September 5, 2025 • 24 mins
The final obstacle holding many back from success is waiting for the "right time" to pursue their dreams. By exploring personal stories of loss and unexpected achievements, Terry Fossum reveals why taking immediate action—even imperfectly—leads to far greater progress than perpetual planning.
• The hardest step in any journey is the first one out your front door
• "Someday" often never comes, as illustrated by Terry's parents who postponed their travel dreams
• Analysis paralysis prevents people from starting by overthinking and waiting for perfect conditions
• Adopt "Ready, Fire, Aim" instead of waiting until everything is perfectly planned
• Martin Luther King Jr.'s wisdom: "If you can't fly, run; if you can't run, walk; if you can't walk, crawl"
• By not moving forward, you're actually moving backward as time continues passing
• Taking steps on blind faith led Terry to win a survival reality show and become an award-winning actor
• You'll never have more time than you have right now—every day of waiting is one less day to live your dreams
If this has been helpful for you, please let me know. Come back home to ultimatedrivingforce.com and drop me a note. I'd love to hear how this has helped you and what it's helped you do.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
If you've been stuck in fear, self-doubt, your past
failures and you're ready tobreak through your comfort zones
to finally reach the pinnacleof success in every area of your
life, then this podcast is foryou.
Here's your host Terry L FossumL Fossum.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Now for the final bolt that holds so many people
back waiting for the right time.
You know we mentioned itbriefly in an earlier recording,
but this one is so important.
It holds so many people backthat if this bolt isn't blown,
you'll never get off the launchpad.
Have you ever said somethinglike oh, I'm just too busy, I
(00:47):
need a better plan.
There's too much going on.
Maybe when the kids are gone,maybe when we're retired?
The timing isn't good right now.
When I do this, I want to do itright, so I'm going to wait
until I can do it right.
That's my favorite.
I've heard it so many times.
Have you ever said somethinglike that before?
And then you never got started?
Why?
Because you're still waitingfor the right time and you'll
(01:14):
most likely continue to wait forthe right time until there's no
time left.
We're not going to let thathappen to you.
By the time you're donelistening to this recording,
you're going to put all of thatbehind you.
You're going to get up off yourproverbial butt and then, for
the final time, you're going toblow this bolt.
Let's get started.
I'm an avid backpacker.
I love being in the mountains,no matter what the weather, and
I've been blessed to climb tothe top of many mountains and
(01:35):
enjoy the beauty that only comesto those who are willing to
work hard enough to get it.
So let me ask you, in a 50-milemountain climbing trip, which
step do you think is the hardest?
Is it that final step?
And I can tell you, in a50-mile mountain climbing trip,
which step do you think is thehardest?
Is it that final step?
And I can tell you, boy, thatfinal step.
You're completely exhausted,barely able to move.
(01:55):
You're so close, it's just sohard to do.
Or is it when you've done theeasy hike through the valley,
getting to the base of themountain?
You finally reach the base andthen you start that first uphill
step, that long, gruelingelevation climb that makes your
calves burn like someone threwgas on them and lit them on fire
(02:16):
.
Or is it that first step awayfrom your comfort and security
of your base camp, when youfirst feel the weight of your
pack crushing down on yourshoulders?
No, it's none of those.
The hardest step of the entireadventure is the one that takes
you out your front door.
See, it's easy to talk about thethings that we'd like to do.
(02:39):
It's easy to dream about thethings we'd like to accomplish.
Most people spend their entirelives doing exactly that
Thinking about doing things,talking about doing things,
dreaming about doing things.
Now, growing up, we didn't havea lot of extra money, and my
parents used to talk about howmuch they would love to travel.
Someday they couldn't do it yet, though, but someday they would
(03:02):
.
They couldn't do it yet, though, but someday they would.
Someday, ah, someday.
They dreamed they'd have thehouse paid off, the kids would
be out the door and they'd haveenough money, finally, and
they'd have enough time.
More time, hmm, more time.
My dad always walked in thedoor from work at 5 pm, always
(03:28):
every single day, and then oneday, right at 5 pm, when he was
supposed to come home, agovernment car pulled up in
front of our house, and fromthat car, the government men
stepped out.
And those government men werethere to let us know that on
(03:49):
that day, the airplane carryingmy father home from a trip
crashed into a mountain andkilled him.
