Realize it’s Possible

One of the big motivators for me was seeing that other people, just like me were doing amazing things. Traveling the world, starting businesses and building empires. Living amazing lives.

The book the 4 Hour Work Week and a number of “Digital Nomad” blogs were great motivators for me. Being able to see through the eyes of others who were living the life I wanted, helped me say to myself “If they can do it, why can’t I”?

Identify What you Really Want

If your dream in life is to stay in a low stress job, live in the suburbs with your wife and play golf on the weekends, maybe you don’t need to overcome your fear of uncertainty.

But if there are things you want to experience and achieve in life above and beyond what you’re currently doing, you’re probably going to have to face at least one period of uncertainty to get there.

Now you know this, you know you have to deal with your fear.

For me, I really wanted to earn an income that gave me flexibility to work from anywhere. To get to there I knew I was going to have to take some risks and thus face some uncertainty.

Understand that it’s OK to fail

Failing will not kill you (unless you are actually attempting to do something that is deadly, in which case ignore this point).

If you want to travel perpetually and eventually run out of money and have to go home, you will be OK. If you want to get married and it doesn’t work out, you will be OK. If you want to start a business and it goes bust, you will be OK.

Seriously, I know this topic has been talked about 1000 times but people still don’t get it. There are countless stories of people who have failed many times before succeeding. It will be fine, have faith in yourself and it will work out. The important part is taking the first step.

I never knew if I was going to succeed or fail (I still don’t) but I know that if I fail, I will be able to figure something out and I will be able to try again. All is not lost.

Have a Backup Plan

One of the major ways I managed my fear of uncertainty was to have a backup plan. I left my job as a Software Recruiter on a high note. I was a high performer with a strong track record. This meant it would be easy if I had to go back and get a job at some point.

I also took out a mortgage on an investment property before I left, this removed on the of the key motivators to having a ‘steady’ job — the ability to get a mortgage.

Having a backup plan might just be the crutch you need to take that important first step.

Whatever your plans in life, master your fear of uncertainty and watch as the world opens its doors.

Today I am based in San Francisco working on a new startup. Follow me on Twitter to keep up with my latest.