MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER, AUTHOR & SUCCESS COACH

April 2024 Newsletter Replace fear with BOLDNESS !

Replace fear with boldness

 

 

Do you feel like something is holding you back from doing what you really want to do?  If so, you’re not alone. Luckily, there is something you can do about it.

 

When I entered the real estate business at age 23, I was nervous about being on straight commission. To bring in enough money to feed myself and pay my bills, I waited tables part-time. I knew what I wanted to do, but fear was holding me back.

 

“Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy.”

—Dale Carnegie

 

At that point I made the most important decision of my entire 41-year career: I decided to be bold. I told myself, “I am going to be bold. I’m not going to be scared of being on straight commission. I am going to use that unproductive energy to carry out my mission.”

 

My mission was—and still is—to be great at whatever I do, especially when it involves real estate. I woke up every morning with the attitude that nothing was going to stop me from reaching my goals. Instead of worrying about challenges that might lie ahead, I overcame my fear and kept going. I am telling you this not to impress you, but to impress upon you that each of us can make a commitment to be bold. You can eliminate fear just by believing in yourself, stepping out of your comfort zone, and giving boldness a chance.

 

One of the best ways to fight fear is to face it head on. Of course, there are exceptions. For example, I would not consider jumping out of a plane, so I would not say I fear it. But if I really wanted to jump out of a plane and fear was the only thing holding me back from doing it, it would be a different story.

 

If there’s something that you want to accomplish and you know that it will make you happy, then you need to find a way to overcome your fear of doing it. My recommendation is to start slowly instead of thinking you need to accomplish everything overnight. Take your time…but keep moving!

 

 

“Freedom lies in being bold.”

—Robert Frost

 

I agree with  Mike Yaconelli’s description of being bold:
“Boldness doesn’t mean rude, obnoxious, loud, or disrespectful. Being bold is being firm, sure, confident, fearless, daring, strong, resilient, and not easily intimidated. It means you’re willing to go where you’ve never been, willing to try what you’ve never tried, and willing to trust what you’ve never trusted. Boldness is quiet, not noisy.”

 

I have met a lot of people who confuse boldness with acting like they’re better than everybody else. That is not my definition of being bold. People who are bold are people of action. They don’t just talk a big game. They talk the talk, and they walk the walk. People who are bold are people that are drinking the water that they’re pouring out. They’re passionate and they’re persistent.

 

I am confident that if you decide to be bold and reach out for something that might be great for your life, then your boldness will inspire, motivate, and empower everyone in your sphere to make their own lives better.

 

My favorite type of people who are bold are the ones who want to lift up everybody around them, take them along for the ride, and give them wings to do whatever they’re trying to accomplish.

 

Let me tell you what choosing to be bold means to me.

  • As a leader, I am transparent with the people I work with. I recognize them when they do something great, and I am willing to give them constructive suggestions that will help them become better.
  • If I can see that someone is not being treated properly, I will show them that I care about them and that they matter.
  • I do not fear change. I believe that those of us who are trying to be the best version of ourselves cannot fear making changes that will benefit us in our personal lives or in our careers.
  • I let people know how I feel, and I am forthcoming. If I need to say something, I will say it.

Choosing boldness will be liberating for you and for those around you. Now, more than ever, people need inspiration. They need us to believe in them, and they need us to give them a little boost to help them do what they have always wanted to do.

One thing I know for sure is that each of us has the God-given talent to accomplish anything that we set our minds to do. That is a fact. Never ever let fear get in the way of heading toward where you want to go. You will find that life is a lot more enjoyable when you choose to be bold.

What People in the Audience are Saying…

With Van's passion, humor and experience you can be assured of one thing- your audience is going to get fired-up, built-up, and fully charged –up. As an entrepreneur at the top of his game Van is in the unique position of being able to "talk the talk" because he has "walked the walk". Over the years he has been a great inspiration to me and my staff. Van is a speaker with charisma, humility and impact and he's a difference maker in the lives of the people he touches…"

—George Akers // President, First Mortgage Corp.

I wanted to thank you for coming and speaking with our company today. I thought your presentation was awesome! I was really motivated and inspired by your thoughts and ideas. I will use this motivation to grow my business and my personal life.”

—Justin Pauls // Realtor, Tampa, Florida

We are delighted you will be accepting the award for Omaha’s Top 25 fastest growing companies. Congratulations on your outstanding growth and we wish you continued success.”

—Tracey Fortina // Omaha Chamber of Commerce

Thank you for running such a class act company. It is an honor and a pleasure to be associated with someone such as yourself. I know you are probably one of the most respected businessmen in the region.”

—Dustin Talacko // Realtor, Omaha, Nebraska

Congratulations on writing “Selling from the heart” and thank you for sharing a copy with me. Your class has been one of the most enjoyable classes I’ve ever taken. Your enthusiasm and passion for your work are awesome. But the most refreshing part of the class was your delightful sense of humor. Thank you again for being a fantastic teacher.”

—Linda Reismeiler // Student at Randall School of Real Estate, Omaha, Nebraska

Kudos to you, Van, for reaching a major goal. But more than that...For successfully building one of Omaha’s best companies from scratch and making it thrive even in less than ideal market conditions. You have realized the American Dream...And brought it home to many, many others. My best to you!”

—Todd Andrews, Anchor and Producer, KETV Omaha

Having you here again was such a blessing to so many! As I looked at the pictures, I could see just how interested each and every person was in what you had to say!

This has been such a gift to our agents when they need it the most. The fact that you come, you are so genuine and caring, you are so honest, you are not trying to sell anything and your passion to help each and every person believe in themselves and become the best they can be is HUGE! The timing is perfect for us all helping and caring about each other, so, thank YOU from the bottom of my heart for giving of yourself to help all of us!”

—Carolyn Summerton // First Mortgage Company of Idaho

I enjoyed your seminar and its focus. I was on the fence whether or not to attend and decided why not? I could have sat through an all day session if there was one, usually I end up at the seminars that start with a focus and quickly go astray. I found with yours time flew by too fast and it was already time to go but I wasn’t ready to go.”

—Scott Asbill, CDPE // Associate Broker, Realtor