This week’s Workshop conversation began with a photograph. My son was helping with my family’s branding. It wasn’t his first calf, but it was still early in his journey.
The calf before this one hadn’t gone particularly well. He lost his grip, got rattled, and wasn’t sure he wanted to jump back in. Eventually he decided to try again. That decision became the foundation of the discussion.
Not because fear is uncommon. But because fear is one of the few things every human being encounters, regardless of age, background, or experience.
The question isn’t whether fear shows up. The question is what we do when it does.
This Week’s Panel:
– Matt Chenard: A gym owner and business and leadership consultant based in Alberta. He helps Christian entrepreneurs grow their businesses without losing sight of faith, family, and fitness.
– Seb Lavoie: A retired RCMP Sergeant Major with 16 years in tactical operations. He is a guest speaker, leadership trainer, and overseas security consultant through Raven Strategic.
Key Insights from Our “Fear Is The Doorway” Discussion:
1. Fear Is Information
One of the first ideas Matt brought forward was that fear is something to interrogate, not automatically obey. Too often we treat fear as a verdict. We feel it and immediately assume it means stop.
Fear can be a useful signal, but signals are meant to be interpreted. Shaun built on that idea by describing fear as a flag rather than a command. Something designed to get our attention, not dictate our response.
If fear becomes the decision-maker, growth becomes impossible, but if fear becomes information, we gain the ability to decide for ourselves.
2. Courage Is Action
The conversation naturally moved toward courage when Matt made a point that resonated with everyone on the panel: courage is not an emotion.
Most people believe courage arrives before action, but in reality, courage is action despite fear. If fear disappeared first, courage would never be required.
This seems simple, but it changes how we approach challenges. Instead of asking, “How do I become fearless?” Ask yourself “Can I be afraid and do it anyway?”
3. The Guide Matters
As the discussion unfolded, attention shifted away from the calf itself and toward the people surrounding the experience. Seb spoke about how the way a moment is managed often determines the lesson that comes from it.
Two people can encounter the same challenge and walk away with entirely different interpretations. The difference is often found in the guidance. The mentor. The coach. The parent. The friend. Someone who can help frame the experience.
Not by removing the difficulty. Not by doing the work. But by helping someone make sense of what happened.
How many defining moments in life involve someone quietly standing nearby?
Giving a reassuring nod, a calm voice, or a steady presence. Sometimes growth requires challenge. Sometimes it requires support. Most often it requires both.
4. The Lesson Lasts Longer Than The Moment
One of the most powerful observations came from Shaun’s description of a rite of passage. He argued that a rite of passage isn’t defined by the event itself. It’s defined by the identity transition that follows.
Who were you before? Who are you after? That’s the real question.
The branding lasted minutes, but the lesson may last decades. Long after the dust settles, experiences like these become reference points.
Proof that we can handle more than we once believed. The calf wasn’t the lesson. The identity shift was.
Final Thought
Fear isn’t always the obstacle. Sometimes it’s the invitation. Once we open the door and step through, the rite of passage becomes a filter that stays with you. It does not end when the task ends. It becomes part of how you approach the next challenge, and the one after that.
Watch the full discussion here: Fear Is The Doorway
Keep walking through the doorway
Chance and the Collective Crew