And someday would never comefor my mom and him.
Someday would never come for mymom and him.
My mom wished with all herheart that they hadn't waited
(04:09):
for someday, that they wouldhave traveled, even though
they'd have to do it on thecheap and maybe they wouldn't
have lots of time.
But at least they would havehad some time, because now they
don't have any time at all.
Someday never came for my momand dad.
They never traveled like theywanted.
They never went on thoseextended fishing trips together.
(04:32):
They never went out dancinglike they always loved to do.
They were too busy.
Life kept getting in the way.
The timing was never right.
I can't tell you how many timesI've talked to people about
getting started on their dreamsonly to hear them say well, the
timing just isn't right yet.
When I start something, I liketo do it all the way.
(04:55):
I don't like to do anythinghalfway.
I want to make sure that when Istart I'll be successful.
And year after year they keepsaying that, listen, the right
time to start something is rightnow.
Let me say that again, theright time to start something is
(05:16):
right now, and I've heardpeople say but if I start now,
it will take longer because I'mnot going to be able to devote
the time and energy to do it theway that I'd like to do.
But that's simply not true.
It's going to take you longerif you wait, because odds are
you won't even get started for avery, very long time.
(05:38):
And, as it turns out, if youstart toward your goal, even
slowly, you'll reach it longbefore you would if you wait for
the right time.
And what I found each and everytime is that when someone takes
that first, most difficult step, that step out the door, the
momentum starts to work in theirfavor.
(05:59):
The stars seem to align.
They find that they had moretime than they thought because
other things that were wastingtheir time fade away.
They found they had more energybecause they have a renewed
passion and excitement thatcomes from exuberance, of
actually taking action, ofmaking progress, of starting to
believe again that that dreamreally can come true.
(06:22):
Or maybe what's holding you backis that you're afraid, if
you'll screw up, that you won'tget it perfect.
Well, guess what?
It doesn't have to be perfect,it just has to be done.
Something is better thannothing, and if you wait until
you're going to make it perfect,you'll never get started.
We call that analysis,paralysis, analysis, paralysis
(06:45):
being paralyzed by analyzingeverything to death, the feeling
of not being able to doanything until everything is
figured out.
Analysis, paralysis killsdreams and goals before the
first step is even taken.
You don't give yourself achance to fail or succeed.
You don't give yourself achance to do anything.
(07:05):
Ready fire aim is one of myfavorite phrases.
That's right.
Not ready aim fire, but readyfire aim.
What does that mean?
That means that too many peoplewait until they have the
perfect plan in place to moveforward, one that ensures them
success.
I'm here to tell you that theplan doesn't exist.
(07:26):
Ready fire aim is one of myfavorite phrases, that's right.
Not ready aim fire, but readyfire aim.
And what does that mean?
It means that too many peoplewait until they have the perfect
plan in place to move forwardwhen that ensures them success.
But I'm here to tell you thatthe perfect plan doesn't exist,
(07:47):
no matter how good your planningis.
Once things start movingforward, plans change.
Pull the trigger, man.
Take that first step.
It's that first step that turnsyour dream into a reality.
I mentioned in an earlierrecording that I went on a solo
journey deep into the ArcticCircle.
Now here's how that came to be.
I was sitting at my desk oneday and I decided it was time
(08:11):
for an adventure.
So I pulled out my maps and Isaw a town up in the Arctic
Circle that looked like it wasInuvik.
Huh, that looks cool.
Even further north, I saw atown that I later learned was
pronounced Tuktuk Interesting, Idon't see any road.
I wonder how you get there.
Huh, I think I'll find out.
(08:32):
So I called up my wife and Isaid guess what?
I'm going on a solo adventuredeep into the Arctic Circle.
Wait what?
Yeah, yeah, I think I'm goingto go on a little solo trek deep
into the Arctic Circle.
And when are you going to dothis?
Thursday, seriously, thursday.
I had no idea how to get there.
(08:53):
I had no idea what I'd findwhen I did, but if I waited to
figure out all of the details, Iprobably never would have gone.
As a result, I had an amazingadventure have gone.
As a result, I had an amazingadventure.
An Inuit friend I met in Inuvik, named Kailak, dropped me off
to go backpacking, all alone onthe permafrost with no one to
keep me company for miles andmiles and miles and miles,
(09:17):
except for millions ofmosquitoes.
