I’m going to tell you a story about how I became fearless, how it gave me the POWER to open up multiple six-figure boot camp locations, and the three things you can do right now, to achieve the SAME THING!
Now this is a really personal subject for me, but after meeting a ton of the cool fitness professionals that read my blog, I feel like where family so I can open up to you… (Plus my therapist says it’s good for me 
So here goes
14 years ago (in a past life it seems) way before I had multiple six figure boot camps locations and a successful group training studio, I was controlled by fear.
I’m talk’n EXTREME FEAR
So here’s the story…
Back in college, I was going through a pretty stressful time (Blew out my ACL, some crappy family stuff, and mid-terms)
I got like no sleep for 48 hours studying (Cuz I have add it takes me a long time) and I had my last mid-term in a couple hours so my friend told me to take a couple of caffeine pills and I would be fine.
I probably just should have had some coffee but at the time, I never drank the stuff.
Well, when all the caffeine form the pills hit my system my chest tightened up, my heart started pounding and and almost blacked out.
I thought I was having a heart attack but it ended up being a major anxiety attack.
Well something snapped in my brain because from that day on, all my fears felt totally exaggerated. (The doc told me I “broke” the part of my brain that manages fear)
Like the smallest thing that would normally be no big deal (like meeting a new person) made me have total anxiety.
I let it get so bad that I slowly began to stop doing anything that would make me feel that way…
And before I knew it, I made myself a prisoner in my own dorm room (I hardly left my room, and when I did, I got back there as fast as I could.)
I’m telling ya… It was a pretty dark time in my life as I went from being an All-American athlete to feeling like a total wuss-bag, barricaded in my dorm room.
To make a VERY LONG story short, I leaned two thing that changed my life forever.
How to turn your worst fears into putty in your hands… and , that the #1 reason why people do not (and will not EVER) have the life, business and money they truly want is because of FEAR.
Let me explain what I mean
Have you ever seen other boot camp instructors or group trainers with less knowledge, less skill, and less talent than you make MORE money, have MORE free time, and have a BETTER lifestyle than you.
Why… WHY… WHY!!!??
It’s all cuz of a very misunderstood four-letter-word called FEAR.
Let’s face it. the ONLY reason someone with less talent, skill and knowledge then you could achieve MORE than you is because of your FEAR of doing the things you NEED to do to get what you really want.
Fear can be a DREAM KILLER
Fear can cause you to tell yourself all sorts of stories of why you shouldn’t, can’t or wont achieve the life you really want.
So how do we destroy this killer of dreams called fear?
The First step is to BECOME AWARE.
Think about what you truly want in life, and become aware of the fear that is stopping you from doing it.
The next step is to turn TOWARDS your fear. Face it.
…And turn fear into your friend.
Here’s what I mean.
When I feel fear, I don’t turn away or run from it… I turn square towards it and say… “You’re not fear… No, you’re EXCITEMENT! I’ve been looking for you.”
It all starts when you wake up in the morning and say to yourself… Today is gonna be an exiting day for this success warrior.
There is a very fine line between fear and excitement.
But here’s the three most powerful things you can do right NOW to become fearless
1. Visualize… Why is this so powerful?
Because it’s been Scientifically proven (By official scientists and stuff) that your subconscious mind, does not know the difference between a thought and reality.
In other words, if you imagine yourself doing something, your brain thinks you’re really doing it.
This is HUGE… here’s why
The best way to not fear something is to do it over and over again…
And if you visualize yourself doing something (in the safety of your own mind) for up to 21 days, it will become a habit… Something you do every day… NO BIG DEAL and NO FEAR!
That’s exactly how I totally destroyed my fear of speaking in fornt of hundreds of people at FBS09.
for 21 days before the event, for 5 minutes a day, I stood in front of a huge blown up picture of FBS08 and visualized giving my presentation (and kicking butt)
It totally worked cuz I NEVER got nervious or scared… Not even for a second… JUST EXCITED!
