A couple of weeks ago I posted about Ray Higdon’s unique tips for entrepreneurs.
One tip that a lot of people commented on was to move towards your fears until they no longer scare you.
That is a tip that stuck out to me as well and since I have been forced into a blogging vacation due to the death of my computers I have been putting that into practice in my own life.
I have a confession to make, part of the reason that I began looking into online marketing was because I was hoping to avoid offline marketing. Part of the reason being that I have always been so busy with my self employment that I don’t have a lot of outside time for anything else. Working online seemed to make a lot of sense for me because I could work in little bits of time while still at home when I have some time to spare.
The other part was also fear as I’ve always dealt with at least some level of social anxiety, anywhere ranging from nervousness to all out panic attacks at one point in my life. There was a point in my life when I was paralyzed by fear to the point where I literally could not pick up the phone to order a pizza or ask a salesperson where something was located. I was truly on the path toward becoming agoraphobic (never leaving the house) – and I wish that was only an exaggeration.
For a long time running a home preschool was easily in my comfort zone as I didn’t need to worry about running into new people except for interviewing people when they came to my home to look at my preschool. But then I started to feel the itch to become a real entrepreneur, not just working as a self employed individual. I wanted time and money freedom, especially the time freedom to be with my kids outside of the home.
I had already made some great strides in my social anxiety so I didn’t have to worry about paralyzing fear or panic attacks but there was still a great degree of anxiety at the thought of approaching anyone, whether someone that I knew or didn’t know, about looking at my business. It’s something that even makes my extremely sociable husband nervous at times, especially when we began our entrepreneurial journey together.
If it makes Mr. Sociable nervous, imagine the nervousness of someone who once had panic attacks at the thought of asking someone where the shoes are located! It’s no wonder that I decided to look into internet marketing, it would relieve a lot of the social pressure!
But then I became huge fans of Ray Higdon, Todd Falcone, and Eric Worre who are all extremely successful entrepreneurs and also all believe in offline marketing as much as they do online marketing. I knew that I would have to eventually start to tackle the offline world if I really wanted to experience entrepreneurial success.
I had been literally studying the teachings of all three of them, I was more than ready to get going offline but I was putting it off. I was focused on created several kindle books, my blogging goals, starting a new tribe on facebook, and so many other distractions. All were good goals, I’m not going to deny that but they were definitely distractions because I was using them as excuses to avoid building my entrepreneurial business offline.
So because my computer had died and all of my attempts to revive it were nearly futile (it came back to life long enough for me to get my stuff off of it – next time I will back up my files!) I decided that it was time for me to face my fears and begin putting into practice what I had learned about offline marketing.
I took my fears, grabbed them and trampled right over them. It may have taken me 20 minutes to work up the nerve to make my first call, but you know what?
It was exhillerating! It was like riding a roller coaster, it was quite the rush. Even better, the conversation went extremely well. So much better than I had imagined. I was prepared for every answer …except for “Yes, I’m definitely interested!” I almost didn’t know to respond!
I was still nervous for the next calls that day and the following days. I’m sure that it will be a while before I work up to feeling the confidence but for the time being I will enjoy the the process of learningand growing and the thrill of the ride.
It can be scary, but it is very exciting to face those fears! If you have been putting off facing a fear, I highly recommend that you stop and face it.
Knowledge without action is worthless. Make a decision and share it in the comments!
To Your Success,
photo credit: Capture Queen ™
Thank you for reading! I'm Stacy, the owner of this blog. You can learn more about me here.
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I love this. Thanks for being so vulnerable… Your openness will inspire many I’m sure and help move people out of a place of being stuck and fearful into greater pursuit of their passions. It’s hard to really live life when you’re stuck in fear and it takes great courage to move past them! Thanks again for sharing!
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Stacy Reply:
July 15th, 2011 at 7:04 pm
Thank you very much, Angela! If I can inspire someone then I will be very glad. Even more so if many are inspired!
Thanks,
Stacy
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Hi Stacy,
wow, what a powerful post. Congratulations to conquering your fears and self-doubts.
I can definitely relate because I started the business online because I wanted to avoid to build it offline. I was looking for the easy way and was shocked as my mentor told me that I am supposed to pick up the phone and call people. Oh no !
