I’m 15, ninth grade is almost over, summer vacation is looming and I’m working towards the biggest goal of my life.

I’ve wanted this for as long as I can remember.

I was working towards becoming a certified lifeguard. I took all the classes, spent hours and tons of my parents’ money learning. 

Weekends were spent in the dingy basement of my small-town swimming pool building, learning and practicing to save lives. 

I was pumped. There was one more course to take for me to get my official “Life Guard” title (including the sunglasses and whistle). 

I had just completed a program that required me to volunteer at the pool for 5 hours…

No biggie, right?

Well, in true Dawn fashion I got anxious and chickened out. I got so intimidated and I actually convinced myself that I didn’t want to be a lifeguard that bad because my fear and anxiety was so strong.

The fear of speaking to other people. 

I kick myself to this day over that decision.

Not because being a lifeguard was my dream career and would’ve made me wildly successful. But because I let my fear control my decisions. 

I let what would have been 20 seconds of feeling insecure and uncomfortable dictate my future. 

Literally 20 seconds… that’s all it would’ve taken for me to take a deep breath and walk into the pool to let them know I was there to fulfill my volunteer hours.

Now, before you go “Really Dawn, that doesn’t seem like that big of a deal…” for shy, awkward, anxious teenage Dawn, it was terrifying.

Now that I have a few more years under my belt I’ve learned to squash those fears and move through decisions with grace in both life and in business. 

I wish I could go back and chat with 15-year-old Dawn. Sit her down outside of that pool and give her a pep talk, hug her and then stand beside her and encourage her. 

She woulda made a kick-ass lifeguard. 

But why am I telling you this tragic tale of teenage failure? 

Because I know you have fears that you let make decisions for you. 

I get it, I’ve so been there. If I’m being honest, some days I’m still there. 

But I don’t want you to have regrets and kick yourself about making a decision based out of fear. 

One of the best things I ever heard was:

“Your fear should always be allowed to have a voice, and a seat in the vehicle of your life. But whatever you do — don’t let your fear DRIVE.”

Fear isn’t just going to disappear. If you’re waiting for it to go away before making a decision you’re gonna be stuck in the same spot for a long time. 

Accept that fear is a part of life, but it’s not the defining part. It’s time to make the decisions for yourself. Even if it’s a little scary.

I wanna help get rid of those fears. Are you ready to get a little uncomfortable?  Check out my FREE resources here.