Just Do It Scared

Summary

The Ryan Leak Podcast: Episode Summary – “Just Do It Scared”

Podcast Information

• Title: The Ryan Leak Podcast
• Host: Ryan Leak
• Episode: Just Do It Scared
• Release Date: July 8, 2025

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Introduction to Overcoming Fear

In the episode titled “Just Do It Scared,” Ryan Leak delves deep into the pervasive issue of fear of failure that often hinders individuals from pursuing their dreams and aspirations. From starting a business to writing a book, Ryan identifies the common fears that hold people back and offers a transformative perspective on tackling them head-on.

Understanding the Paralysis of Fear

Ryan begins by empathizing with listeners, acknowledging the myriad of dreams they harbor but are too afraid to act upon. He articulates the internal dialogue many grapple with:

“What if it flops? Maybe you’ve thought about writing a book, but what if nobody reads it?”
[00:01]

These questions resonate with anyone who has ever hesitated to take a bold step due to the fear of negative outcomes.

The Power of Envisioning Success

Shifting the narrative, Ryan challenges listeners to flip the script on their fears. Instead of fixating on potential failures, he encourages envisioning successful outcomes:

“What if it does?”
[02:02]

This simple yet profound question serves as a catalyst for breaking free from the shackles of fear, prompting individuals to consider the possibilities of success instead of dwelling on the 'what-ifs' of failure.

Embracing Imperfection and Taking Action

A cornerstone of Ryan’s message is the acceptance of imperfection. He shares his personal mantra:

“If you can’t beat the fear, just do it scared.”
[02:34]

This philosophy empowers listeners to take action without waiting to feel completely ready or perfect. Ryan emphasizes that starting despite fear is a testament to one’s courage and resilience.

Personal Anecdotes and Relatable Experiences

Ryan shares relatable experiences to illustrate his points, making the message more impactful. For instance, he describes his own anxiety before speaking engagements:

“I have the microphone in one hand, anxiety in the other.”
[03:34]

These candid admissions help bridge the gap between Ryan and his audience, fostering a sense of shared vulnerability and strength.

Overcoming Emotional Barriers

Delving deeper, Ryan discusses the various emotional hurdles people face daily. He highlights instances where individuals continue to push forward despite emotional turmoil:

“You’ve just done it grieving and still grocery shopping like a pro.”
[04:25]

By acknowledging the existence of such challenges, Ryan validates the listener’s experiences and reinforces the idea that perseverance is achievable even in the darkest times.

Practical Strategies for Taking Action

Ryan provides tangible strategies to help listeners move past their fears. Whether it’s joining a gym, writing a book, or starting a podcast, he offers actionable advice:

“Just go and do it. If you are thinking about writing the books...”
[05:14]

He suggests breaking down daunting tasks into manageable steps, such as outlining a book with the help of tools like ChatGPT, making the initiation process less overwhelming.

The Essence of Courage

A pivotal moment in the episode is Ryan’s exploration of what true courage entails. He succinctly defines it as:

“Courage is not the absence of fear. It’s ordering the coffee, getting in the car, showing up to the meeting...”
[08:54]

This redefinition shifts the perception of courage from being fearless to acting despite fear, making it a more attainable and relatable concept.

Humorous Relatability and Lighthearted Moments

Throughout the episode, Ryan intersperses humor to keep the atmosphere light and engaging. His playful remarks about not being sponsored by Nike add a touch of levity:

“By the way, this episode is not sponsored by Nike. However, if you work for Nike...”
[09:02]

Such moments enhance the connection with listeners, making the heavy topic of fear more approachable.

Final Encouragement and Call to Action

Concluding the episode, Ryan reiterates his core message with heartfelt encouragement:

“Whatever your thing is today that you have been reluctant to move forward with, I’m going to encourage you to just do it. Scared.”
[09:20]

He urges listeners to act on their dreams despite their fears, reinforcing the transformative power of taking that first step.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• “What if it flops? Maybe you’ve thought about writing a book, but what if nobody reads it?”
  [00:01]

• “What if it does?”
  [02:02]

• “If you can’t beat the fear, just do it scared.”
  [02:34]

• “I have the microphone in one hand, anxiety in the other.”
  [03:34]

• “You’ve just done it grieving and still grocery shopping like a pro.”
  [04:25]

• “Just go and do it. If you are thinking about writing the books...”
  [05:14]

• “Courage is not the absence of fear. It’s ordering the coffee, getting in the car, showing up to the meeting...”
  [08:54]

• “Whatever your thing is today that you have been reluctant to move forward with, I’m going to encourage you to just do it. Scared.”
  [09:20]

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Conclusion

In “Just Do It Scared,” Ryan Leak masterfully blends personal anecdotes, practical advice, and motivational insights to inspire listeners to overcome their fears and pursue their dreams. By redefining courage and emphasizing the importance of taking action despite fear, Ryan provides a roadmap for personal and professional growth. This episode serves as a powerful reminder that the first step towards any achievement is simply to start, even when scared.