At the moment, I am still focusing on building online and see the online stratgies as a bridge into the offline world. I don’t believe in two different worlds anyway. They complement each other.
I am getting more and more network marketing students from my local area who run into my YouTube videos or into my German page on my otherwise English blog.
If I had a brick and mortar business I wouldn’t do it differently.
The only difference is that the online strategies allow me to build my business internationally.
Loved your story and your candor.
Take care
Oliver
Oliver Tausend invites you to read… What Are Your Beliefs About Work ? Feat. Marcus Baker
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Stacy Reply:
July 15th, 2011 at 7:10 pm
Hi Oliver,
Thank you very much! I think you are right, the online and offline are not mutually exclusive but they can be used together very powerfully.
Thank you so much for sharing your experiences!
Stacy
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Very interesting post Stacy. About the fear- I think the fear comes before you do the thing, after you do it the fear dissapear.
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Stacy Reply:
July 15th, 2011 at 7:11 pm
Hi Kristen,
It’s very true, we have to face the fear for it to go away!
Stacy
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Congratulations on taking such a GIANT step, Stacy! IT’s really encouraging to me to read your post and know that I’m not the only one.
I guess that’s the silly part. We’re all afraid of something, and generally it has to do with a fear relating to one another.
Your courage is inspiring and I wish you continued success as you grow and pursue your dreams.
Steve @ The Spark Blog invites you to read… Focus on the Sweet Spot
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Stacy Reply:
July 15th, 2011 at 7:16 pm
Thank you, Steve! It’s also encouraging for me to hear you and others share in the comments of similar fears. It’s nice to have company!
Stacy
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WOW! Quite a transparent post and one that will inspire many to also push past their fears!
The internet is only a tool, as online marketers we MUST make it a point get from behind the computer and connect with others via phone or in person.
Loved your post! Congrats on taking that step outside your comfort zone!!
Roshanda Gilmore invites you to read… How To Write A Blog Post That Will Keep Your Readers Hooked!
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Stacy Reply:
July 15th, 2011 at 7:17 pm
Thank you very much, Roshanda! There really must be a balance between online and offline, both are valuable tools which shouldn’t be ignored!
Stacy
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Hi Stacy,
Thanks for sharing your story! It was so inspirational. Keep us posted on your offline endeavors. I would love to know what you learned from the experience.
Sherrie
Sherrie Koretke@niche clarity invites you to read… Move Past Being a Victim and Into Business Success
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Stacy Reply:
July 15th, 2011 at 7:18 pm
Thank you, Sherrie! I will be sure to keep you updated!
Stacy
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Wow Stacy, what a powerful post because it is so candid. Truth liberates and when other people can see that others deal with the same fears or concerns that they have, yet are moving forward and conquering them anyway, it’s liberating.
This is certainly an area that I can relate to. It’s like reading my own story here. And you’re absolutely right, the key is just to do it.
You have to feel the fear and do it anyway, repeatedly and each day gets better and better!
Fontella Williams@Online Lead Generation invites you to read… MLM Recruiting – Why It’s Not Working For You
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Stacy Reply:
August 9th, 2011 at 6:04 pm
Thank you, Fontella! The nice thing about facing our fears is that it gets easier and easier each time. I’m much more relaxed now over something that caused me great anxiety not too long ago!
Stacy
Stacy invites you to read… How to Turn Your Blog Into a Thriving Success
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Hi Stacy,
Thanks for having the courage to share your fears with us. At one time in my life, I also suffered from panic attacks in enclosed spaces. It took a while, but I beat it. I’m not a person who has ever let fear stop her, but that kind of anxiety will shut anybody down. Got my attention alright
I love your marketing posts. I haven’t even really thought of offline marketing yet. Uff! So much to do…
Hugs,
Melody
Melody | DeliberateReceiving invites you to read… You Already Know What Your Purpose Is
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Stacy Reply:
August 9th, 2011 at 6:06 pm
Hi Melody,
Thank you for sharing your story of success!
Take care,
Stacy
Stacy invites you to read… Friday Favorites: How to Create a Kindle Book
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That is great Stacy. I am very proud of you. I do know what fear feels like. I have had a fear of getting lost. Would not go places because of this. Finally faced the fear and i just get good directions before leaving. Map quest help with that.
