Say Yes to Things That Scare You

Thanks, Liz.

I think most people would be frightened the first time they were on live (or even recorded) TV. And the story about your sticking with the tough class and getting the A is great!

Barry Leiba of NY @ May 23, 2008 19:16:50 PM

OK, Barry

That's a fair request... (although it may give you an insight into how easily I become fearful!).

I gave a live TV interview earlier this year--a first for me (although it's pretty common around here). I spent the days between saying "yes" and the actual appearance in something of a cold sweat. I could think about little else. I had visions of a mistake-laden YouTube hit. Afterward, however, I walked out of the TV studio feeling like I had toppled some sort of Goliath.

Also, accepting this job took me (physically) away from every one of my family members--and I have a lot of them. The distance nearly scared me off.

If I go back a bit: In college, I took an English Literature course that had about a third of the class bowing out in the first two weeks. The professor was incredibly demanding--and he liked to call on students out of the blue so it was clear whether you'd done the mountains of reading. After the second week, I had to decide whether to stay or go. The class was in my major, so it was important to pull a decent grade. I decided to stay, and not only that, but--just because it was such an intimidating challenge--I decided I would get an A. I've never worked so hard in my life, nor faced exams with such trepidation. It was also the greatest A I've ever received.

Liz Wolgemuth of @ May 23, 2008 17:18:47 PM