Listeners are encouraged to internalize Ryan’s message, share the episode with others, and take proactive steps towards their goals. Whether it’s writing a book, starting a new hobby, or taking a leap in their career, Ryan’s empowering words aim to ignite the spark needed to transform aspirations into reality.

Transcript

[A]

What's going on?

[B]

My friends, welcome to the Ryan League Podcast, where we keep things short and sweet for you each and every week. Now, I know that you've got some things in your life that you would love to do, things you dream about when no one is watching. But maybe, just maybe, you've got a fear of failure standing in the way. Perhaps you want to start a business, and then the thought comes in, but what if it flops? Maybe you've thought about writing a book, but what if nobody reads it? Maybe you've got something good to say, but maybe you're not good at marketing, and what if it just doesn't go well? Maybe you've thought about starting your own podcast, but what if your voice cracks.

[A]

And only your mom listens?

[B]

These are real things that you've got to navigate for sure. And you don't want your voice to crack and your mom to be your only listener. Perhaps you've considered applying for a specific promotion, but what if they laugh at your resume? What if they think you're just so inexperienced that you're not even worth interviewing? You've perhaps wanted to go back to school, but what if you were the oldest person in the class? Perhaps you've been thinking about going to therapy, joining a gym, learning a new language, asking her out, trying again, showing up differently, but fear just keeps whispering. What if it doesn't work out? Well, that's what fear would say. But I've got a new question for you today. What if it does? I get that you have already envisioned what it looks like for it to flop, for it not to go well. But what if today you just, for our very short window of time that.

[A]

We get to spend together, just began.

[B]

To envision it going extremely well?

[A]

In fact, I think that's why you're.

[B]

Listening to today's episode in the first place. I don't think you just stumbled onto this episode. I think you were supposed to hear a very specific message today. And you've got places to be, you.

[A]

Got people to meet, you got things to do. It's just that sometimes you get scared.

[B]

And I get it.

[A]

And I'll just tell you one of my favorite quotes. Maybe you've heard me use this before.

[B]

On social media, but you're going to hear it today.

[A]

One of my favorite quotes is, if you can't beat the fear, just do it. Scared. Now, let me just tell you something.

[B]

That line changed something for me.

[A]

Because what it did is it gave.

[B]

Me permission to not be ready. Yeah, it gave me permission to not be perfect to not have the perfect mindset, the perfect playlist, the perfect outfit, or the perfect mental health day. Like, people ask me all the time, do you still get nervous before you speak?

[A]

I say every single time. Yeah, every single time. In fact, most event planners can't find.

[B]

Me before an event because they're like.

[A]

Hey, have you seen Ryan? I know we mic'd them up. I'm in the bathroom, stomach and knots. But it's like, what are my choices? Run, Fake a heart attack, crawl out the back of the hotel ballroom and disappear into the service hallway like, they just announced my name. So I guess my only option is.

[B]

To just do it.

[A]

Nervous. Microphone in one hand, anxiety in the other. And you know what? What I love about if you can't beat the fear, just do it scared is you've been doing a lot of.

[B]

Things without ideal emotions.

[A]

Do you know the amount of things you have just done it tired with? Do you know the amount of things where you've just done it heartbroken? Do you know the amount of things you have pulled off in your life in and you just did it Disappointed? Do you know what you have overcome? And you just did it with mascara, tears still drying on your cheek. You've just done it after that meeting that made you question your whole career. You've just done it after holding your child while they cried and you had no answers.

[B]

You've just done it grieving and still.

[A]

Grocery shopping like a pro. You've just done it while smiling through someone else's good news when your heart was breaking on the inside. You've just done it in sweats you've worn for three days because laundry wasn't on your emotional bingo card this week. You've just done it with a caffeine headache and half a prayer. You've done more scared, broken, exhausted and emotionally hungover than you give yourself credit for. And my friend, you, you just kept going. And so, in light of the fact that you kept going before, what makes you think that you can't pull off another miracle today? Like, if you want to start working out, I know you're thinking the gym.

