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PAPER NAPKIN WISDOM GROWTH HUB
Fear of Failure
The best Paper Napkin Wisdom conversations on fear of failure, chosen and in order.
Peter Shankman's napkin says two words. Fail often. He watched his eight-month-old daughter flip over and keep crawling. Babies aren't born afraid to fail. The fear is learned. On a later visit his napkin said do the scary thing. Break it into bite-sized pieces and make the start easy.
Other guests test risk in their own way. Laura Burke's dad taught her that if you're excited and terrified at once, that's how you know it's worth it. Rainier Mallol asked the people closest to him whether to pursue an AI idea for predicting disease outbreaks. Nobody told him to do it. He went anyway. Jack Courage hears no all the time, so he asks what's wrong with the idea. Most people can't say.
Dan Cataldi names the fear that grows with success. The more you've built, the more it costs to look like a beginner. If that sounds familiar, start with his napkin.
“Fear of looking stupid kills more dreams than failure ever will”
Dan Cataldi, Episode 377
Start here: the top 10
1
How to Stop Fearing Failure and Use the Fear: Peter Shankman
Episode 43 · Peter Shankman
Peter Shankman: fear of failure is learned and can be unlearned; fail often.
2
Action Cures Anxiety: Peter Shankman on Doing the Scary Thing
Episode 178 · Peter Shankman
Action cures anxiety: break the scary thing into bite-sized pieces and start.
3
If You Want to Grow, Do What Scares You and Do It in Public
Episode 36 · Rob Simons
Do what scares you, and do it in public, if you want to grow.
4
Excited and Terrified? Laura Burke on Knowing a Risk Is Worth It
Episode 231 · Laura Burke
Excited and terrified at once: Laura Burke's test for whether a risk is worth it.
5
One Decision Can Change Your Life: Rainier Mallol on Founder Risk
Episode 272 · Rainier Mallol
Rainier Mallol on taking the risk when everyone tells you to play it safe.
6
How to Be Bold When Everyone Says It Can't Be Done: David Umansky
Episode 270 · David Umansky
David Umansky: being bold when everyone says it can't be done.
7
You Can Have Comfort or Growth, Not Both: Oliver Trevena on Founder Resilience
Episode 337 · Oliver Trevena
Comfort or growth, not both: Oliver Trevena on founding against everyone's advice.
8
Shamelessness Is a Superpower: Dan Cataldi on Learning as a Founder
Episode 377 · Dan Cataldi
Dan Cataldi: shamelessness is a superpower; getting over the fear of looking stupid.
9
When Fear Built Your Success: Amanda Carpenter on Leading From Courage
Episode 369 · Amanda Carpenter
When fear built your success: what it cost, and leading from courage instead.
10
What to Do When Everyone Says No to Your Idea: Inventor Jack Courage
Episode 208 · Jack Courage
Inventor Jack Courage: what to do when everyone says no to your idea.
Build the Field
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