He was afraid to take his foot off of first base...

He thought he was fast enough to be able to steal second.  He trained hard, practiced, and even had the encouragement from his coaches and teammates.  For some reason, it was still difficult for him to move his foot away from 1st base and lead toward second.  

He was waiting for the right stray pitch to take off.  Inning after inning.

It was never the “right time”.  

What “if’s”, fear, and doubt started to enter his head.  

“I’m afraid of getting picked off."  

"What if my mistake causes my team to lose?"

"I’ll be so embarrassed if I trip on the way.” 

Finally he gathered the confidence and courage to “try”. He slid into 2nd easily and stole the base that he wanted for so long. 

This act of “facing his fears” enabled his team to eventually win. 

There are BENEFITS TO DOING. 

There are BENEFITS TO TAKING ACTION. 

Even when it is not easy or comfortable. 

Even when it's scary.

This story relates to advise that today’s podcast guest, Serge Asensio- Managing Director of Topline Group, received during his career.  He was told, “you’ll never get anywhere until you lose the fear of leaving first base.”  

What I appreciate most about this story is that Serge from a professional career perspective had trained.  He worked hard honing his craft.  He put in the hours for 13 years working for a Fortune 100 company.

He worked hard. 

He was extremely capable of stealing second base.  It wasn’t until a friend reminded him about the BENEFITS OF TAKING ACTION, combined with the support of his wife, that he took a calculated risk to start his own company over 25 years ago. 

Since then he has helped thousands of customers and pursued his personal passion of solving problems.

He worked like a dog, and made himself FOCUS EXACTLY WHERE HE NEEDED TO…

He shares that when an international client needs to talk at 3 am his time, he makes himself available and focused.  When his children needed him at 10 am on a Tuesday, HE FOCUSES ON THEM (where he is needed). 

When I was 13 years old, I had an “OUT OF BODY” experience during surgery.  I heard the nurse say “he’s out, lets get started.”  But I wasn’t out

READ MORE CONTINUED HERE…

upon completion of the surgery, because of one tiny mistake in the dosage of medicine, I awoke to be fearful of ‘getting knocked out”.  This lead to greater fears.  Fear of losing control.  Fear of falling asleep.  Finally, fear of dying. This haunted me for 40+ years until I FACED MY FEARS toward surgery and anesthesia.  I scheduled the appointment to finally fix correctly my deviated septum. Three hours passed as an outpatient and they even told my wife to bring around the car to take me home.  That is when I had a massive heart attack coming in the recovery room.  The doctors raced me next door to the hospital, performed surgery, and now I am as good as can be.  I was in the RIGHT PLACE at the RIGHT TIME.  By intentionally facing my fear of surgery, I am here and healthy. 

THERE ARE GREAT BENEFITS TO TAKING ACTION:

1. Increased Self-Confidence

• Serge KNOWS he can “figure things out” when changes occur in his business.  He can adjust and add new revenue streams to his current opportunities if he ever needed to.
• I KNOW that I can have surgery again and be fine.  I am much less fearful about “losing control” because I already experienced my heart episode and survived. 

• Serge shared that he recently lost one of his top accounts.  We talked afterward and he shared that while the decision surprised and “hurt” him, he is thinking about it less and less every day.  It is in the dust and in the past.  He can’t do anything except recognize how he felt and move on.  
• While I travel with “happy pills” just in case I have an anxiety attack, there are days that I forget them at home.  I have grown into knowing that I can handle anything.  I’m no longer afraid. 

• Serge has been able to spend time directing and deliberating his own life and lifestyle.  His children, while now grown and out of the house, have unlimited access to him as a father when they need him.  His wife has unlimited access to him.  His friends, colleagues, and clients have unlimited access to him.  He has rounded 2nd base and is already heading home.  He does what he loves, solves problems, all while helping others.
•  I am now able to breathe properly after 40 years.  I can exercise more fully.  I travel around the world presenting to groups of up to 10,000 people.  I have access to “do” the things I always dreamed about, because I am not afraid of leaving first base.

CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU AT SECOND...