Isn’t it amazing how some people seem to have the ability to bend reality to their will? These are the same people who are able to fearlessly state their intentions confidently and clearly, even when the odds are stacked against them. It’s why I recently talked about the concept of speaking your intentions into existence, and how you can overcome the fear of failure by embracing the thought that it’s okay that people know you failed at something.

 

 

This concept got me thinking about one of my heroes, Muhammed Ali. Even if you’re not a boxing historian, I’m sure you’re aware of all the shit talking Ali did before, during, and after his fights. And that’s what I’m getting at. He said exactly what he planned to do to anyone who would listen. And as fans, we ate it up. Even if he didn’t win, no one cared because most of the time, he actually did what he said.

 

I’ll give you a quick example. Before Ali fought Frazier in their first fight in 1971 (which Frazier won), Ali looked right at the cameras and boldly said, “Joe’s gonna come out smokin’ but I ain’t gonna be jokin’…I will destroy Joe Frazier.”

 

He didn’t win, but losing the fight did nothing to sway people that he still was one of the best fighters in the world. Even after losing as a pro for the very first time, he still had zero fear of failure. He told everyone he would get the title back, and 3 years later, he did it.

 

But now let’s talk about you. Start by picturing yourself speaking your dreams into existence. It’s all a part of positive visualization that I’ve talked about in the past. Now, as you are imagining yourself making those bold claims, think about what you would say. Would you announce your goals with total confidence, even if it meant risking embarrassment? Who would you tell?

 

This concept is the same reason I close out a lot of my newsletters by asking you to share with the community. Telling others your goals and intentions is what teaches us accountability. And that shouldn’t be scary, it should be motivating. Embrace that feeling of, “Oh shit, I better get to work if I’m going to do what I said I would.”

 

That’s the inner voice you need to listen to.

But it takes serious intentional focus. Why? Because we all have another competing inner voice that is controlled by our fears. It’s in all of us as part of our survival instincts, but this voice also has a unique ability to creep into other parts of our life and damage our self-esteem and confidence.

 

Hey, I get it. The fear of embarrassment is real, and it can become physically nauseating if you already suffer from anxiety or stress.

 

But what if I told you that that fear is misplaced? There are plenty of things in this world to fear, but failure isn’t one of them. Instead of hiding from that fear, you should use it as a catalyst for growth.

 

It’s no secret that people become masters at hiding their vulnerabilities. Because of that, we tiptoe around our ambitions because we fear judgment or being made fun of, and I understand why. Embarrassment kind of feels like you’ve been deemed inadequate.

 

But consider this – when you hesitate to speak up because you are afraid that no one will like your idea, you’re not just avoiding embarrassment, you’re giving in to fear. Why would anyone not pursue or say something because they are worried about what others think?

 

Seriously, the lengths that some people go to hide their dreams and ideas are mind-blowing.

 

So now, let’s flip the script for a minute. Imagine a life where everyone says what they mean and means what they say. Here, you can declare you goals without fear, and it doesn’t matter if you stumble along the way. I’m telling you…this is where the magic happens.

Think about it, when you announce your intentions, whether it’s starting a business, learning a new skill, or improving your health, you’ve put yourself out there for everyone to watch your progress. And that’s a good thing. Why? Because clarity breeds proactivity. When you tell others you’re going to learn a language, you start to look for language apps and people to talk to, don’t you? If you tell people you’re going to run a marathon, you end up shoe shopping shortly after, don’t you? That is the universe nudging us into proactivity. The key is that you need to keep going after that nudge.

 

However, even after saying all of this, I know there are a lot of you that still believe that failures need to be kept private. That mindset has to change. Everyone fails. I can’t even count the number of times I failed. Whether it was losing a Jiu-Jitsu match, struggling to open my first business, or making bad life decisions, I’ve been there. Which is exactly why I’m here now telling you it’s okay to fail.

 

Hell, even Oprah was fired from her first news anchor job.

 

But eventually you figure it out. I promise.

I’ve talked a lot about facing your fears and the freedom that comes with accountability, but now it’s time to act. I want to hear your stories of failure that made you stronger. If you haven’t experienced that in life yet, then declare a goal that will hold you accountable.

 

Remember, the stress of striving for your dreams is only temporary. Hard work isn’t easy, that’s why it’s called hard work. But when you succeed, you’re creating a blueprint for future successes.