I don't need to reinvent the wheel! Turns out I'm actually not that special and the chances of other people struggling with my same issue or problem are actually pretty high. Knowing other folks have been able to get through similar hurdles keeps me motivated!

I learned to move forward, despite having fear, by reminding myself that I'm not the same person I was yesterday, last week, or even years ago. Everyday that I get to pursue what makes me happy helps me be a stronger person for myself and those around me.

Fear never meant stop for me; it meant pause, prepare, and proceed with purpose. I learned to move forward with fear by understanding that confidence is built through action, not the absence of doubt. Each step I took, especially the uncomfortable ones, expanded my capacity and clarified my calling.

I've learned to stop seeing fear as a stop sign and start treating it like a compass. If a new challenge doesn't feel a little bit scary, it probably isn't big enough to create the growth I'm looking for.

How I was able to overcome some of my Fear and Anxiety into my new role and my current position as an Account Executive (sales) from never working in sales, was by thinking well if it doesn't work out, I have some other experience to say, I tried it and it wasn't a fit. Don't get me wrong I was really fearful of looking unsure and puzzled with Attorney Agents, brokers and or new customers in general, but I figured I know more than enough from my prior place of employment that I can always work through the conversation and let them know I am not sure, but I can get back to you with that and move to next. I just kept thinking After 23 years at a company where I felt I poured my heart and soul out to with my former colleagues and customers, things had changed so drastically, what do I have to lose at this point in trying something different totally out of my comfort zone, but I already had a good reputation for any task given from my prior experiences, so this is a huge step up. So that gave me a jump start. And the fact that my new manager whom is also a great influence on what I do Kim O'Donnell was my biggest cheerleader, she stated to me Mari, you are wonderful with people, you are a go-getter, you love to accommodate everyone and you have so much experience in the field and what you don't know I will teach you. Kim always says to me and others when we sit down and pow wow, "Mari, I have known you for 20 plus years and if I ever needed anything I knew I can call you and you'd get it done., I know that you were meant for this position! She said, "Give it 9 months and if Sales isn't for you, we can figure it out, but what do you have to lose!" That to me was all she needed to say, because I asked a lot of questions within my sales team, got to know my team in operations and how the work flow went what departments did what and it started happening where I was getting call backs and people reaching out with questions and I was able to connect with my team and the correct departments to get the answers and now I am busier than ever. Don't get me wrong, I am always learning and not everyone I reach out to will be as receptive as most, but they can never say that I am rude, not very helpful or obnoxious lol! I always make sure that whether you work with me or not if you have a question I will do my best to get you an answer. That is how I did it!!! Thank you so much for this great opportunity to tell my story, I am always grateful to know that there is platform like Influential Women to uplift and cheer on underdogs such as myself. God Bless

You have to examine what's at stake and let faith guide your path. Fear can never have a resting place within a women with determination and strength.

I stopped waiting to feel fearless and started moving with the fear instead. Every step I took while shaking became proof that growth doesn't require perfection, just courage in motion.

Although I facing what some would see as the impossible, I BELIEVED in my students and staff. I BELIEVED we could do the impossible and we did. There is so much power in belief. Sometimes when others see how much we believe in them, it helps them believe too. When you see those things as they should be, they become exactly what they need to be. It all starts with BELIEF!

I try to remember that fear is just excitement without the breath. Moving forward means leaning into that energy instead of fighting it.

Progress isn't about giant leaps; it thrives in quiet determination in baby steps. Every action moves you forward, shaping your path. Growth demands that you keep learning, adapting, and pivoting.

Even as a lifelong entrepreneur, award-winning author, and travel app creator, the devil inside my head keeps trying to convince me I'm an imposter. It whispers doubt, second-guesses my experience, and urges me to wait until I'm "more ready." But I've learned that clarity comes from movement, not permission, so I keep building in public, figuring things out in real time, and moving forward grounded in what I've already built and what I'm called to build next.

Fear has been a constant companion in my growth, but I've learned not to face it alone. Finding the right mentors gave me a safe space to share doubts, learn from their experiences, and realize that what I was feeling was normal—many had walked the same path before me.