I’ve been talking about fear for more than twenty-five years—on stages, in boardrooms, and across kitchen tables with people who were searching for a way forward. The phrase “turn your fear into fuel” has been in my vocabulary for decades. But for one reason or another, I hadn’t written a book about it. Not yet.

When we released Real Leadership in 2016, the story the world wanted most was about the Primerica IPO—a story of leadership under pressure, big decisions, and bigger stakes. And that made sense. But long before that story ever unfolded, I knew there was another one I needed to tell. A more personal one.

This book, Turn Your Fear into Fuel, is that story. It’s about fear—real fear—and what we do with it to navigate it.

Why This Book, And Why Now

In early 2020, as the world began to unravel under the weight of a global pandemic, I, like many of you, felt fear pressing in on all sides. It wasn’t theoretical. It was personal. I thought about my grandmother—my Nanny—and her lifelong struggle with germophobia. I wondered how she would have coped during those uncertain months. Truth is, I wasn’t sure how I was going to.

Fear wasn’t new to me. I’d faced it before—as a young boy, as a business leader, and as a man trying to navigate the ups and downs of life. But something about that moment in time made me realize: people are drowning in fear, and too many of them don’t know how to swim. That’s when I knew it was time to write this book.

But I didn’t want to write from some mountaintop of mastery. I wanted to write from the valley floor, where fear feels like quicksand…because I’ve been there, too.

From Stuck to Strong

Over the years, I’ve met so many capable, intelligent people—people with big dreams and good hearts—who were stuck. Not because they lacked skills or opportunity, but because they were paralyzed by fear.

It was like watching folks stand on one side of a river, staring across at the life they wanted, too afraid to take the first step. They were waiting for a raft that was never coming, not realizing they had everything they needed to build one themselves.

I wrote Turn Your Fear into Fuel because I want to help people build that raft. I want them to know they don’t have to wait for someone else to rescue them. The strength, the courage, the resilience—they already have it inside. Sometimes, you just need a little help unlocking it.

The Truth About Fear

Fear isn’t always irrational. Sometimes, it makes perfect sense. The fear of failure. The fear of success. The fear that we’re not enough or that we’ll lose everything we’ve worked so hard for. These aren’t silly thoughts—they’re deeply human ones.

And yet, I’ve learned that we don’t have to let those thoughts define us. We don’t have to hand the wheel to fear and let it drive. We can choose differently. We can take fear, acknowledge it, and then turn it into forward motion. That’s what this book is about.

A Compass Forged in Real Life

I’m not a psychologist or a philosopher. I’m a guy who’s been afraid, who’s woken up in the middle of the night drenched in panic, who’s questioned his ability to do the job. But I’ve also shown up, pushed forward, and done the work—again and again.

Turn Your Fear into Fuel is not a lecture but a compass. One that comes from lived experience. One that walks alongside you, pointing the way, instead of talking down to you.

And I believe that if it can help me, it can help you, too.

Be the Change

You don’t need to be fearless to lead. You just need to be willing to act in spite of it.

If you want to help others be braver, you start by being brave yourself. That’s what I’ve tried to do with this book—to be honest, to be vulnerable, and to be helpful. Because someone out there needs to know they’re not alone. That fear doesn’t mean you’re weak. It means you’re human.

But you don’t have to let it stop you.

The Only Way We Lose Is If We Quit

One of my heroes, Vince Lombardi, said it best:
“Winners never quit, and quitters never win.”

So if you’ve felt fear lately—fear of failure, of success, of being seen, or of not measuring up—I want you to know this: it doesn’t make you broken. It makes you alive. And you already have what it takes to move forward.

This book isn’t just a reflection of my journey. It’s a companion for yours. My hope is that it will meet you right where you are and walk with you toward where you want to go.

If you want to know more about Turn Your Fear into Fuel, you can find the link with all the information here. Or get your copy today from Amazon.

I’ll see you at the top.

Share Your Story

You now have the opportunity to share your story with others who are going through the valley, too. It’s time to come together. 

Share your story here.