David Feldt. Finding meaning in the noise. Innovating within the social business web. Proud father. Entrepreneur. Builder.

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As every entrepreneur knows, one of the most powerful secrets to success is conquering fear and pushing forward. Many books have been written about this topic and, for me, it's one of the most important lessons to learn in life. This week we read the classic story of the Israelites, their exodus from Egypt and the famous moment when they face the Sea in front of them and the approaching Egyptian army behind them. The story reveals the blueprint for conquering our fears. There are four patterns we fall into when facing a seemingly insurmountable challenge:

Self sabotage - self sabotage is caused by fear of rejection or failure. However bad things may seem today, there is always a brighter tomorrow to work towards. Fight - Fear can cause you to want to fight when doing so can have the exact opposite effect to that you desire. Fighting battles takes energy that is often better spent being productive. Remember that fighting is a backward motion. Retreat - Often our fears causes us to want to return to what is familiar rather than to face challenges. Why is this? Because the threat of the unknown appears much larger than it really is. Helplessness - Very often fear causes inaction at a time when action is vital!

The answer is to simply journey forth, or as Nike says, "Just Do It!" Concentrate on going forward. Always face the future, not the past. You need no longer fear the enemies that you have already conquered. Face the fear and act. A good business person never surrenders his or her business to fate. The moment you start blaming unseen forces (the market, the economy, the competition, ...) is the moment you relinquish control. Help yourself. You have to act. You are responsible to act. Miracles occur only AFTER you've conquered your fear and moved forward. In the story, Nachshon is the first to enter the Sea. He enters the waters and keeps going. Nothing happens. He continues. It is only when the water reaches his nostrils, as he is about to drown, that the Sea splits and the entire nation is able to cross to safety. Nachshon was courageous and faced his fears but he had to (be willing to) push beyond  his limits before the miracle occurred. It's better to be an imperfect achiever than to avoid the journey altogether. Journey forth!