Facing your fears

No one asked for it, but I will share some advice and thoughts about facing your fears.

It’s barely perceived right now, but I used to be an introvert; I was the guy behind the computer just three years ago. 

Just a few years back, building my first startup when I was 17 years old.

I loved (and still do) spending hours learning how to code, programming software and websites, and reading online blogs about technology trends. 

While building Nowports, my role as co-founder and CEO has been to spend time selling our vision to candidates, customers, and investors. And I needed to improve my social skills to scale into my function. 

I started getting coaching, not only for this challenge but to become a better leader and manager for the Nowports team (which scaled from 4 people to +1,000 in 9 countries in 36 months). One of the bests pieces of advice I received, and I think it’s still valid, was: “At the moment you start feeling some fear, just attack it right away, as small as it seems.” 

Attacking your fears (speaking in public or to strangers or just dancing) should be addressed as fast as you notice them because as time passes, your anxiety and insecurity around them increase, making you weaker.

Giving a conference at my hometown, MTY MX

As time has passed, and as Nowports has kept growing, I’ve been able to improve my social skills through networking, hiring new leaders, or just at interviews and investors; I`ve delivered two Ted talks, I`ve pitched thousands of times to the many stakeholders a startup has, I´ve given many interviews for the press, etc.

All of these things may seem natural tasks for any founder but for a former introvert like me, each step meant attacking one of my fears, and as one task after another has been achieved, I feel stronger, less afraid, and more confident. 

It has all been a step at a time, but now we are no less fearful because the hurdles have become higher and broader, but yes, stronger, to keep tackling them, one at a time.

I feel stronger.