Inspiration Is All Around
I have a fear of public speaking.
Not the “butterflies before a talk” kind of fear. More the “I’ve been avoiding this for over a year” kind of fear. The kind that keeps you stuck in place.
I have a personal vision of speaking to audiences. And the path to get there is clear and straightforward. But me -- I’ve been frozen.
Until last week, standing 900 feet above the Colorado River on a bridge I didn’t know existed.
We were on Spring Break—Las Vegas to Grand Canyon to Sedona. At the Hoover Dam, my kids wanted to walk across the pedestrian bridge that spans the canyon.
The Mike O’Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge.
I knew the name Pat Tillman. I even knew the story. And yet it struck me differently in this moment than it had 22 years ago.
Pat Tillman was living the dream. Standout athlete at Arizona State. Starting for the Arizona Cardinals. He was at the height of his career, with a multi-million dollar NFL contract ahead of him.
In 2002, following 9/11, he walked away from all of it to enlist in the Army.
There was no press conference or fanfare. He didn’t want to be a symbol. Or a hero. He just wanted to serve.
The decision was almost unthinkable. This wasn’t after his career ended, or even near the end. This was at its height. He traded a stadium full of cheering fans for a rifle and a rucksack. He had clarity. He knew who he was. He was aligned.
And he didn’t let fear stop him.
Pat Tillman was killed in Afghanistan in April 2004, defending his country. He was 27 years old.
Standing on that bridge, looking down at the Hoover Dam stretched out below, I could feel the weight of his choice. And suddenly, my choice seemed so easy.
Here’s what I’ve learned working with people who want more from their lives: fear is usually the only thing creating the resistance.
Not lack of talent. Not lack of opportunity. Fear.
Fear of failure. Or judgment. Fear of what it means about us if we try and don’t succeed.
Pat Tillman had every reason to stay comfortable. To stay in place. The money. The fame. The safety. The certainty. But he chose a different path, because that path meant something more to him. And not to anyone else.
If that doesn’t define courage, I don’t know what does.
The bridge bearing his name connects two states across one of the most impressive canyons in America. It seems fitting -- he crossed over from comfort into danger because his vision was stronger than his fear.
And the thought that crossed my mind as I walked the bridge was: this makes my fear of speaking in front of a big group seem really small and manageable. Silly, even.
I don’t know what you’re afraid of. But I’m willing to bet you have a vision you’ve been avoiding. A bridge you need to cross. Maybe it’s starting that business. Leaving that job. Ending that relationship. Having that conversation. Making that commitment.
You know what it is. If you’re like me, you’ve known for a while.
Pat Tillman didn’t have more courage than you. He just decided his vision mattered more than his fear.
So here’s what I’m doing: I’m writing the speech, and I’m booking the speaking gig. The one I’ve been putting off. The one that scares me.
Not because the fear went away.
Because I’m crossing anyway.
What bridge are you going to cross?
Hello,
I am Kurt Schliemann
I’m the Founder of Intention
After years of chasing money and what I thought to be “success”, I hit a wall – achievement without alignment. It took me a decade, but I eventually got aligned behind my Living Vision. Discovering the work of George Kinder and David Bayer changed everything.
Now, I help my clients experience that same transformation – leading with alignment and intention, to create the authentic and fulfilling life that inspires and energizes them.