Conquer Your Fears: S4:E38 of the Leadership & Success Podcast

28 Jul 2025 · 2 min

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2:11

In this segment of the Leadership & Success Podcast, the host reflects on what he would tell his 17‑year‑old self. He emphasizes that fear is the chief barrier to achieving dreams and goals, citing his own book Set Yourself on Fire and noting that the Bible contains 365 instances of the command “fear not,” one for each day of the year. He stresses that overcoming fear requires support and mentorship, highlighting his own mentor, Jim Rody—an 89‑year‑old veteran of the National Speakers Association who has served as past president and Cabinet Award recipient. The monologue blends personal anecdote, spiritual reference, and a call to seek guidance from experienced mentors as a pathway to personal and professional success.

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person? What do they need to know in order to maybe one day realize their dream? Yes, it's interesting you ask that. I was just on a podcast just before this one that asked me the opposite: what would your younger self ask you today? How? You know, so very, very interesting flip on that. It's interesting as you're saying that, and I didn't know you were going to ask this question, but I would put my arms around that 17-year-old. Is it a 17-year-old? Myself, I would comfort that 17-year-old and say, do not be afraid. Wow. I'm with you. I'm with you. And I think, you know, it's interesting that the very thing that keeps us away from our achievements and our dreams and goals is fear. Fear is such a crippler, destroyer of dreams and goals and accomplishments. And we all have them. We have fear. And I talk about it in Set Yourself on Fire. And it's interesting that in the Bible, the book that I pointed out to as being the most influential book of all time, there's at least 365 times that the book says, 'Fear not, do not fear.' 365. And how many days do we have in a year? 365, typically, right? Isn't that interesting? So there's a reason why God in his word says, 'Fear not, do not be afraid.' and then assure that person that there is a higher power, a loving God that will walk with you and be that person. Be the person you want to see in the world. I would take that 17-year-old, I would put my arms around that 17 and say, "Don't be afraid, let me help you." And I think that that speaks to the importance of mentorship. I have a mentor here at the conference, National Speakers Association. I don't think he'll, mind I mention his name. His name is Jim Rody. He's 89 years young. He's the second oldest member of the National Speakers Association, 50 years in the association, never missed, I think, an annual conference. He has been past president of the National Speakers Association, Cabinet Award recipient. He's, he's a mentor