2. Be a MASSIVE ACTION taker… When you learn something really powerful like this, don’t just read it and say “this is cool”, DO IT!
3. Go to the Fitness Info Summit. I will be speaking here and breaking down step-by-step how to be FEARLESS so that you will never again let anything get in the way of your success.
There is no way I could ever achieve the boot camp success that I did if it wasn’t for discovering how to be fearless.
>> Learn more about the Fitness Info Summit
Rock on!
Steve
Awesome Steve. I agree. People can surprise the hell out of themselves when they just do it (to quote Nike).
My first big fear was in the Marines. We were on target kicking the crap with a .50 cal when my buddy smacked my on the back and started yelling “Free Gun Left!”. Which meant take the gun off tripod because they’re on us!
Don’t have too
much fear now. It’s all a good time.
Comment by JJ — August 17, 2009 @ 4:14 am
Steve,
Thanks for the kick in the butt. Fear can be a killer.
Brian
Comment by Brian — August 17, 2009 @ 4:21 am
A very real problem for many people Steve, your absolutely right that unlocking that fear can bring about massive change and therefore success.
Comment by Tom — August 17, 2009 @ 4:36 am
Hey Steve dude
Totally agreed with ya that fear is the cause of failure. I was controlled by fear too much when I worked in the gym before. Now, I am dealing with fear heaps better.
Comment by TC — August 17, 2009 @ 4:43 am
Good article that hits home. For 2 years I was “in the process” of opening my first bootcamp, which basically meant I wanted to, but was afraid to. Afraid of all the work. Afraid of Failure. Well last month, I had a similar realization to you.
I said, which step could I do that would make me have to follow through on the rest? I could establish an LLC and do nothing with it. I could get a logo done and do nothing with it. But if i secured a location I had to pay rent on, that other $hit would need to be done.
So I had meetings around town and have found a location. My Bootcamp is set to launch the 3rd week of September.
So for 2 years, i drug my feet. Once I said “F” it, i’ll do the hardest step and the rest will fall into place, it really took only 6 weeks.
Thanks for the article steve
Comment by Casey — August 17, 2009 @ 4:47 am
Steve!
Great post, bro. See you in Florida!
~ Luke
Comment by Luke Wold — August 17, 2009 @ 4:48 am
Steve,
This is the best one yet. I started using visulization last week every day and have started seeing big changes.
Thanks
Chris
Comment by Chris — August 17, 2009 @ 6:25 am
Good morning Steve!
Once again another awesome post. A little more than a month ago I started reading your blog and Bedros’ and McCombs’. They have literally changed my life. Sometimes we all need that verbal kick in the butt that says “be a success warrior” or “stare fear in the face”. Your blog has done that for me. I’m starting my boot camps in September following the FitBody model and I’m pumped about the 6-figure income success I will achieve before year’s end and the 7-figure success I desire before my 30th b-day next Nov 2010. I will be at the Fitness Info Summit so I can meet you and personally thank you for being a super guy in inspiring those personal trainers who want more than a job but a business. -Sara
Comment by Sara Hutniak — August 17, 2009 @ 7:44 am
Steve, you are a fu**ing animal! I love it. Again, some killer info and i have to agree with you 100% Fear is a real ass kicker and it can stop from achieving a whole lot. It took over my life for a long time and it can be hard to rid if you dont believe in yourself. I suggest every one that is letting fear set them back, really take what this guy is saying and put it to use
thanks again for the killer content steve. Cant wait to see you at the fitness info summit!
William Colburn
Comment by william colburn — August 17, 2009 @ 9:06 am
Hey Steve!
Another GREAT Post! You’re right on about this one for sure!
Over the past few months I’ve really found an understanding of the fears that I have in my life and my business and how powerful it can be to overcome them!
Just a couple weeks ago I had a live news segment for my bootcamp and instead of being terrified of it and nervous I was pumped! Visualization is an AWESOME tool and it is far more powerful than anything else you can do in your business and in your life for that matter!
I can’t wait to see you guys again for Fitness Info Summit! It’s gonna ROCK!