Next, after that, I traveled byboat through the McKenzie Delta
to Tuktoyaktuk, where I metanother Inuit friend who took me
out on his boat to a veryspecial place with the sweetest
water I've ever tasted.
They're very proud of theirwater there, and they should be.
When I got back to Inuvik,kailak took me get this out on a
(09:38):
caribou hunt, a caribou huntwith the Inuits deep in the
Arctic Circle.
Now there's many, many moreadventures and misadventures on
that trip, and none of themprobably would have happened if
I'd waited until I had it allplanned out.
I guarantee you it wouldn'thave been as cool, because if I
had it all planned out first ofall, I would have tried to stick
(09:58):
to the plan, and that'sassuming that I even started it
to begin with.
Now am I saying that youshouldn't have a plan?
No, first of all, understandthat this kind of thing this is
what I do okay, I'm prettyexperienced at it, I've got the
gear, I've got the know-how todo it.
It's what I really enjoy.
But what I'm saying is not towait to start on your journey
(10:21):
until you have it all plannedout.
You can develop a partial planand continue to develop that
plan as you move forward.
Learn as you go.
Ready fire aim.
I love what Martin Luther KingJr said if you can't fly, then
run.
If you can't run, then walk.
(10:42):
If you can't walk, then crawl.
But whatever you do, you haveto keep moving forward.
It doesn't matter if you haveto walk slowly, walk.
If you have to crawl, crawl.
But for God's sake and yours,take action.
Too often we think we have torun first.
We look at the enormity of thegoal and get overwhelmed from
(11:05):
the beginning.
I'm sure you've heard how toeat an elephant One bite at a
time.
Don't worry about doingeverything at once.
Take it one step at a time.
The thought of running amarathon is overwhelming to me.
I don't even know where tobegin, but I can walk around the
block, so I'll start there.
(11:25):
You may not know how to becomea millionaire, but you can look
at your spending, cut back onsome areas and talk to a
financial advisor.
Writing a book can be daunting,but going to your computer and
starting throwing the ideasyou've been thinking of down on
the screen.
Well, that's doable.
If you can't fly, then run.
If you can't run, that's doable.
If you can't fly, then run.
If you can't run, then walk.
(11:46):
If you can't walk, then crawl.
But whatever you do, you haveto keep moving forward.
Let me tell you something bynot getting started right now,
you're not only not makingprogress towards your goal, your
dream, but you're actuallymoving away from it.
That's right.
By standing still, you'reactually moving backwards.
(12:11):
Listen, time is both a friendand an enemy of us all.
Every day, circumstances arelining up more and more that
will get in the way of youaccomplishing your dreams.
And, let's face it, you're notgetting any younger.
The time to do it is now Stillscary.
(12:32):
Okay, listen, sometimes youjust have to take that first
step on blind faith, kind oflike Indiana Jones did in the
last crusade.
You remember when he took astep into that deep crevasse,
onto a path he couldn't seeuntil he was actually on it?
You remember that Sometimes youdon't have any clue how the
(12:57):
journey is going to turn out,but you're going to take that
step anyway, and that's whathappened to me.
See, several years ago, Imarried into three teenage and
preteen boys.
Yes, that was a leap of faithin itself, but that's not what
the story is about.
When I did so, I called up mybusiness partners and I said hey
, guess what?
(13:17):
I just retired.
Wait what you know?
They say why would you do that?
You're making crazy money.
I know, I replied, but I canalways figure out how to make
money.
These boys need a positive malerole model and I only have one
chance to help raise them intohonorable men.
I'm not going to screw that up.
So every morning I would walkthem to the bus stop.
(13:40):
When they got home from school,I was there.
Like it or not, I was there.
I became their scout master.
I helped two of them becomeEagle scouts.
I focused completely on raisingthem into honorable men.
Now, after they turned 18 andflew the nest, I was praying to
God.
Okay, god, what is it you wantme to do next?
Whatever it is, you lead andI'll follow.
(14:02):
Be careful what you ask for,because one day I was checking
my email and I got an email froma casting company.
Now, I did not apply to anycasting company, never did
acting anything like that before, no interest at all.
And I get this email that sayswe're casting a brand new
survival reality showcompetition prime time on Fox
(14:25):
Network, pitting 10 of the topsurvival experts in the country
against each other, all thewhile dragging along a complete
novice, someone who's not evencamped out in their backyard
before.