Blessing to you, Stacy
Debbie
Debbie@HappyMaker invites you to read… How to See Life as a Party!
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Stacy Reply:
August 9th, 2011 at 6:07 pm
Thank you very much, Debbie, and good for you on conquering your fears!
Take care,
Stacy
Stacy invites you to read… How to Turn Your Blog Into a Thriving Success
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Great post, Stacy! It is great to hear that you are conquering your fear! I know that there are a lot of people who tend to think that some are using the computer to get away from the real world. However, I think that it definitely does a world of good (no pun intended) if we can build our confidence and learn how to do some of the things we worried about in the offline world before building our skills online.
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Stacy Reply:
August 9th, 2011 at 6:14 pm
Steve,
I agree, it does a lot to boost our confidence if we face the fears that we have. I have found that I’m much more relaxed now and most of the anxiety is gone with practice!
Stacy
Stacy invites you to read… How to Turn Your Blog Into a Thriving Success
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Thanks so much for writing this Stacy. I feel exactly the same way you did about online vs. offline marketing and I’m sure thousands of others do too. It’s so nice to read about someone else’s experience. Congratulations on summoning up the courage to do something about it. It has really spurred me on to take action as well.
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Stacy Reply:
August 9th, 2011 at 6:16 pm
Thank you, Lauren! It has been a great experience for me to step out like that. I’ve grown a lot as I continue in the activity!
Stacy
Stacy invites you to read… Unique Marketing Ideas for Entrepreneurs
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Hi Stacy!!!You did a great job in posting this blog…I am glad that you shared this to us…
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Stacy Reply:
August 9th, 2011 at 6:16 pm
Thank you very much!
Stacy invites you to read… How to Unlock Your Full Potential
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I’ve been noticing over the past couple of weeks that fears I thought I had dealt with are rearing their ugly heads again. I think this has come up to teach me the difference between conquering a fear and merely burying it. I am so ready to face my fears head on and deal with them once and for all. Thanks for the encouragement Stacey.
Lia Fenelon invites you to read… Celebrate the Good Stuff
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Stacy Reply:
August 9th, 2011 at 6:18 pm
Hi Lia,
I’m finding that to truly release the fears we must not only face them but continue to face them until they leave no traces of fear whatsoever!
Stacy
Stacy invites you to read… Unique Marketing Ideas for Entrepreneurs
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In my life I have concluded that sometimes fears are very good but when you get rid of them.By getting their remedy my mental horizon became wide.I think they store potential and it become Kinetic when its remedy is explored.
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Stacy Reply:
August 9th, 2011 at 6:19 pm
Jamal,
Fears really do take up a lot of space in our mental space. It frees up so much to release them by facing them square in the face!
Stacy
Stacy invites you to read… How to Turn Your Blog Into a Thriving Success
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Congratulations, Stacy! Yet another fabulous and inspiring post! Cold calling is incredibly nerve-racking so I applaud your efforts. I look forward to hearing more on your success!
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Stacy Reply:
August 9th, 2011 at 6:20 pm
Thank you, Carrie! It’s been going so well that last time I sat down to do it I was relaxed and not nervous or anxious in the least! Who would have thought?
Stacy
Stacy invites you to read… How to Unlock Your Full Potential
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Great job Stacy and taking that first step is always the hardest. I think a lot of us can relate to you about why you wanted to do this online. If you can believe this, I’m a huge people person… Can walk up to anyone, anytime, anywhere and talk about anything. Not a shy bone in my body. But I didn’t want to do this business offline either. Fear of rejection, looking silly or not knowing what to say. Although they are legitimate, they need to be conquered. Sounds like you’ve done your part and I’m happy to say I have as well.
Feel the fear and do it anyway. That’s the only way to get through it.
Thanks for sharing this with us. Congrats girl.
Adrienne
Adrienne invites you to read… Only 26 Days Left, I Would Appreciate Your Support
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Stacy Reply:
August 9th, 2011 at 6:23 pm
Hi Adrienne,
Thank you for sharing your fears, it’s good to know that even very social people can have the same fears too. Great job at conquering yours!
