Fear Is Not A Virtue

Sign Up For Weekly Tips! Get Trevor’s Weekly Tips Straight To Your Inbox!

In the circles I travel in (clients, friends, family) I  interact with people who believe that coronavirus is either:

  • A government conspiracy to take control of its citizens
  • Just a bad flu that no one should be worried about
  • A real thing that has been ridiculously overblown by authorities
  • A very real pandemic that everyone needs to do their part to defeat
  • A clear and present danger that requires lockdown of all citizens if we’re to survive

Pretty wide range of beliefs.  I have clients and friends on opposite poles of this question.  And family.  We all have our opinions on how serious it is, and what should be done about it.  I do too of course.

But as these past 12 months have dragged along, I’ve noticed a new idea emerging that I hope we all strongly disagree with.  It’s insidious and not stated openly, but it’s there nevertheless.  And that’s the idea that it’s good to be afraid.

Worse yet, we pass this idea on to our kids.  While we would never say it in those words, still ‘more is caught than taught.’  They watch our actions and form their ideas based on them.

The words of one client company employee struck me.  He said, “I live in fear of dying every day I come into work.”

Let me say clearly:

Fear is not a virtue.  FEAR. IS. NOT. A. VIRTUE.

Courage is a virtue.  Bravery is a virtue.

Fear is normal, but it’s something that we need to overcome.  Bravery is acting in spite of fear.

So, if you feel fear, ask yourself what sources are causing it?  Shutting those sources of fear off will help you be brave.  These sources always include (but aren’t limited to):

  • The information/news that you allow into your head
  • The people you hang around with
  • What you allow your mind to focus on

Usually we’re afraid of things that we can’t control such as what might happen in the future, or how other people might behave.  Neither of which you have any control over.

Today, why not focus on what you can control?  Here’s a list:

  • Having a positive attitude
  • Turning off the news
  • Limiting social media
  • Following your conscience regarding health regulations
  • Showing grace and kindness to others
  • Avoiding people who stoke your fear

Of course, recklessness isn’t a virtue either, but that’s a tip for another day!

“Life shrinks and expands in proportion to one’s courage.” -Anais Nin

Trevor Throness head shot 2019

Trevor Throness is a speaker, consultant, and author of “The Power of People Skills.”  He is also co-founder and senior instructor at www.professionalleadershipinstitute.com https://www.professionalleadershipinstitute.com/

Find more about “The Power of People Skills” here: https://www.amazon.com/Power-People-Skills-Dramatically-Performance/dp/1632651068

Recommended Resources:
 

Uncover your strengths and weaknesses with our complimentary assessment. Boost your effectiveness at work and with your team.

Free Resource Library: Access our extensive collection of valuable resources for instant support in your personal and professional growth.

Explore Our Course Library:

Enhance your leadership skills with our diverse selection of courses. Take your abilities to the next level and become a more effective leader and team player.
Written by Trevor Throness
Trevor is a veteran coach, keynote speaker, and the author of the book “The Power of People Skills” released by Career Press NY in 2017. He’s also written for or been featured in places like Forbes, Inc, The NY Post, The Globe and Mail, Entrepreneur, CEO Magazine, and numerous podcasts and interviews.

Testimonials

Our Clients Love the Professional Leadership Institute

Your team will, too! Check out some reviews from our students.
The PLI program was invaluable to our network.
The range of topics delivered, the open dialogue, experience, and examples that PLI brought to each session were outstanding and provided a path for our Franchisees and Managers to look at leadership, coaching, and connecting with their teams in a new light. Many have implemented these strategies in their bakeries and have seen immediate results.
Michelle C.
COBS Bread
Highly recommend to help your team move forward
We have locations around BC and Alberta, so getting people on the same page can be very difficult... Until now. Our entire management team and location managers take the same great courses and then meet monthly online with our coach to apply it to our situation. People are engaged, the courses are excellent, we love our coach, and we are all learning together!
Jason Fawcett
President, Kelson Group
The result has been a transformation of our culture. 
We decided to implement PLI's strategies across the country in over 150 locations and over 3500 employees.  The result has been a transformation of our culture.  People's lives have been positively impacted - professionally and personally.  Morale is high and sales and profits are up as a result.
Daryl Verbeek
Daryl Verbeek
We’ve learned how to fix ongoing personnel issues once and for all
The roadmap laid out set our business up to quintuple in sales.  We've learned how to fix ongoing personnel issues once and for all, attract top talent, and spend our time focused on results, not internal staffing problems.  I highly recommend PLI to you - it's worked for us!
John DeJong
Satisfied Client
I had no idea that running a business could be this fun!
In less than 18 months of working with Trevor, he has transformed my business from being average to exceptional, where mediocrity is not acceptable, where being great is standard.  Working with PLI has allowed me to realize my dream of not simply owning a job, but owning a business.
Justin Bontkes
Principal, Caliber Projects
Our culture has taken major steps forward this year
Our culture has taken major steps forward this year with Trevor’s help.  He is funny, relatable, and his tools are very very practical and have helped us focus and upgrade our teams throughout our retail network. Trevor recently spoke to an employee group, and one person remarked, “I could listen to Trevor all day.”   We would highly recommend Trevor.
Stan Pridham
Founder, KMS Tools
The results have been remarkable
At first, we resisted, “This just won’t work with a law firm.” But we persisted and the results have been remarkable: our client base and profits have steadily improved, and staff engagement and morale is the healthiest its ever been.
Doug Lester
Partner, RDM Lawyers
Helped our fast-growing business become what it is today
I've experienced PLI's approach first hand and it's been crucial to sustaining our growth.  I can't imagine a business that wouldn't benefit greatly from his help.
Brian Antenbring
Founder, TEEMA
Provided practical ways to make positive changes
Trevor was incredibly well-received by the entire organization. He was able to articulate people issues that many of our franchisees were experiencing and provided them with practical ways to make positive changes. We have implemented the Star Chart tool across the organization and see it as vital to building happy, effective teams.
Aaron Gillespie
President, COBS Bread
Scroll to Top

Start Learning Today

For Individuals

Unlock your potential and accelerate your career with sought-after management and leadership skills.

 

Transform Your Organization

For Teams

Book a consultation to discuss your challenges and discover how we can help you build a winning team.

 

Sign Up For Weekly Tips!

Get Weekly Coaching Tips Straight To Your Inbox Every Monday.