And we think you'd be great.
Now let me ask you a question.
If you get an email like thatout of the blue, what do you
think?
It's a fake, right, it's a scam.
(14:47):
And I'm waiting for.
Send $10,000 to Nigeria, right?
But I called the phone numberon the email and that phone call
was a two-hour interview Likeoh crap, this is real.
Now, again, understand.
I had zero desire to be on a TVsurvival reality show.
Have you seen what they makethem eat?
(15:08):
But the problem is, if you'repraying to God, going, okay,
whatever you want me to do, I'lldo it.
You lead and I'll follow.
You can't say no.
Now understand two things.
It turned out that I was goingto be the oldest survivalist on
the entire show.
My wife was laughing at me.
You're the tog.
(15:29):
The tog, what's that You're?
Speaker 1 (15:31):
the token old guy.
Speaker 2 (15:33):
Great thanks, man.
You know I was going to be thatguy you see on these shows.
And you go, wow, that's reallycute.
They've got the old guy onthere.
You know that's awesome, but hegonna die.
Now let's add into that theywanted me to wear my Scoutmaster
uniform the entire show.
I was going to represent all ofBoy Scouts of America.
(15:54):
Now they're going, oh, that'sreally cute.
They got the old guy in hisScoutmaster uniform with his
little neckerchief and all ofthat.
It's so cute, but he gonna die.
And it got worse.
It got worse.
When we got there, I met two ofmy competitors.
One of them was Ben, a US AirForce survival instructor this
(16:15):
guy does this stuff for a livingand Brady, a Marine scout
sniper.
This guy is one of the baddestdudes you will ever meet.
He survives beyond enemy linesall the time.
It's what he does.
I was still able to call mywife at the time and I told her
you're right, you were right allalong, I'm going to die.
(16:36):
I didn't have a chance and Iknew it.
Okay, I knew it.
My greatest fear would be makingBoy Scouts across the country
look bad on national TV.
I've been a scout or a scouterpretty much all of my life.
This organization means theworld to me.
I'm going to be representingall of them.
(16:57):
My biggest fear would be I'dlet them all down on national TV
.
See, I told you, we all haveour fears, we all have
self-doubts.
And I told my wife before Ileft I'm doing this on blind
faith.
I even told the rest of thesurvivalists and their partners
(17:19):
in the jungle.
I believe I have a reason thatI'm doing this on blind faith.
I even told the rest of thesurvivalists and their partners
in the jungle.
I believe I have a reason thatI'm supposed to be doing this.
I doubt it's to win.
I seriously doubt it's to win.
In fact, I may be here to helpsomeone else win and I'm okay
with that.
I'm here on blind faith, god'splan, not mine, and I just have
to take those steps and trust.
(17:40):
Now I'll say this again.
I've said it before that's okay.
You may not believe in God, andthat's okay.
I don't care what you believein, whether it's the universe or
karma, father Time, motherEarth, I don't care but I
believe that there is a powerstronger than us, and sometimes,
what it takes to overcome thefear or the complacency or the
(18:01):
excuses or whatever's holding usback is we just have to have
blind faith.
Just take that first step,having no idea where it may lead
you.
Something similar happened to mewith acting.
I've always watched TV showsand movies and I've admired the
actors for how much they makeyou believe what's happening on
(18:22):
the screen is really happeningin real life.
It just always blown me away.
So I was about 55 years old atthe time, not exactly a spring
chicken to get into acting oranything else for that matter.
But I knew if I didn't try I'dalways wonder anything else for
that matter.
But I knew, if I didn't try I'dalways wonder.
And again, I'm not getting anyyounger either.
(18:46):
I'd rather know I can't dosomething than always wonder if
I could have.
At least then I can say well,you know what.
I gave it a go, at least I know.
So get this.
I had the audacity to lookonline for a local acting coach.
Slash agent, call her up and Isaid I'd like to pay you for an
hour of your time to evacuate meto see if I have any chance of
acting.
But know this I have nodelusions of grandeur whatsoever
(19:07):
.
Be honest, be frank.
Tell me not to quit my day job.
That's all I want to know.
So she agreed and I went overto meet her Shortly after I
arrived.
She asked me so are you good atmemorizing?
