Yesterday, I took my 4-year-old to the trampoline park. He was filled with excitement on the drive there, as was I. I mean let’s face it, I can’t remember the last time I was on a trampoline. It brought back so many childhood memories of doing crazy tricks on the trampoline. So for those who have never been to the trampoline park, there are three areas at this particular park. The main jump area, the Dodge ball area, and the foam pit.

Naturally, my spirited little guy chose the foam pit area his favorite. In this area, you jump on a trampoline and then launch yourself into a huge foam pit. Seems harmless enough, right? Jumping on this 10-foot by 4-foot trampoline into a giant foam pit, sounds fun to a 4-year-old. He loved it. He must of have done the jump 100 times. He kept asking me to do it with him and for some nagging reason my fear of the “freefall” was holding me back. In fairness to me, he is about 40 inches tall so he doesn’t have a long way to fall. Regardless, I had let my fear stop me.

This got me to thinking about adulthood and business. When did things in adulthood become scary? When do things like launching yourself off of a trampoline into a foam pit go from fun and exhilarating to scary?  For me, I don’t know when it happened or why but it dawned on me that it is all about the mindset. I mean what is the worst case scenario? I miss the foam pit and sprain my ankle on the padding on the way in?

In my work with entrepreneurs, I hear so often all about these what if scenarios. What if I don’t get any customers? What if I fail? What if…and the list goes on and on. For me, it is a thrill to start a new online business or launching a new product but for many, I realize that this is not the case. So how do we get that thrill back in all that we do as entrepreneurs and as adults? How can we hold on or reclaim some of that childhood delight of jumping right off into the foam pit? Stop overthinking and start doing.

Once I ran through all of the worst case scenarios of jumping into the foam pit, I convinced myself it was time not to mention I didn’t want to let my little man down. He was so intent on me jumping into the pit with him because of all of the fun he was having he didn’t want me to miss out.

So I did it, I launched myself into the foam pit and boy was it fun. I wanted to do it again and again because he was right it was a TON of FUN! It was thrilling and the more I did it the more confidence I felt. That nagging feeling in my stomach went away and my mind began to race with all the creative ways I could launch myself into the foam pit. I couldn’t believe I let fear get in my way of having some fun with my kiddo. It was totally irrational and just plain silly. I stopped overthinking and started doing.

So this week, I challenge each of you to let go of the fear, grab a friend to cheer you on and launch yourself into something new that you’ve been quietly contemplating. Whatever it is! There probably won’t be a foam pit to catch you but what do you have to lose? Write it all down and then LAUNCH yourself into it. Do it once and then again and again. Get addicted to the doing and watch your fear fade away. Let me know in comments below how awesome it felt to let go of the fear and launch yourself into something new and challenging in your life or in business this week!

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