Coach Cassandra Rae

Today I was reading The 4-Hour Workweek by Timothy Ferriss and holy cow!  What an enlightening read.  I didn’t even intend to read this book.  I simply grabbed it on the way out the door because I knew I would be waiting for my daughter and I wanted something to entertain me.  I had no idea I would learn so much about myself, expose my fears, and begin to take action.  The fact that you are reading this page on my blog is a testament to that!  So check this out.  Here’s a direct quote from the book on page 46:

What are you putting off out of fear? Usually, what we most fear doing is what we most need to do.  that phone call, that conversation, whatever the action might be – it is fear of unknown outcomes that prevents us from doing what we need to do.  Define the worst case, accept it, and do it.  I’ll repeat something you might consider tattooing on your forehead: What we fear doing most is usually what we most need to do. As I have heard said, a person’s success in life can usually be measured by the number of uncomfortable conversation he or she is willing to have.  Resolve to do one thing every day that you fear.  I got into this habit by attempting to contact celebrities and famous businesspeople for advice.
~ Ferris, Timothy. The 4-Hour WorkWeek. New York: Crown, 2007.

Isn’t that amazing?  I think it is.  No, I know it is!  And here is the deal-io, Peeps:

I am making a commitment to do one thing that scares me every day for 100 days.  Yikes!  Am I out of my mind?  Why, yes.  Yes I am.  But, I am also taking some serious action towards pursuing my dreams and putting everything I believe about how life works on the line.  This is it folks.  I’m taking the plunge.