Ah, I'm terrible, I replied.
She handed me a script and saidyou have five minutes and she
(19:28):
walked out of the room.
Oh crap, I was petrified.
With zero, zero experience inanything like this at all, and
knowing I suck at memorizing,I'm alone in a room with a
script and a camera staring atme.
Talk about out of my comfortzone.
You could even you could evensee my comfort zone from there.
(19:48):
Okay, blind faith.
Okay, well, I'm here, I mightas well try.
Five minutes later, as promised, she walked back into the room,
turned on the camera and saidGo, just like that,
no-transcript.
So how did I do?
Well, probably pretty bad, totell you the truth.
(20:08):
Probably pretty bad, but it wasgood enough for her to sign me
shortly thereafter and,admittedly, with a lot of hard
work and coaching from somereally great people.
I've been in several smallmovies, some gigs on TV and
online.
I've even won Best SupportingActor and Fan Favorite at the
2021 Christian Film Festival.
(20:29):
I've even won best supportingactor and fan favorite at the
2021 Christian Film Festival.
I've even been a producer, nowan award-winning producer.
Isn't that crazy?
Blind faith?
Oh, and the survival realityshow.
My partner and I won the entireshow, each of us taking home a
quarter million dollars.
The entire show, each of ustaking home a quarter million
(20:50):
dollars.
Listen, you may never becompletely confident that you're
ready to take that first step.
Take it anyway, and it mightnot be a good time to do it.
Take it anyway.
You may not feel that you havethe support from people around
you.
Take it anyway.
You may not feel like you'reready.
Take it anyway.
(21:10):
There may be a million reasonswhy you shouldn't start.
Take it anyway.
If you can't fly, then run.
If you can't run, then walk.
If you can't walk, then crawl.
But whatever you do, you haveto keep moving forward.
Again, you'll never have moretime in your life than you have
(21:32):
right now, because right now youhave the rest of your life and
each day you wait is one dayless than you have.
Take a second and internalizethat Every day you wait is one
less day that you have toaccomplish your goals, to
realize your dreams, to liveyour life.
Now, if you think I'm trying topush you to get up off your
(21:54):
butt and get started.
You are absolutely right, 100%correct.
You know why?
Because it's time.
It's time it's time to takethat first step.
I know you can do it because Ihad a lot of the same challenges
you do.
I had a lot of the same fearsyou do, but I blew that bolt and
(22:16):
did it anyway.
I had a lot of the same excuses, but I blew that bolt and did
it anyway.
I had to embrace failure andwork on my attitude and stop
wasting so much time and conquera lot of the same self-doubts,
but I blew those bolts and didit anyway.
And finally, when all of thoseother bolts blew off, that last
(22:42):
one couldn't hold me back anylonger.
It wasn't strong enough on itsown and I stopped waiting for
the right time.
And now it's your turn.
You can do it, you will do it.
I have faith in you.
There is no reason in the worldto hold back anymore because
(23:07):
you've blown those bolts.
Now, before I close, I'm goingto ask you for a favor.
If this has been helpful foryou, let me know.
Come back home toultimatedrivingforcecom and drop
me a note.
Seriously, please do drop me anote.
(23:27):
It'd be great to hear from you.
I'd love to hear how this hashelped you, what it's helped you
do.
I'd love to hear your story.
I really would.
But for now, it's time to takethat first step.
Write down which goal you'regoing to conquer.
First, set up your ox carttechnique.
Put on your brown pants, focuson your big rocks, look past
(23:51):
your fears and go for it.
Damn the torpedoes, full speedahead.
Godspeed on your journey.
Speaker 1 (24:04):
So that's it for today's episode of the Comeback
Chronicles.
Head on over to Apple Podcastsor wherever you listen, and
subscribe to the show.
If you're ready to get overyour fears, self-doubts and past
failures and break through yourcomfort zone to reach the
pinnacle of success in everyarea of your life, head over to
terrielfawesomecom to pick upyour free gifts and so much more
(24:28):
.
We'll see you next week on thecomeback Chronicles podcast.
If you've been stuck in fear, self-doubt, your past
failures and you're ready tobreak through your comfort zones
to finally reach the pinnacleof success in every area of your
life, then this podcast is foryou.
Here's your host Terry L FossumL Fossum.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Now for the final bolt that holds so many people
back waiting for the right time.
