John Ballen

It's this idea of like, you just got to start moving because it's amazing what doors begin to open up for you if you're already on the move. If you're stationary, they don't open.

It's this idea of like, you just got to start moving because it's amazing what doors begin to open up for you if you're already on the move. If you're stationary, they don't open.

You know, it's funny you say that because I literally have sort of a mantra that I've developed that I can't claim is something I came up with, but I definitely find myself living by it now. And that is, it's do things that scare you, you know, quantify that or qualify that. So actually, Will Smith, the actor, has this great thing he does. He goes on Oprah. I think it was Oprah or some talk show.

You know, it's funny you say that because I literally have sort of a mantra that I've developed that I can't claim is something I came up with, but I definitely find myself living by it now. And that is, it's do things that scare you, you know, quantify that or qualify that. So actually, Will Smith, the actor, has this great thing he does. He goes on Oprah. I think it was Oprah or some talk show.

And he talks about his experience skydiving. And it's this unbelievable monologue, this impromptu monologue he gives. But he basically is like, you know, my family was like, yeah, or my buddies were like, we're going to go skydiving tomorrow. And it was like, oh, yeah, that would be so crazy. We'll go skydiving tomorrow. But he's like, we're not going to really do that.

And he talks about his experience skydiving. And it's this unbelievable monologue, this impromptu monologue he gives. But he basically is like, you know, my family was like, yeah, or my buddies were like, we're going to go skydiving tomorrow. And it was like, oh, yeah, that would be so crazy. We'll go skydiving tomorrow. But he's like, we're not going to really do that.

And then it's like the next morning we get up and he's like, yeah, let's go get breakfast, guys. Like, no, no, we're going to go skydiving. Like, let's go skydiving. And he's like, wait, we're really doing that? And they're like, yeah. And he's like, oh, my God, I don't want to go skydiving. I thought we were just like saying it last night.

And then it's like the next morning we get up and he's like, yeah, let's go get breakfast, guys. Like, no, no, we're going to go skydiving. Like, let's go skydiving. And he's like, wait, we're really doing that? And they're like, yeah. And he's like, oh, my God, I don't want to go skydiving. I thought we were just like saying it last night.

And he winds up, you know, going with his buddies to the actual, you know, airfield. And they're like signing the paperwork. And he's like, guys, are we really doing this? I don't want to do this. Come on. It's not so bad. And so before long, he's like in the plane, up in the air, attached to the instructor. And he's like – they open the door up and they're like, all right, it's your turn.

And he winds up, you know, going with his buddies to the actual, you know, airfield. And they're like signing the paperwork. And he's like, guys, are we really doing this? I don't want to do this. Come on. It's not so bad. And so before long, he's like in the plane, up in the air, attached to the instructor. And he's like – they open the door up and they're like, all right, it's your turn.

And he was like, the second I left the plane, the fear was gone.

And he was like, the second I left the plane, the fear was gone.

And it was just this exhilarating experience of soaring through the air, of skydiving. And he was like, when I landed, he's like, I suddenly understood that there's always been this aspect in my life that I've sort of seen in other ways in my life. But it's... the best things in life, this is Will Smith, not me, the best things in life are on the other side of fear.

And it was just this exhilarating experience of soaring through the air, of skydiving. And he was like, when I landed, he's like, I suddenly understood that there's always been this aspect in my life that I've sort of seen in other ways in my life. But it's... the best things in life, this is Will Smith, not me, the best things in life are on the other side of fear.

And so what I've taken that as, you know, like becoming a Navy SEAL, for example, when I decided to do it, like there's a huge amount of fear and not so much fear of failure. It's like, it's fear of, like not stacking up. Like when I got there, like I was so intimidated by the people around me.

And so what I've taken that as, you know, like becoming a Navy SEAL, for example, when I decided to do it, like there's a huge amount of fear and not so much fear of failure. It's like, it's fear of, like not stacking up. Like when I got there, like I was so intimidated by the people around me.

But I knew if I could just like not let the fear overwhelm me, that the reward on the back end would be so high, you know? Or even take, you know, I just did a live, we did a live show with 15 shows. I actually am terrified of public speaking. I've had instances in my life where I have frozen up publicly giving a speech and literally had to put the microphone down and leave.

But I knew if I could just like not let the fear overwhelm me, that the reward on the back end would be so high, you know? Or even take, you know, I just did a live, we did a live show with 15 shows. I actually am terrified of public speaking. I've had instances in my life where I have frozen up publicly giving a speech and literally had to put the microphone down and leave.

I've had that experience and I'm volunteering to do a tour with thousands of people. But it's – the way I look at it is like the things that you don't want to do, you'll be indifferent to. The things that you do want to do, you'll typically have a – if it's a big enough thing, the best things in life so to speak, you will have some element of a fear response to it. Now, of course –

I've had that experience and I'm volunteering to do a tour with thousands of people. But it's – the way I look at it is like the things that you don't want to do, you'll be indifferent to. The things that you do want to do, you'll typically have a – if it's a big enough thing, the best things in life so to speak, you will have some element of a fear response to it. Now, of course –