I’ve spent my life surrounded by high achievers: athletes, executives, creatives, and leaders.
I’ve been one.
I’ve coached them.
And I’ve been afraid right alongside them.

Fear shows up at every level.

• The elite gymnast, afraid this routine MUST be perfect.

• The CEO whose stomach flips before an investor pitch.

• The news anchor who smiles on-camera while managing panic behind the scenes.

• The founder who knows this next launch could make or break everything.

And here’s the truth:
Fear doesn’t disqualify you.
It makes you human.

So why does it feel like a flaw?

Because fear’s sneaky.
It wears different disguises:

• Procrastination

• Perfectionism

• Overplanning

• People-pleasing

• I’m-just-super-busy-ness

We’re not avoiding the task.
We’re avoiding the feeling underneath it:
Fear of failure.
Fear of judgment.
Fear of being seen.

But smart, successful people don’t eliminate fear.
They learn to manage it.
They create space for it… then choose not to let it take over.

What’s Actually Happening?

Your amygdala, the brain’s fear center, is wired to scan for danger.
It doesn’t care about your goals. It only cares about keeping you alive.

And while you're just trying to launch the next thing, hit send on that bold email, or raise your hand in the boardroom, your brain is reacting like you're in actual danger.

That’s why fear feels so physical:
Your heart races.
Your chest tightens.
Your brain blanks out.

It’s biology, not a personal failing.

The Rewire Move: Make Space, Then Move Anyway

Here’s what smart people do differently:

• They notice fear, without shame.

• They name it: “This is fear, not fact.”

• They use it as fuel: “This means it matters.”

• And then, they act anyway.

Because you don’t have to be fearless to be effective.

The Balance Beam Moment

In gymnastics, fear can throw off your timing.
One second of hesitation, and you're off the beam.

But we’re trained to feel the fear, reset the focus, and go.

That’s the lesson:
Fear might be there.
But it doesn’t get to lead.

Final Word

If you’re scared, good.
It means you’re doing something that matters.
Just don’t let fear write the ending.

Smart people feel fear.
The successful ones learn to work with it.

Up Next in the F-Bomb Blog Series:

💣 “Promotion Panic: Why Success Can Feel Like a Threat”
Because fear doesn’t just show up when we fail. It shows up when we rise, too.

Follow along, and share this if you’re tired of pretending “I’ve got this” when inside you’re navigating the noise.