The Fear That's Killing Your Business Dreams (And How to Do It Anyway)

"Why would anyone listen to me? What value do I bring? What do I have to offer?"

These thoughts were paralyzing Lasada Pippen, a successful computer engineer who felt called to become a keynote speaker and business coach. Sound familiar?

We recently had Lasada on Six-Figure Secrets of Fractional Experts, where he shared his journey from engineering to building a thriving speaking and coaching business. But more importantly, he revealed the brutal truth about imposter syndrome that every fractional executive needs to hear.

The Mirror That Changed Everything

Lasada had a dream. His wife was pushing him toward it harder than he was pushing himself. Then one day, she stopped helping entirely.

"I remember feeling like a total loser that somebody else was pushing me towards my dream versus me clawing and fighting towards my dream," Lasada shared.

When his wife stopped pushing, nothing happened. The uncomfortable truth became crystal clear: she was pulling all the weight for what he wanted to do.

"That was the light bulb moment for me. I realized I'm the problem, not her. She was a mirror."

The mirror showed him something he didn't want to see: he was sitting on the sideline of his own life, paralyzed by fear and imposter syndrome while someone else fought for his dreams.

You Can Have Fear, But You Can't Have Doubt

Here's the game-changing insight that shifted everything for Lasada: "You can have fear, but you can't have doubt."

Fear can coexist with passion, purpose, and action. But doubt? Doubt kills dreams before they start.

"I realized that if I sat around and waited for fear to go away, I would never make a move. So I had to do it with fear. I had to lean in and say, 'You know what? Fear is just gonna be on the passenger side and we'll figure it out as we go along.'"

This isn't just positive thinking. This is the practical reality of entrepreneurship. Fear never fully goes away – even today, Lasada feels it before stepping on huge stages with new audiences. But he's learned to convert that fear into excitement by reframing it as opportunity.

The Tom Brady Principle: Finding Your Unique Edge

Every fractional executive faces the same crushing thought: "I'm just another consultant in a sea of millions."

Lasada found his differentiator in the smallest possible thing: energy.

"I might not say the best things or the most wise mind-blowing things, but my energy is unmatched. Nobody can produce the energy like I do."

Think about Tom Brady. Slow, couldn't scramble, didn't have a cannon arm. But he found what made him unique: processing information at the line of scrimmage faster than anyone else. That one differentiator made him the greatest quarterback of all time.

Your differentiator doesn't have to be dramatic. It could be:

• Your energy (like Lasada)
• Your vulnerability and authenticity
• Your specific combination of experiences
• How you explain complex concepts
• Your industry background
• Your approach to problem-solving

The key is finding the smallest thing that makes you different and leaning into it completely.

The Brutal Reality of the Early Days

When Lasada finally gave his two weeks notice, he thought he had it figured out. He had a great month lined up with speaking engagements.

Then reality hit: "After that, I probably didn't get another event or another booking until about four months later."

The fear became overwhelming. He applied for contract jobs, trying to swim back to the safety of corporate employment. He even took a W-2 position and lasted exactly two weeks before admitting he was making decisions from fear.

"I had to apologize to the guy for taking this job. I said, 'I don't have it anymore. I'm not going to be the best fit.'"

This is the part of entrepreneurship nobody talks about. The months of terror, the impulse to run back to safety, the constant questioning of your decision.

The Einstein Insight That Changes Everything

Albert Einstein was once asked if he considered himself the smartest person in the world. His response was profound:

"It's not that I'm the smartest person in the world. I just simply stick with the problems longer."

Success isn't about being the most talented. It's about outlasting your obstacles.

As Lasada puts it: "You don't have to be the best in order to give your best. You do not have to be the best to give your best."

The Marketing Strategy That Actually Worked

Lasada tried everything: snail mail, cold email, LinkedIn, personalized videos, door-to-door sales. But what ultimately transformed his business was one strategy: being exceptional at what he did.

"The performance itself has no competitors. If I deliver dynamically, if I give great value, if I feed the audience very well, then I will have people come up to me wanting to book me for their company."

He went from hunter to hunted by simply crushing it on stage.

This principle applies to every fractional executive: be so good at serving your clients that you never have to hunt for new ones again.

The Door-to-Door Courage

But before Lasada could showcase his performance, he had to get in the door. His most effective early strategy? Walking into buildings.

"I would walk in schools, I would walk in superintendent offices, I would walk in corporate offices. I would just walk in the door."

Why did this work when digital outreach failed?

"It's easier to delete and toss out a piece of mail or email versus, 'That person actually showed up. I remember shaking hands with that person.'"

The lesson isn't that you need to go door-to-door (though it worked for him). The lesson is this: do daily what everyone else only does occasionally.

The Purpose vs. Money Paradox

Here's the counterintuitive truth about money: the more you chase it, the less you make.

Lasada spoke for free for six to seven years. Six to seven years. Using his PTO, paying for his own flights, hotel rooms, everything.

"It's not just about the money. I genuinely want to deliver high value to you and your people. When you're in purpose, when you're working with purpose, you're gonna make more money than if you're just working for money."

This doesn't mean work for free forever. It means lead with value, not with your price tag.

The Identity Trap That Destroys Entrepreneurs

One of the most dangerous traps for high achievers is tying their identity to their success. When the business struggles, they don't think "my business is struggling" – they think "I am a failure."

As Lasada learned: "Who I am and what I do are two different things. They operate in two different lanes."

This separation is crucial for surviving the inevitable ups and downs of entrepreneurship without destroying your self-worth in the process.

Your Next Move

If you're sitting on the sideline of your own dreams, paralyzed by imposter syndrome, ask yourself this:

Are you waiting for fear to go away? Because it won't.

Are you looking for the perfect moment? Because it doesn't exist.

Are you trying to be the best before you start? Because that's impossible.

The only way through is through. With fear as your passenger, doubt left at the curb, and a clear vision of the unique value only you can provide.

Remember: You don't have to be the best to give your best. You just have to stick with the problems longer than everyone else.

Your dreams are waiting. The question is: will you finally stop waiting for permission to pursue them?

Mylance

‍This value-added article was written by Mylance. Mylance takes your marketing completely off your hands. We build the marketing machine that your Fractional Business needs, but you don't have time to run. So it operates daily, growing your brand, completely done for you.Instead of dangling numbers in front of you, our approach focuses on precise and thoughtful input: targeted outreach to the right decision makers, compelling messaging that resonates, and content creation that establishes trust and legitimacy.To apply for access, submit an application and we'll evaluate your fit for the service. If you’re not ready for lead generation, we also have a free, vetted community for top fractional talent that includes workshops, a rates database, networking, and a lot of free resources to support your fractional business.