Rich Fettke

Your Built-In Fear Handling Fuel

Posted on 04. Dec, 2009 by Rich Fettke.

"The professional athlete’s love of an adrenaline spike should almost never be linked to compulsive behavior. Quite the opposite is true. It’s more appropriate to say that taking a risk and succeeding because of their wits and skill feels orgasmic." -Maryann Karinch, Lessons from the Edge

When you are afraid, your body responds with its own form of rocket fuel: adrenaline.

Adrenaline is one of the natural drugs your body releases when you push limits or you are confronted with a challenge. Adrenaline flows through your body, giving you extra awareness, mental clarity and the ability to respond quickly to different situations. Colors are sharper, sounds are clearer. You are more conscious of odors and your body feels energized.

Whether you are jumping out of a plane or setting up a sales presentation with your hottest prospect, if the activity scares you, adrenaline will provide you with the strength you need to succeed. By recognizing how you feel when adrenaline is coursing though your veins, you will become much more skilled at using this ally to your advantage because you are employing it to accomplish a goal.

At the same time you should be aware that adrenaline also kicks in when you are under all kinds of stress, everything from getting caught in traffic to dealing with difficult people. In these types of everyday situations, adrenaline can burn you out because your body doesn’t get a chance to rest and recuperate.

I used to get tense from adrenaline in all kinds of circumstances and now, because I’ve gotten used to the feeling through extreme sports, I can say, "Ah, I know this feeling. It’s adrenaline. I need to be aware of why I’m feeling it. Am I facing a real risk or do I just need to reduce the number of stressful events that I tolerate in my life? Maybe I need to leave a little earlier to avoid traffic or perhaps I should discuss what’s bothering me with a friend."

By learning what adrenaline feels like, you can use it instead of it using you.

ACTION IDEA:

UNDERSTAND HOW FEAR WORKS

Answer the following questions to get a better understanding of how you handle fear.

1. What is the scariest thing you’ve ever done?
2. Why did you do it?
3. What was your fear telling you?
4. What were you focusing on?
5. What could you have focused on to reduce your fear?
6. What did you learn about yourself and your fears?

Continue Reading

Go For a Record

Posted on 22. Nov, 2009 by Rich Fettke.

Hans getting some reading in at the office

It can be very inspiring to surround yourself with people who are consistently pushing their limits.  My friend, Hans Florine, is one of those people.  Hans is a record-holding rock climber who won gold in speed climbing three years in a row at the ESPN X-Games and currently holds the world speed record on the Nose route of El Capitan in Yosemite.

Four years ago, Hans gave me a challenge — to join him in doing 100 sit-ups (non-stop) every day for 100 days in a row. In the beginning, it was tough just remembering to do the sit-ups each day…let alone completing 100 non-stop.  After a week it got a little easier.  After a few weeks it became a habit that I actually enjoyed.  Some days I’d do even more than 100.  My core got stronger (and tighter) and I felt great. When we reached our 100 day goal I didn’t want to stop!  We recommitted to taking the same challenge on for another 100 days.  Today, I am happy to report that we recently completed our fourth year of this challenge…and we don’t plan on stopping.  So far we have completed over 146,000 sit-ups in the last four years.  (36,500 sit-ups a year x 4 years)

Over the years I have given the challenge of going for a record to my audiences when I speak and to several of my coaching clients.  Now I’m offering it to you.  What record could you go for that would add to your health, wealth, wisdom or peace of mind?

Here are some examples:

• Make 200 prospecting calls in 5 days
• Complete a marathon in under 4 hours
• Write for one hour a day for 100 days
• Acknowledge or compliment someone every day for a month
• Be on time for every appointment over the next 100 days

You see, there are many different ways you can go for a record.  Start today (or tomorrow) and make a personal commitment to give it your best.  Maybe it’s some daily action to take for 100 days in a row.  Maybe it’s a one time record that will help you take a big step toward a business or personal goal. 

Whatever you choose, ask someone to be your accountability partner and offer to be theirs.  Check in on a regular basis – daily or weekly to increase your focus and commitment.  And most of all…enjoy the process of pushing your limits and expanding your success.

Continue Reading

The Joy of Challenge

Posted on 16. Nov, 2009 by Rich Fettke.

