Many of you have asked me why I write these.

I think most of you would be shocked as to why I write them.

It’s changed over time because the result of writing them has changed over time.

At first I wrote them because I felt compelled to lead our community and wasn’t sure how……or that’s what I told myself.

That wasn’t the real reason (7 layers deep real) I started writing them.

I wrote them for me, not you.

I’ve read endlessly about successful people and how they journal.

I had no interest in writing in a book by my bed about how my day was.  (maybe I will one day)

I wanted to write myself letters I could read later.  Things I could remind myself about as I get older.  Things that would keep me in check.

I wanted to tell everyone things I had learned and I wanted to have something that the world could keep me accountable with.

These have become just as much for you as they have been for me.

It’s the same reason I did the YouTube channel Jerk Block Talk.  I wanted to be accountable to my self and everyone else.

Why?  That sounds scary?  Well not compared to what I’m really afraid of.

A mentor once asked me that question……. “What are you afraid of?”

Most of us have an answer that comes quickly to mind.  That usually isn’t the real answer.

There’s a method that I’ve talked about before called the 7 Why’s.  It was developed by a psychologist after he determined that it took on average asking someone why or what 7 times before they got to the actual answer.

Here’s mine:

I have a profound fear of being mediocre.

Aside from the health and well-being of my family, being just “average” as a friend, husband, father, coach or entrepreneur scares me more than anything.

I’m still trying to understand why that scares me so much.

And I’m still working on not being mediocre in many aspects of my life.

Sometimes knowing what we truly are afraid,  not what we want to be or do, is what can prompt action.

I’ve found something that helps me push past that state of mediocrity towards good and eventually great.

For me it’s giving other people the authority and the tools to call me on my sh*t.

I couldn’t stand myself If I wrote these to all of you and wasn’t working on myself.

That thought keeps me humbled and grounded.

Because of all the things I’m scared of I’m more scared of being called “average” or “full of sh*t”.

I write these now because I’ve come to realize they help others, but I first I wrote them for me, to help me.

Help yourself first:

 Ask yourself what you are truly afraid of.

     Figure out how to make yourself accountable to others.

You will be amazed at how those will help you to help others.

Fern