[B]

Is intimidating, but here's what I just want to leave you with today.

[A]

Did you know that you can work out embarrassed and still get the same results as the people who work out with confidence? Isn't that amazing? Did you know that you can work out embarrassed and still get the same results as the people who work out with confidence? Just join the class and let your knees pop like microwave popcorn. Just go and do it. If you are thinking about writing the books and then you pick up somebody else's book and talk yourself out of it because you don't think you have a tenth of the credibility that they have. Can I give you a pro tip? Don't get overwhelmed trying to write a whole book. Just. Just do an outline. In fact, you probably can get a whole outline done with ChatGPT in like 15 minutes. I mean, I did this for a friend the other day. A good, good friend of mine, he just retired from the NFL, said, hey man, I wanna write a book. What's the first thing I should do? I said, you should go to ChatGPT and get an outline. He said, how do I do that? I gave him a couple prompts and boom. My man had an outline over a text conversation. I don't think ChatGPT should write your book, but I think it should help steer you in the right direction. Why not? I mean, you could wait until you're like an expert in somebody else's eyes or wait till you have more experience, I guess. But there's no rule that says you.

[B]

Can'T write it unexperienced.

[A]

In fact, I would argue you very well could be an inexperienced writer today. But if you start writing today, tomorrow you'll have more experience. So let your first draft be the emotional mess it's supposed to be. My first two books are sitting in.

[B]

Barnes and Noble right now with typos.

[A]

And it drives me crazy and I am just waiting for somebody to find one in my third book. I am a New York Times best selling author, not a New York Times.

[B]

Best perfectly punctuated author.

[A]

Okay, so I'm just gonna encourage you from one New York Times bestselling author to a future one.

[B]

Just write it scared. Maybe for you it's in your personal life and you want to make new friends, but it just feels awkward. I would simply encourage you today. Make friends awkward.

[A]

It's fine. We're all weird and pretending we're not.

[B]

Perhaps you're trying to forgive someone who hurt you and you're angry and you don't think that you can forgive them until you're done being angry. Well, I would just encourage you to start forgiving angry. Healing does not require you to be chill on day one. Just so you're aware of how healing works. If you've been thinking about starting therapy but nervous about what will come up, just go scared and walk in and say, hi, I have trust issues. And let them say, welcome to my office, where that's just about Everybody, can you fill out this paperwork? And do you have insurance? I mean, just go start the podcast. Even if your voice shakes, record the first episode. Make the pitch. Even if your hands sweat through your blazer, apply for the job. Even if you think you're under qualified, apply scared. Go back to school.

[A]

Even if your last paper was written on a typewriter, ask her out on a date. Even if you think she's out of your league.

[B]

Spoiler alert.

[A]

She might be out of your league and she might say yes anyways. You see, emotions are like a gps.

[B]

Sometimes they catch up after you start moving. Courage is not the absence of fear.

[A]

It's ordering the coffee, getting in the.

[B]

Car, showing up to the meeting, raising your hand while your heart's doing the salsa. You're not weak for being afraid. You're powerful for showing up. Anyway. So whatever it is you're facing today, just do it Scared. By the way, this episode is not sponsored by Nike. However, if you work for Nike or.

[A]

You know somebody that does, you are.

[B]

On my bucket list of places to speak. I have spent an incredible amount of money with your organization. It would be great to get some kickback after all these years. So while this episode is not sponsored by Nike, I am a firm believer in just doing it now. Nike. If you want to sponsor this podcast, call me. I'll do it Scared. I'll also do it with shoes. Now, my friends, that's it for today's episode. Now, I want you to go do something and I know you may not be in the mood to do it. I get it. I know you might not have ideal emotions today, but I'm just going to encourage you. Whatever your thing is today that you have been reluctant to move forward with, I'm going to encourage you to just do it. Scared. My friends, thank you so much for listening to the Ryan League Podcast. If today's episode inspired you, do not keep it to yourself. I want you to click click that share button and share with a friend and say, hey my friend, I know you've got some dreams and I believe in you and I want you to listen to this episode because I believe this is going to help you move the ball forward. Also, it would mean the world to me if you take a moment to rate, review and subscribe. I also send out an encouraging text each and every week. If you want to subscribe to that text, you can text the Word podcast to the number 469-809-1201. And again, that's podcast 469-809-1201 and you'll start getting some encouraging text messages from me. My friends, have a phenomenal week. We'll see you next week.