We all have fears, some more than others, but fear will always be here. What separates a successful grinder and those who just talk the talk is that grinders recognize their fears and move beyond them.

They use techniques to break through the walls that fear creates and move forward to their success.

These 6 tips are a sure way to break through all of your fears in order to continue on your path to success:

1. Recognize what your fears are

Write it down. Don’t just think about it. Grab a pen, some paper or open a document on your phone or computer and spend some time thinking about what exactly your fears are. Are you afraid of rejection? Think you’re not good enough? Afraid of risk? Whatever it is jot it down until you are looking down at your fears squirming in front of you.

Why is this important? Most of us go through life without becoming aware of our weaknesses. We simply react to situations through emotions without ever stopping to wonder what is keeping us still or slowing our progression. Becoming aware of your fears by writing them down gives your mind that alert every time it pops into your head. So when that fear arises again, you will know that that’s all it is, just fear.

“One of the greatest discoveries a man makes, one of his great surprises, is to find he can do what he was afraid he couldn’t do.” – Henry Ford

2. Imagine who you would be without those Fears

Go ahead and write this one out too. Who are you in your highest potential? Where will you be when you decide that fears are no longer “deadly”? Write down that perfect you and make sure it excites you. Envision yourself on that stage, in front of that crowd, publishing that book, owning that business.

We have the potential of building dreams into reality. Most of those dreams begin as a simple thought. A thought that becomes a fiery obsession and soon grinding towards that vision brings it to life. You need to bring clarity to those dreams by envisioning it.

3. Write down what would happen if you don’t face your fears

This step is similar to the last, but it might be more powerful. Think about who you will become if you don’t face those fears. Are you always going to be a spectator? Will you always be shy and lack the skills to socialize? Will you always live under the power of a boss because you were too afraid to start your own business? Will no one ever hear you out because of your fear of rejection or criticism?

Get mean with yourself. Actually, become afraid of this path. Write until you’re scared of not facing your fears. Put it in your head that if you don’t begin following your dreams, you will never reach the perfect you.

4. Examine and plan out how that perfect you will happen

I had to start by looking into the person I wanted to become and asking myself “how do I get there?” Once you ask yourself that question you break down that ‘Perfect You’ into achievable goals. Performing for hundreds seemed so daunting in the beginning, so I went small. Performing for dozens. After a while I met people that put me in front of more and more people until I reached performing for thousands.

Think about it like a hierarchy of goals. On the top are the bigger goals, and as you go down you see the smaller more achievable goals. Examine the perfect you and interview yourself. Ask yourself how to get there and start blueprinting it all out.

5. Begin immediately

Don’t wait a week! Don’t wait until you have enough money! Or until you graduate! And don’t get stuck in the planning phase! If you write down start a blog, get to writing those first 5 posts, NOW! If you want to get fit, get down and give me 10! If you want to publish that book, write the first page, NOW!

It might feel like a little, but starting now is the only way you will begin. Many call it breaking the Ice. You need to go through that rough phase where you don’t want to do certain things, but once you start seeing that progression, once you have that website, that first chapter, that first client, you’ll understand why starting now is so important.

Start small, and don’t feel guilty about starting small. Lay that first brick down as best as possible and work that way. Never try to leap, most fall face first with that strategy.

“Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.” – Francis of Assisi

6. Find other grinders that have what you want

You want to be more social? Want to be a better performer or speaker? Want to get fit? Seek out individuals (or groups) that have traits that you want. In this age we have an unlimited amount of resources to find these people. Reach out to people through email, workshops, blogs, websites, libraries, schools, universities, Facebook, Instagram, presentations, your local bar, gyms, there are people everywhere who have what you want.

Make sure you pinpoint them and put yourself in environments where you can find them. We become who we surround ourselves with! So make sure you are building that circle of individuals that will drive you to where you want to be. Let them know you want to learn from them and get to grinding!

No one said being a grinder would be easy, and trust me there are going to be obstacles. But by following these tips you will know what you’re trying to reach and how exactly to start grinding to your dreams. So take that first step, and grind on.

How are you going to crush your fears and grind harder? Please leave your thoughts in the comment section below!