• A&E on Touch the Top
• Erik Weihenmayer's site

This week's bullshit - we tend to discount the ability of those that are disabled. We tend to bullshit ourselves about what we can achieve. We can do better and do more.

But we can't do it alone! It takes a team to defeat the bullshit, to buy into our goals, and to provide the support we need to "break through."

Erik's parents wanted to keep his life as normal as possible. They chose to support what he wanted to do. They struggled with it, but they chose to be supportive and help him do what he wanted to do…to climb Mt. Everest despite the challenges of a blind man climbing Mt Everest.

Greg's tips on how to get a team to surround you.

1. Publicly state your goals, and allow people to ask you if you're crazy for setting such lofty goals.
2. Find people that have the same interest.
3. Find people that are willing to follow you. Takes a lot of leadership.

Leadership creates the human inertia to overcome our willingness to learn and change.

Your ambition that keeps you moving up the mountain. It's your fear that you're going to step off into space and die that keeps you alive.

We can live our lives in a more concsious state if we are willing to face our fears. We have to be really clear about our ambitions AND our fears. Fear that freezes you isn't healthy, fear that gets your attention is. You must manage the tension between the ambition and fear. Don't ignore it, face it and acknowledge it.

• Acknowledge that we have a fear.
• Identify the Fear.
• Quantify the Risk.

Your Reticular Activation System (RAS) Can Help You

The Reticular Activating System is the attention center in the brain. It is the key to “turning on your brain,” and seems to be the center of motivation. It is designed to protect us from danger or notice things we had not thought of before.

Phil drove a tan Ford Taurus, now drives a white Pontiac Grand Am. After getting the Grand AM he started 'noticing' them everywhere, especially the white ones. That is how the RAS can help you by bringing getting your 'attention'. So just start pay attention when you begin to see 'new things' it could be something new that can help you.

Some individuals have a overactive RAS which allows them to notice things others might miss. Some think that part of ADD is due to a lack of adequate levels of Norepinephrine in that part of the brain.

When you notice a fear, ask yourself some questions. How much of a risk is this? Is there a real possibility this could happen?

If it could happen, then identify where the potential problems are and take action and you will not only reduce your risk but suddenly, the fear disappears. To learn more, read Greg's "7 Steps to Achieve Anything You Want" (Performance Bridge)

Remember, tension is our friend and it calls our attention to what's really important.

Tension seeks resolution, like a rubber band. If you're not feeling any tension right now, maybe you need to ramp up your ambitions or become more conscious of where you are in your life compared to where you would like to be. It may be the right time to take a risk.

Fear in Business

Some of the areas discussed in the podcast where managers and business owners feel fear include:

• Fear in Management in Business
• Hiring People
• Firing People
• Borrowing Money

What are the areas of your business or personal life where you experience fear?

Take action and face your fear. You can do it.