Do you ever build something up so much in your head it starts infiltrating your dreams – or nightmares? Please tell me I am not the only one.

You have been hearing about my new book The Connector’s Advantage for a very long time at this point. It was March of 2017 when I asked you to take the survey for the book research. It is nearly 2 years later and I just received a box of books.

I am so excited. What I have been working toward and dreaming about is finally real! Apparently excited is not the only emotion I was feeling. That same night I had multiple nightmares about the book.

The nonsensical aberrations included visions of misprints, misspellings, forgotten content, bad reviews and more. All my hard work had come to fruition — and with it, came a slew of fears that had been unknowingly hovering in my subconscious.

It is incredibly easy to let fear paralyze you — but it doesn’t have to. You can choose to manage it, to be empowered by it, and to consciously recognize the fear and embrace it to experience what’s really behind it.

The Connector’s Advantage  is available for preorder and although I may hold my breath, I am eagerly awaiting the reviews. I am managing my fears and here are five actions that helped me do it:

1. Take Action. Give yourself the moment to experience the fear and then put it aside and think of one small action you can take to move forward. For me it was the survey. Instead of staying stuck, make a move. There is always a step forward, and taking it will enable momentum to propel you to the next step.

2. Be Consistent. Continuous small steps build up to big accomplishments. Get into a routine of asking yourself, “What one thing can I do today to move this forward?” The saying, “Take it one step at a time,” is well-known for a reason.

3. Cultivate Curiosity. Sometimes, the best way to avoid over-thinking something is to access your curiosity and explore what is possible. Ask questions of yourself and your network. Get multiple perspectives to drive a different view.

4. Practice Gratitude. Rather than allowing fear to sweep in and tell you to worry about what could go wrong or what you could lose, flip it on its head. Instead, consider what is going right and appreciate all you have.  “Stop and smell the roses.” A moment of appreciate and reflection can power your productivity.

5. Surround Yourself With A Supportive Network. You knew this would be on my list! It’s all about relationships. Embrace the diversity of your network, and connect with your champions, cheerleaders and sounding boards. The Connector’s Advantage may have been giving me nightmares, but this is a note taken directly from its pages.