**just to clarify – this post is just my personal feelings – there are plenty of peeps out there sharing their struggles and fears and “breaking the rules” – this is just how i’ve felt, in general, over the past year. hearing jasmine star talk at alt last month about letting it all out, being 100% yourself & her being ok that people either love or hate her inspired this particular post **
you know those words i’m talking about – especially all us potty mouths out there! those 4 letter words that pack a punch. well, i think we need to start including FEAR in that list because, to me, that packs the biggest punch of all. as in, it’s given me a bad case of writer’s block, has made me doubt anything & everything and basically kind of forget who i am. (ok, i still know that i’m piper and i still act goofy, have strong opinions, love building businesses and helping people…i just kind of lost that…it’s been like “piper-lite”!)
notice that it’s been a bit quiet on the blog the past few months? yep…FEAR. because as soon as i started my retail store, what i said and did online felt like it mattered…ALOT. every image i created, every written word, every tweet became a what if…what if i said the wrong thing? what if i unwittingly insulted someone? what if it didn’t end in a sale? so i felt neutered, for lack of a better word. even worse…fearful of what i had to say. fearful of breaking “the rules” – rules that i don’t even know who set up! (do you? are they even written down somewhere?!)
then i did some major soul searching the past few months and started thinking to myself “what am i so afraid of?”
combine that with my talk at alt summit where it reminded me of how much experience i have starting businesses and how much i LOVE coaching & helping people and it all added up to one thing…
piper’s got her mojo back! (at least, right now, at this very moment 
so i’ve decided to say “the hell with it” and break the rules and kick FEAR to the curb!
who said that we can’t talk about our struggles as we’re growing our biz? who said that we have to wait until we have the answers figured out before talking?
and the big one…who decided that we have to always put our best foot forward online?
i don’t know about you but if i hear one more time that someone made 6 figures in 6 months, i’m going to throw my computer through a wall! i think it’s time to get real – because just like i know that people compare themselves to me, i do the same thing to others. and it’s all because we’re putting our best foot forward – no one knows what life is like behind the scenes. but i think there’s value to knowing about that part!!
can you imagine how refreshing it would be if people you admired & thought were the biggest successes let you in on the fact that they struggle too or maybe that they have to work 80 hours a week in order to be successful. doesn’t that change how you feel about yourself and your own biz or success? we have to be able to compare apples to apples if we’re going to compare.
so screw FEAR…i’m breaking the rules this year. and i’m hoping you’ll come with me.
i’m beyond proud of what i’ve built so far but it hasn’t been all roses. lots more to share on all that. plus LOTS of really exciting changes are coming to one sydney road – i’m kind of busting at the seams about it all – but the cool thing is that it’s all for you guys so i’m going to need your help & input over the next few weeks!!
for now, i would love to know what you think about fear – what holds you back from being yourself?
So glad you’ve got your mojo back and are kicking fear to the curb, Piper! Fear definitely holds us back, but we can’t accomplish great things unless we take great risks — and you’re one of the people I know can be great. Can’t wait to see what’s in store for you!
oh, dear .. I hear you! Just at a parting and finding myself moment as well.. and fear and uncertainty is my biggest companion at the moment! Still trying to figure out what really makes me happy and what I want… xo
so glad you find your path and are happy, sweets! x
I LOVE that you’re so brave to talk about this openly! So many people (myself included) have let fear run our lives for far too long – you’ve given us all permission in this post to stop it!
I can’t wait to see all the things you have in store come to fruition, and to see you kick fear out for good! 
thank you so much for posting this – i think a lot of us have fears especially when starting and growing a business. it’s nice to know that we’re not alone in those struggles.
so glad piper’s got her mojo back!!! kick fear to the curb!! so proud of you girl!!
Piper this post is so inspiring!! Fear can be so cripling, but look at all you have accomplished if you can do that you can conquer all!! I cannot wait to see what you do going forward.
P.S. know I have fallen behind on blogs, but major belated CONGRATS on presenting at Alt. That is true rock star all day long!!!!!!!!!! XOXOXOX
I’ll say it again and again…you’re amazing!!
Wow! Thanks for sharing this, it’s been a big help to me. At least to realize that I’m certainly not the only one out there struggling with fear. I’m with you, kick fear to the curb!!
Simply, thank you! Thanks to you for writing this, when I really needed to hear it, and thanks to Michael (@ Inspired By Charm) for sharing it on Facebook & introducing me to your blog!
Fear = False Evidence Appearing Real
Fears are illusions. True courage is moving forward in spite of your fears. Congratulations!
Wow, Piper. I am totally with you. Yesterday, I went for the first run in months, and as I was making my way back home, I realized for the first time a change that had taken place in the intervening time. I wasn’t fearful any longer. That’s why I’ve been able to publish the recent posts I’ve been writing. Because I was always afraid that I’d piss off someone (and likely a friend) or come across as arrogant.
It feels good to see this reflected in you. Like the tide is turning.
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Just popped onto your blog-site via another and the timing is perfect for me to be reading your words. I am about to launch a new “business” blog and the FEAR word, for exactly the reasons you say, is crushing my mojo. Thanks for the boot Piper.
What holds me back is that “Somebody else could do this better.” and “I don’t know enough – I’m going to look stupid.”
I love this post Piper. It is so real and something that all of us can identify with. I can’t wait to see what this year brings for you.
P.S. Jasmine’s talk at ALT was so good!
P.P.S. Best one-liner: “I don’t know about you but if I hear one more time that someone made 6 figures in 6 months, i’m going to throw my computer through a wall!” Yep!
-Brittni
Great post Piper! I too struggle with fear and its nice to know I’m not alone!
thanks jenny – i think it’s something we all struggle with but i know we can all get past it!!