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The airport runway was scarier than the mountain—and your business launch is no different.
Landing at Lukla Airport was terrifying. Known as one of the most dangerous airports, it shook me. I trained hard, but standing there, I asked myself, Am I ready for this? We had 14 days ahead of us, half of it in the snow.
Fear hit me the moment I landed at Lukla. Scared as hell, unsure if I could handle the altitude, I took oxygen pills and re-geared for the climb.
At 40, I wanted to prove I was still strong—strong enough for my kids, for myself. I laughed at the thought. Was I trying to prove I wasn’t getting old? Silly, but there I was, wanting to show that I was still the strongest man alive.
Above: A video of me at Lukla Airport, taking oxygen pills, talking about the raw fear and uncertainty of starting the climb.
Re-Gearing and Oxygen Pills: Battling Fear
As soon as I landed, reality hit hard. The altitude, the challenge, everything felt bigger than I’d imagined. I took my oxygen pills, trying to get ahead of the altitude sickness, but mentally, I wasn’t sure I’d trained enough. Why was I doing this?
I asked myself over and over, What if I can’t handle it? Every breath felt uncertain. This climb wasn’t just about Everest; it was about proving to myself that I still had it. The thought of failing scared me more than the climb itself.
The First Steps: A Battle of Will
Taking those first steps was brutal. The self-doubt was louder than my thoughts. What if I don’t make it? I kept replaying all the scenarios in my head—failure, exhaustion, quitting. But quitting wasn’t an option. I had to push through.
I reminded myself why I was here: For my kids, for myself. One step at a time, I focused on moving forward, letting go of the pressure to be perfect, and just taking it as it came. Let Go Boss. It became my anchor.
Start Scared, Finish Strong
Fear at the starting line isn't a warning sign—it's confirmation you're about to grow. Whether you're standing at Lukla Airport preparing to climb Everest or sitting at your desk about to launch a new business venture, that feeling of terror is simply the price of admission to any journey worth taking.
Don't wait until the fear subsides to begin—it won't. Instead, acknowledge the fear, understand what it's telling you about your identity and values, and then use it as fuel to take that first, hardest step. The path forward becomes clearer with each step you take.</p>
What first step are you avoiding out of fear?
Ready to transform your fear into fuel? Join our Thursday coaching call at 1pm CST where we'll help you identify the exact first step you've been avoiding and create a concrete plan to move past that initial fear threshold. The Let Go Boss community is filled with entrepreneurs who understand that being scared doesn't mean you're unprepared—it means you're about to grow. Let's take that first step together.
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Basim Mousilli
