The dream has to be bigger than the fear. This is what the American entrepreneur and talk show host Steve Harvey says has helped him conquer his fears and doubts whenever he must tackle a new project.
Harvey has stakes in several enterprises, from founding the game and iPhone app, Harvey Hundreds, to his clothing label, the Steve Harvey Collection, that sells men’s formal wear like suits, ties and dress shirts.
He is also the best-selling author of several books which include Act like a lady, Think like a man and Act Like a Success, Think Like a Success: Discovering Your Gift and the Way to Life’s Riches.
The shows that Harvey hosts include The Steve Harvey Morning Show, the Steve talk show, Family Feud, Celebrity Family Feud, Little Big Shots: Forever Young, and since 2015, the Miss Universe Pageant.
During Oprah Winfrey’s Master Class, Harvey confessed that he experiences fear all the time.
“Would it be better for you to just face the fear or just deal with the fact that you never gave it a shot?”
Oprah’s Master Class is a primetime television programme on the OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network. The show has seen the likes of Jay-Z, the rapper, songwriter and co-owner of Brooklyn Nets, Condoleezza Rice, former United States Secretary of State, Barbara Walters, journalist, producer and talk show host, and Jane Fonda, actress, former fashion model, fitness guru and political activist.
Feel the fear and do it anyway
Harvey, who started off his career as a stand-up comedian says that whenever he has to do something new within his career, fear or doubts come up. “I mean, the fears and doubts are part of it. Can I be honest with you? Everything I’ve ever done, started with a fear… I have to overcome fear all the time.
“The best way for me to overcome fear is the dream has to be bigger than the fear,” he says. “That’s the only time you turn around and run at it. I just want something so great, I aim for stuff so big that the dream is bigger than the fear.”
He adds: “Look at it like this man. If you don’t ever go for this, would it be better for you to just face the fear or just deal with the fact that you never gave it a shot?”
Your environment will determine your path to success
Harvey also highlighted the importance of surrounding yourself with other dreamers. “If you don’t surround yourself with other dreamers, here’s what I know: if nine of your friends are broke, you’re going to be the tenth one. That’s it.
“You’ve got to surround yourself with like-minded people. Stop telling your big dreams to small minded people.”
His advice is that you should instead talk to people who are in the industry and talk to people who are in the business.