Stacy
Stacy invites you to read… Unique Marketing Ideas for Entrepreneurs
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All of us have fears and it is up to us how are we going to face them. But sometimes it scares us more because we are afraid to fail ourselves again. But I love your quote, it gives me the courage in giving my best to overcome them slowly.
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Stacy Reply:
July 19th, 2011 at 3:44 pm
Yes, we all have to decide for ourselves how to handle our fears. Do we face them head on, gradually or hide from them?
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According to my knowledge what you have explained is not fear,it is hesitation and rate of hesitation is greater in women than men.
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Stacy Reply:
July 19th, 2011 at 3:46 pm
I’ve never heard of that, do you have a link to explain more?
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Nawaz Reply:
July 20th, 2011 at 4:10 am
This is my own research and what I have written is exact.
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It is because of fear that we are not able to show our true potential. I was always afraid to talk in public. I didn’t want to try it all. In college, though I knew I was very prepared, I feel that the fear of being front of an audience had affected my performance as a reporter. To change, I decided to do the things I was afraid of. Now, I am receiving positive feedback from my audience about the talk I have done.
Barbara invites you to read… How to Get a Date
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Stacy Reply:
July 19th, 2011 at 3:47 pm
Great job, Barabara! Thank you for sharing your inspiring story here!
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Hi, Stacy,
it seems to me that your fears were motivational, as they led you to the position where you are now. The most important thing about it is that you knew all of the time what you wanted…time and money independence from working from the security of your home, where you could have more time with your family to spend.
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Stacy Reply:
July 19th, 2011 at 3:49 pm
That’s very true. Thank you for your comment!
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Hey Stacy,
Congrats on facing and conquering your fears! My experience is also that you need to confront the situations you are afraid of. In the words of Bruce Lee “feel the fear, but do it anyway”. Once we get some successes, our confidence is boosted immensely, isn’t it?
Susane
Susane D invites you to read… How To Become Runway Model
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Stacy Reply:
July 19th, 2011 at 3:50 pm
Susane, that is a wonderful quote isn’t it? It’s so very true!
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Fears can be a great hindrance for every person. But fears are not set to give us limitations. If only we could possess that courage to face our fears, we could not exactly imagine how great we could become. You are so inspiring; sharing your story gives us the courage to face our own fears.
Antonia@Conversational hypnosis invites you to read… The 4 Stages Hypnosis Protocol
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Stacy Reply:
July 19th, 2011 at 3:51 pm
Thank you, Antonia! Everyone has fears, it is the courageous person who faces them, not who lacks fears!
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Yes i agree with you Antonia each person has a phobia for something like me i always scared if i on the top of the high building i don’t know how can manage so i not scared with.with this post i realized to face the reality of my own fear.
Anna Marie invites you to read… You and Your Motivation
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Stacy Reply:
July 19th, 2011 at 3:52 pm
Hi Anna Marie, I’m glad that this post has helped you. Facing our fears is obviously scary but it’s a great feeling of accomplishment!
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Good for you in facing up to the fear. I can understand your not wanting to do offline marketing. It has been the same for me. Although I have no problems making friends, I don’t exactly find it easy to “sell” or “promote” my services. It’s great that you’ve managed to confront your fear and broken free.
I hope that you get your computer issues sorted out soon. I have been writing to you and am still waiting for an email response.
Evelyn Lim invites you to read… The Practice of Self-Compassion
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Stacy Reply:
July 19th, 2011 at 3:59 pm
Hi Evelyn,
Thank you! I will get that information to you by this evening!
Stacy
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I think you are right. It’s natural to avoid things that scare us, but generally a bit of research and learning makes things far less scary.
I think facing fears when they arise ultimately gets rid of a lot of unnecessary worry.
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Stacy Reply:
July 21st, 2011 at 4:55 pm
Those are great points, Richard. Thank you for sharing!
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This is one of the post who must be shared, there are alot of people who need to read him.
I must be onest, i face my fear 3 years ago when i was created my own litlle company. It was wonderful!
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Stacy Reply:
July 21st, 2011 at 4:59 pm
Thank you, Adrian. Congratulations on facing your fear!
