Don't Let Fear Drive

In college, I got an unforgettable call: a friend helping coordinate President George W. Bush’s visit to Atlanta needed drivers for the motorcade. I said yes before he could finish the sentence.

No, I wasn’t driving the limousine. But I was assigned to one of the 15-passenger vans that trailed just behind it. This included part of the caravan carrying White House staff, media, and security.

The night before the event, all the volunteer drivers gathered for a mandatory security briefing. Background checks. Logistics. Protocols. And then came the serious part: what to do if things go wrong.

I sat next to a woman who was so excited, until this portion. Her hands started trembling.

They made it clear: Never stop. Don’t break formation. Don’t let anyone between you and the car in front of you. No exceptions.
They painted the picture: blocked routes, potential attacks, emergency response scenarios. It sounded more like an action movie than a volunteer assignment.

After one particularly intense scenario, she leaned toward me and whispered, “I don’t know if I can do this.”

The next morning, nine volunteers showed up. She wasn’t one of them.

I still think about that morning. This lady let fear steal an opportunity she was looking forward to.

As Donald Miller wrote:

‍“Fear is a manipulative emotion that can trick us into living a boring life.”

Think about it.
How many times has fear whispered: don’t?

• Don’t audition.
• Don’t apply.
• Don’t speak up.
• Don’t ask them out.

And so we shrink. We play it safe. We avoid the very risks that lead to purpose.

But fear’s not just a feeling, it’s a thief.

So today:
Make the call.
Send the application.
Ask for the sale.
Take the risk.

Don’t let fear drive. You were made for more.