THANKS STEVE!
Comment by Brandon Campbell — August 17, 2009 @ 10:09 am
Hey Steve,
Visualization works like a charm. You are right that it really only takes five minutes a day EVERY DAY! I schedule it into my day like I would any thing else. Probably one of the most important exercises you can do to make a better life. Two great books to read…one of them, both you and McCombs have talked about before is “Feel The Fear and Do It Anyway” and the other is “Think Like a Winner”.
Combine those two books along with your blog and you cannot go wrong.
Thanks again,
Chris M
Comment by Chris — August 17, 2009 @ 12:20 pm
Thanks steve. That was righteous as hell of you to do. I was just sitting here thinking about all my worries and stresses. Now Im gonna spend 10 minutes everyday visualizing my success and fun.
Comment by andrew hamill — August 17, 2009 @ 12:55 pm
Hey bro,
You’re the person who introduced me to visualization, and just like you told me, everything I visualize comes to life.
I even remember one night hanging out at your house, I asked you out of the blue, “Dude, is it really that easy? You just imagine something and it happens?”
You paused a sec, looked back at me, smiled, and said, “Yep.”
I could tell in that pause you were thinking of everything you’d ever imagined that came to life.
Now I’m finding the same results.
-Dave
Comment by David (Steve's bro) — August 17, 2009 @ 1:28 pm
Hi Steve,
Thank you for sharing so much of yourself and taking the time to write/post this to help others. This one kicks ass! My favorite line, (which I will write down and keep in my wallet from here on out), is:
When I feel fear, I don’t turn away or run from it… I turn square towards it and say… “You’re not fear… No, you’re EXCITEMENT! I’ve been looking for you.”
Love it! (and so very true!)
Thanks again, Steve! You rock!
Comment by Kimberly — August 17, 2009 @ 1:43 pm
Badass blog dude! You hit the nail on the head with that one. Profundity is found in simplicity, and you told it in simple enough terms that an ADD guy like me can follow.
Allan
Comment by Allan — August 17, 2009 @ 3:36 pm
Hey Steve,
Great post mate. Can’t wait to see your seminar at FBS09 in Florida.
I am a teacher and international distributor ot the hit movie ‘The Secret’ and i couldn’t agree more with your words on visualisation. It has taken my Boot Camp business from a 2 man operation with one Boot Camp, to a staff of 16 and 25 Boot Camps a week. By the end of the next financial year we will turn over 1 million dollars… Not bad for a two man operation five years ago…
I am travelling all the way from Australia so it will be great to get to meet you all.
Scott Williams
Comment by Scott Williams — August 17, 2009 @ 4:26 pm
Great post Steve. Fear definitely holds us back; usually fear of failure, but sometimes fear of success too…
Comment by Temecula Fitness Trainer — August 17, 2009 @ 6:41 pm
Steve, last week I said you were like yoda, now I know that you are the Zig Ziglar for the fitness crowd.
Public speaking used to kill me when I was a young fella, especially with a little stutter. I ended up getting a job at a theme park and speaking on a microphone sure made me get over that fast.
I’m in the process of getting back out there now and doing some more speaking events. In fact by weeks end I will have locked in 2 dates.
Cheers mate. I love implementing your stuff!
Comment by Daniel Munday — August 17, 2009 @ 9:17 pm
Another day, another great post.
Fear holds so many of us back from what we really want to do.
Fear keeps us stuck in the rut that we are in.
Comment by Joel — August 18, 2009 @ 10:35 am
Awesome post again….Fear is nothing more than raw excitement!
Comment by Michael Duivis — August 18, 2009 @ 10:44 am
Thanks for sharing Steve. Did it make you feel Better.
I am going to try those trick right now.
Comment by Paul F. Sweatt — August 18, 2009 @ 12:44 pm
Steve,
You’re a real inspiration to me. I love getting up in the morning to read your stuff to get me fired up for the day!
Thanx Dude,
Rob Houghton.
Comment by Rob — August 20, 2009 @ 5:16 am