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I believe the answer to most of life’s pressing questions is “just do it”. The best way to get over a fear is to just do it. However, do you really want to spend a lot of energy facing a fear or is it better to accept your basic personality and hone the talents you have? Stacy, you are such a good communicator in writing, does it really make sense for you to strive to become a public speaker? Probably not. But should you strive to be able to order a pizza comfortably? Probably!
Monte invites you to read… Improve Memory And Brain Function With Moderate Exercise
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Stacy Reply:
August 9th, 2011 at 6:25 pm
Thank you very much, Monte! I have found that thought I had a high amount of anxiety at first it has improved very much with practice!
Stacy invites you to read… How to Build Relationships Quickly and Effectively
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I have this friend who’s scared of literally everything. I keep asking him how he manages to live every day in fear, but the guy keeps avoiding the subject saying he’s just being cautious, not afraid. I really can’t understand him. But he’s a good example of what i don’t what to be, so let’s say i try to learn from his mistakes.
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Stacy Reply:
August 9th, 2011 at 6:26 pm
Amit,
That does sound like a sad way to live for sure. I’m sure the day will come when he is finally ready to face his fears.
Stacy
Stacy invites you to read… How to Turn Your Blog Into a Thriving Success
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Great post, Stacy. I, too, had a terrible time with making in-person connections. I was extremely shy. But the first time I started my business, there was no internet and I had to learn to put myself out there. I think my camera sort of created an “alter-ego” for me as I had far less problems connecting professionally than socially. Since then I’ve moved and started over twice. Now I find online a great way to start a connection and it is making it easier for me to move those connections offline as well.
Learning to connect in-person takes a lot of work, especially for us introverts, but it is so worth the effort.
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Stacy Reply:
August 9th, 2011 at 6:29 pm
Hi Marie,
I’m finding it worth the effort too! The internet is a great tool, but shouldn’t be used to hide behind.
Stacy
Stacy invites you to read… How to Build Relationships Quickly and Effectively
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As humans all of us are feared of something. That is nothing to worry about as it is our nature. But getting over the fears in order to achieve is something what we should all try, it is challenging but it can be done if are the courage. Good post
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Stacy Reply:
August 9th, 2011 at 6:29 pm
Yes, the courageous are those who face their fears not those who have no fear!
Stacy invites you to read… 3 Ways To Overcome Failure And Taste Success
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Facing one’s fears is an important idea in business as well as in life in general, and I’m glad you wrote this article outlining your experience in doing so. Thank you so much for sharing!
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Stacy Reply:
August 9th, 2011 at 6:30 pm
Thank you! It helps not only me to write about it but it also helps others to be inspired, it’s very much a win-win!
Stacy invites you to read… How to Turn Your Blog Into a Thriving Success
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Awesome post Stacy-Your post is really inspiring to us that’s why i love your post.and i do agree of all good comment you receive on this article of your cause deserve on you.
Darves invites you to read… Lead Generation Software
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Stacy Reply:
August 9th, 2011 at 6:31 pm
Thank you very much, Darves!
Stacy invites you to read… How to Turn Your Blog Into a Thriving Success
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Hi there Stacy. You know, I agree with you. We need to face our fear so that we can move forward.
Andrew Walker invites you to read… Maryland Square Coupons
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Stacy Reply:
August 9th, 2011 at 6:32 pm
Right, we only remain stuck if we don’t face our fears!
Stacy invites you to read… How to Build Relationships Quickly and Effectively
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Thanks for this advice! Letting go of your fears is hard, but every time that I’ve succeeded in letting one go it’s done great things for me.
-Carrie
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It is really good to have this kind of idea the.that’s why i feel lucky after i found this post really useful to me hope also to see your other post.thanks to you and have a nice day.
Dany invites you to read… MLSP
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[...] Facing Fears [...]
Once I had tackled one of my biggest fears… and I did it in that “move towards it…” fashion. After I tackled that one it was much easier to face other fears knowing that I was strong enough to handle that one.
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Very Nice blog post Stacy… Really liked it and it has really inspired me. Looking forward to more such posts from you.
Anshul Malik invites you to read… Steve Jobs: The Exclusive Biography Book Review
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Stacy Reply:
January 21st, 2012 at 12:53 pm
Thank you, I’m glad that I could provide some inspiration!
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