"The first step to doing something is saying you’ll do it — preferably to someone else. The next step is thinking you’ll do it, then believing, then taking the action." -Hans Florine, Author of Speed Climbing and world champion rock climber

Think of the last time you took on a good, healthy challenge in your life. Maybe it was a physical challenge – like a long hike or run – where you really had to dig deep in order to stick with it. Maybe it was an emotional challenge – like asking someone out for a date or asking a business prospect for the big sale. Maybe it was a challenge where you left a job, moved across the country, or enrolled in school.

How did you feel when you were going for it? How do you feel now when you think back on that challenge?

My clients have shown me, time and time again, that when we have a compelling goal that challenges us to give our best it brings an incredible feeling of exhilaration and passion to our lives.

Life’s greatest rewards are often found when we reach just a little higher. When we are growing, that’s when we are really living. As I write this I am looking at where my life has become habitual rather than experiential. I am asking myself the question "Where have I slipped into a comfort zone and what is my next exciting challenge?"

What about you? What is the next big challenge for you and when will you go for it? As you take on your challenge you will be rewarded with more ambition and drive. And on the other side of your challenge will be a fantastic feeling of exhilaration and accomplishment. Isn’t that worth taking the leap?

What is the next big challenge you’ve been thinking about taking on? Give it some thought. Get clear, take action and then enjoy the high.

WIN A FREE COPY OF EXTREME SUCCESS

Tell us about a goal or a challenge you will take on within the next 30 days and you could win a free signed hardcover copy of Extreme Success (or the audio book — your choice). Simply fill out the short online form here to enter the contest.

Continue Reading

Lessons Learned on a 3,000 Foot Nose

Posted on 15. Nov, 2009 by Rich Fettke.

"Stop to look fear in the face…You must do the thing which you think you cannot do." -Eleanor Roosevelt

About ten years ago I went to Yosemite National Park in California with my parents and my younger brother. We took the "Valley Floor Tour" on big green trailer that looks like a bus without a roof. The tour guide told us about the history of the valley, pointed out the huge waterfalls, spoke about the famous Half Dome, and then we stopped in front of the 3,000 foot El Capitan — one of the largest granite cliffs in the world.

The guide then said, "If you look very closely you’ll see a few small dots of color up on that cliff. Those are rock climbers." A moment later someone gasped, "I see one…up there!" as she pointed high up the cliff. I focused in and saw a small orange dot thousands of feet up this sheer face. I remember saying to my brother, "Those guys are crazy. Imagine climbing that?" Little did I know that someday I would be one of "those guys."

I’m excited to let you know that I just completed climbing the "Nose Route" of El Capitan in Yosemite Valley. The Nose is said to be the best rock climb in the world and is certainly the best known. It is huge, steep and scary. It took us three days of climbing and two nights of sleeping on the wall in a little nylon cot.

Two issues ago I wrote about "The Joy of Challenge." The focus of the issue was about how, when we take on an exciting challenge, we are often rewarded with more ambition and drive for other areas of our lives. I also wrote about that fantastic feeling of exhilaration and accomplishment when we complete a big challenge.

Well, I took my own advice and joined up with Hans Florine and his wife Jacki — both very experienced, record-holding big wall climbers. The Nose of El Cap was definitely out of my comfort zone and was truly a challenge. However, with the right people (mentors) and a willingness to get out of my comfort zone (risk) I accomplished a goal that used to seem impossible.

Often those big goals or dreams are not as far off (or "impossible") as we may think. When we get passionate about developing our skills – and finding the right support – amazing progress can happen.

When you hear about someone who is super wealthy, or is in amazing physical shape, or has an ìncredible relationship (or any other type of success) what do you often think? For many, it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking "those people" are extraordinary. The truth is — they are often ordinary people who have taken action and asked for help.

When one of my clients had the dream of owning her own business, she didn’t just dream. She signed up for business classes at a local college and attended SCORE to get real-world business advice from experienced mentors. She mustered up the courage to take action and to share her dream with others. Today her dream is a reality.

I’m excited to have completed the Nose Route on El Cap. I’m even more excited to be reminded of the lesson that getting out of my comfort zone, finding experienced people for support, and taking action can turn what once seemed impossible into what is now reality.

So what’s your next big climb to success? What is a dream that you would like to make a reality? Are you ready to become one of "those people"?

I wish you the best on your journey!

If you’re interested, there are more photos of our El Capitan ascent here.

Continue Reading