The Selfless Way: Start scared. Lead anyway.

One person’s belief. One idea. One person’s conviction that their vision matters. That’s all it takes to overcome fear and make an impact in the world.

The other day, a friend texted me about starting a business to help women feel seen, heard, and empowered. She had the idea, the name, the mission, and a lifetime of experience behind her. But then came the real question:

“I’m scared. Were you ever scared? How do you get over the fear when starting something?”

I paused before replying because I knew this wasn’t just about fear. It was about whether being one person was enough.

Listen to this column:

That’s the burden of faith in leadership: believing you are enough to take the first step, even when your impact feels small. We tell ourselves we’re not big enough, not loud enough, not ready enough. But here’s the truth:

You don’t need permission to begin.
You don’t need perfection to make progress.
And you don’t need an audience to make an impact.

Most people underestimate what one person can do when they move with focus and conviction.

When I started Madison365, I was terrified. I had a newborn at home and was about to walk away from a stable job and steady paycheck. I didn’t have a journalism degree. I didn’t even have media experience. What I did have was a deep conviction that every community deserved to be seen and every voice deserved to be heard.

The choice wasn’t safe. It wasn’t perfect. But it was necessary. We launched as a nonprofit because we wanted the community to own it. We were mocked for that decision. Competitors said it would never last.

Yet ten years later, Madison365 is still here. Not because the fear disappeared, but because we moved forward through the fear. One idea. One person. And two others who believed enough to join in.

That’s the part we don’t talk about enough: change rarely starts with a crowd. It starts with one person making one bold choice.

History is filled with people who started small and made a big difference. The teacher who decides every child matters, even when the system says otherwise. The single mom who works three jobs to create opportunities for her kids. The entrepreneur who sees a gap in the market and chooses to fill it instead of waiting for someone else.

Mother Teresa wasn’t famous when she began. She was just a schoolteacher in Calcutta who walked past people suffering on the streets until she couldn’t ignore it anymore. From her quiet acts of love, an entire movement of service was born.

Steve Jobs wasn’t a household name when he started either. He simply believed technology could feel human — intuitive, elegant, accessible. He followed that one idea until the world caught up.

Different stories. Same truth. Real change starts with a single conviction acted on with courage.

Fear will always be there. The greater danger isn’t failing — it’s never becoming who you were meant to be.

When we ignore that inner pull to act, we’re not just delaying a dream. We’re denying the impact it could have on others. The second you move, you give others permission to move too. Courage is contagious.

So if you’re scared? Good. That means you’re awake. If you’re nervous? That means you care. But if you’re waiting for the perfect moment? You’ll be waiting forever.

Perfection isn’t the starting line. Movement is.

Here’s where to begin:

• Identify one challenge or opportunity you’re ready to tackle.
• Take one small step today — no matter how tiny. Progress comes from doing, not just planning.
• Reach out to someone who believes in you and can push you forward.
• Set a clear deadline for your first move.
• Celebrate progress, not perfection.

Momentum builds from small wins. Each step lays the foundation for the next.

So start the thing. Build the business. Speak the truth. Make the call. Write the policy. Stand your ground.

That’s how every meaningful change begins — not with certainty, but with conviction.

The world doesn’t just need more leaders. It needs more people who believe that one is enough. One person can shift culture. One voice can spark change. One choice can turn fear into impact.