100 Things I fear that I have DONE!

1. {09/22/09} Emailed Reverend Dave and asked him to meet with me for 15-30 minutes to discuss the fear of putting a message out there and someone standing up and telling me, “You’re wrong and I don’t like you.”  He seems to handle this very well :~)
2. {09/23/09} Did my 15 Minutes of Nothing outside in the park with my eyes closed and everything!
3. {09/24/09} Asked the brilliant ladies in my Think Tank, “What do you see that I bring to the table as a coach?” Holy moly! It totally freaked me out to ask for such direct feedback – I’m usually the one telling you about you! – especially when I knew these ladies would not pretty it up, but the info I received was so helpful.  Thank you!
4. {09/25/09} Asked for help with my business again! Plus did something crazy at a party – click here to read the story.
5. {09/26/09} Oh crap…I forgot all about the challenge! Read more…
6. {09/27/09} Invited a friend to dance at a party where no one was dancing & asked my cast-mates to help me rehearse. Read more…
7. {09/28/09} Said, “Thank you for all that you do for us,” to a complete stranger! I told the story here.
8. {09/29/09} Sang in front of people and kept singing even when I forgot the lyrics and slipped out of key. Whew!
9. {09/30/09} Read the introduction to a book & wrote this post: I’m a New York Times Bestseller author. What are you?
10. {10/01/09} Passed on a class to take care of me and called the instructor to let her know – I know this doesn’t sound like much {did I just minimize myself? hhhmmm} – I talked about it in this video blog post
11. {10/02/09} Recorded another video on location {!} where I share about Fear #10 and what I’m learning through this process.  Whew…I am seriously surprised.  Please click through, view, and post your thoughts.  I’d love to hear your take.
12. {10/03/09} When I published this blog post that blessed inner voice of fear was totally piping up.  But, I chose to move into trust and share anyways.  It’s those vulnerable moments that build true inner strength.
13. {10/04/09} Talked to my mom about my singing performance without taking any of her comments personally.
14. {10/05/09} Stood up to an angry daughter & held her to the homework standards.  Whew! This parenting gig can be challenging.
15. {10/06/09} Spoke to 100 people at a Social Media bootcamp!  Read how I got the gig here
16. {10/07/09} Today I faced the classic fear: they’re going to think I’m stupid!
17. {10/08/09} Totally confronted by my 16 yo today.  I shared my truth, didn’t accept the blame for her feelings, held my ground, AND didn’t lose my cool.  Whew! Sometimes I’m a rock star parent. Other times I completely lose it. But, not today.  Today I rock.
18. {10/09/09} Asked for AND received support from a woman that I am developing a deeper friendship with. I told her the truth about my problems and she gave me some awesome advice.
19. {10/10/09} Cleaned up after myself in a relationship.  I looked the other person square in the eyes and said, “I’m sorry.  I was wrong and shouldn’t have behaved that way. I am committed to not doing it again.  Will you please forgive me?” It was so frightening for my ego, but cleansing for my Soul!
20. {10/11/09} I admitted to myself that I was envious of another life coach.  Whew!  I’d been holding on to that one and not facing up for like years!  I feel so free now.
21. {10/12/09} I hired my very first assistant!  I have no idea how this is going to work, but that’s okay.  I just needed to jump in.
22. {10/13/09} Recorded and shared this video – oy!  Such a stretch for me.
23. {10/14/09} While working on that project I talked about in the video for #22 the voice of fear said, “People don’t want this.  You’ll be left out to die.  You won’t get anywhere.  You’ll just spin your wheels to no avail.  You’ll always be mediocre waiting to make it big.”  Sharing it with you is my stretch for today.
24. {10/15/09} Boldly asking for what I needed and getting it!  I totally risked appearing like a flake because I canceled at the last minute, but we rescheduled and it was exactly what I needed!
25. {10/16/09} Told the bold and uncomfortable truth to a potential business partner and we are SO much better off because of it.  I was so afraid to share how I felt, but I did it, it was well received, and seriously we are way closer now.  Whew!
26. {10/17/09} I signed up for an 8 Week Program to write my Book Proposal!  It was pricey, but I am totally claiming the fact that I am an author simply waiting to be published.  Woohoo!
27. {10/18/09} O.M.G. I faced one of my biggest fears today: that I am a crap mother.  What mom isn’t afraid of that one? Anyhow, my daughter gave me some tough feedback today and I took it with class, dignity, and respect for both of us.  It feels like we have a chance at making things better now.
28. {10/19/09} I put together a gift basket for a neighbor – her dog made his transition – and invited her over for dinner.  That pesky little voice of fear told me it was creepy to reach out to a neighbor that I don’t know super well, but I did it anyways because I am living & being the kind of neighbor that I think is cool.  We would all probably be happier if we were more neighborly to one another!
29. {10/20/09} Oh my gosh…I totally stepped up today.  I allowed my daughter to decide whether or not to stay home from school.  It was so hard to let go of making the decision and I was afraid of being too lenient, etc. etc. etc.  But, I let go and let her decide and guess what? Halfway through the day she decided to go to school because she was feeling better.  Woohoo!  She’s growing up!
30. {10/21/09} While I was at Kaiser I told everyone they are beautiful!  I felt like such a dork, but it was so much fun.  Everyone loved to hear how beautiful they are.  There was this one grouchy secretary and I was like, “I’m not going to tell her.”  But then I thought, “But she probably needs it more than anyone else.”  So even though I was afraid she would snap at me I told her that her ring was beautiful (because it really was) and she softened, smiled, and said thank you.  I am so proud of myself!
31. {10/22/09} Hired an interior designer to help us remodel our kitchen.  Totally freaked out & excited!  I’ve never done anything like this before.  I’m sure this will provide lots of other fears to walk through too!
32. {10/23/09} O.M.G. I absolutely can’t believe I did this!  I refused to give my daughter a ride when she  treated me poorly.  It was so painful and powerful for me to tell her that it was not okay to treat me badly and walk away.  And you know what? She handled it with dignity and grace.  She didn’t argue with me.  Instead she walked home.
33. {10/24/09} Oh my heaven.  This day was full of opportunities to be courageous!  In other words, I was ultra challenged!  I’m not going to go into details, just know that I stood up for myself in a very heated and confrontational situation.  I also had a major breakthrough: I chose to write my book for and focus my coaching practice on FEMpreneurs.  Woohoo!
34. {10/25/09} Publicly declared my dedication to FEMpreneurs through this video.
35. {10/26/09} Held my 2nd Simply Fearless Coaching Call and it was so much easier this time!  I felt the fear/excitement right before jumping on the call and I reminded myself to let it go and focus on sharing my knowledge, connecting with the ladies, and lifting us all up.  It was awesome!
36. {10/27/09} Admitted out loud that I felt like a big, fat failure of a mom.  My sister graciously listened and then reminded me how cool I actually am.  Thank you so much, Sis!
37. {10/28/09} I faced one of the biggest fears for FEMpreneurs: I instructed a potential client to check out the “competition”!  We had a free intro session and at the end I just wasn’t sure if I was the best coach for her, so I gave her the practice assignment to try on coaching with at least 2 more coaches so that she could feel the difference and know in her heart who the right coach for her is.  I don’t think she is going to hire me, but I do know that I have served her needs and that is the kind of business woman I am!
38. {10/29/09} I told a woman I don’t know, “Oh! You’re so pretty!”  It was my gut reaction upon seeing her and she ended up telling me that she hadn’t been complimented in awhile and it really lifted her up.  It felt so liberating to not filter myself and to let my real, unedited thoughts flow.  As it turned out, it was beneficial for both of us.  And she really was beautiful.  She has eyes that sparkle and shine.  You know, the kind of glow that is so nice to be around.  In fact, it’s the kind of glow that draws people in just like a warm bonfire on a cold night.
39. {10/30/09} I am one crazy lady!  I made a commitment on my other blog to blog every day in November because it is NaBloPoMo!!!  I am totally freaked out & doing it anyways.
40. {10/31/09} I keep writing & re-writing this one because it’s very personal.  All I can really say is that I asked for what I needed in a tense and emotionally charged situation.  It turned out beautifully.  Whew!
41. {11/01/09} Super, duper scared about asking for a new agreement with my daughter’s dad & wife.  I asked for and received support ahead of time, planned out what I wanted to communicate, and made sure I was coming from a place of working together.  It went really well and things are so much better now.
42. {11/02/09} Oh my gosh…I came up with the title for my upcoming book today!  Yowza!  It’s totally freaking me out because it’s so near and dear to my heart, but it’s so awesome!  I can’t wait to read it.  Oh wait.  I guess I need to write it first :~)
43. {11/03/09} Delivered my new 30 second intro at a networking luncheon!  I was so nervous, but I wrote it out ahead of time and totally rocked it out.  Woohoo!
44. more fears to face!

***NOTICE: THE REST OF THE FEARS ARE BEING PUBLISHED ONE PER DAY UNDER THIS CATEGORY.  CHECK IT OUT TO READ ABOUT MY FEARS. YUMMY!***

The truth is, Folks, I don’t want to do this alone. I would love it if you joined me.  All you have to do is get out of your mind with me and make a commitment to do one thing you fear every day.  Easy Cheesey, right?!  Once you’ve made the commitment and your blog page {not a post, but a separate page} then come here and click below to enter a link to your page so that we can all do this together:

Okie dokie, Artichokies, let’s roll!

{Don’t have 100 Things you fear? Read this.}

{Blogroll: be sure to leave the direct link to your 100 Things I Fear list in the Mr. Linky and I will add you to the blogroll.}