You know we mentioned itbriefly in an earlier recording,
but this one is so important.
It holds so many people backthat if this bolt isn't blown,
you'll never get off the launchpad.
Have you ever said somethinglike oh, I'm just too busy, I
(00:47):
need a better plan.
There's too much going on.
Maybe when the kids are gone,maybe when we're retired?
The timing isn't good right now.
When I do this, I want to do itright, so I'm going to wait
until I can do it right.
That's my favorite.
I've heard it so many times.
Have you ever said somethinglike that before?
And then you never got started?
Why?
Because you're still waitingfor the right time and you'll
(01:14):
most likely continue to wait forthe right time until there's no
time left.
We're not going to let thathappen to you.
By the time you're donelistening to this recording,
you're going to put all of thatbehind you.
You're going to get up off yourproverbial butt and then, for
the final time, you're going toblow this bolt.
Let's get started.
I'm an avid backpacker.
I love being in the mountains,no matter what the weather, and
I've been blessed to climb tothe top of many mountains and
(01:35):
enjoy the beauty that only comesto those who are willing to
work hard enough to get it.
So let me ask you, in a 50-milemountain climbing trip, which
step do you think is the hardest?
Is it that final step?
And I can tell you, in a50-mile mountain climbing trip,
which step do you think is thehardest?
Is it that final step?
And I can tell you, boy, thatfinal step.
You're completely exhausted,barely able to move.
(01:55):
You're so close, it's just sohard to do.
Or is it when you've done theeasy hike through the valley,
getting to the base of themountain?
You finally reach the base andthen you start that first uphill
step, that long, gruelingelevation climb that makes your
calves burn like someone threwgas on them and lit them on fire
(02:16):
.
Or is it that first step awayfrom your comfort and security
of your base camp, when youfirst feel the weight of your
pack crushing down on yourshoulders?
No, it's none of those.
The hardest step of the entireadventure is the one that takes
you out your front door.
See, it's easy to talk about thethings that we'd like to do.
(02:39):
It's easy to dream about thethings we'd like to accomplish.
Most people spend their entirelives doing exactly that
Thinking about doing things,talking about doing things,
dreaming about doing things.
Now, growing up, we didn't havea lot of extra money, and my
parents used to talk about howmuch they would love to travel.
Someday they couldn't do it yet, though, but someday they would
(03:02):
.
They couldn't do it yet, though, but someday they would.
Someday, ah, someday.
They dreamed they'd have thehouse paid off, the kids would
be out the door and they'd haveenough money, finally, and
they'd have enough time.
More time, hmm, more time.
My dad always walked in thedoor from work at 5 pm, always
(03:28):
every single day, and then oneday, right at 5 pm, when he was
supposed to come home, agovernment car pulled up in
front of our house, and fromthat car, the government men
stepped out.
And those government men werethere to let us know that on
(03:49):
that day, the airplane carryingmy father home from a trip
crashed into a mountain andkilled him.
And someday would never comefor my mom and him.
Someday would never come for mymom and him.
My mom wished with all herheart that they hadn't waited
(04:09):
for someday, that they wouldhave traveled, even though
they'd have to do it on thecheap and maybe they wouldn't
have lots of time.
But at least they would havehad some time, because now they
don't have any time at all.
Someday never came for my momand dad.
They never traveled like theywanted.
They never went on thoseextended fishing trips together.
(04:32):
They never went out dancinglike they always loved to do.
They were too busy.
Life kept getting in the way.
The timing was never right.
I can't tell you how many timesI've talked to people about
getting started on their dreamsonly to hear them say well, the
timing just isn't right yet.
When I start something, I liketo do it all the way.
(04:55):
I don't like to do anythinghalfway.
I want to make sure that when Istart I'll be successful.
And year after year they keepsaying that, listen, the right
time to start something is rightnow.
Let me say that again, theright time to start something is
(05:16):
right now, and I've heardpeople say but if I start now,
it will take longer because I'mnot going to be able to devote
the time and energy to do it theway that I'd like to do.
But that's simply not true.
It's going to take you longerif you wait, because odds are
you won't even get started for avery, very long time.
(05:38):
And, as it turns out, if youstart toward your goal, even
slowly, you'll reach it longbefore you would if you wait for
the right time.
And what I found each and everytime is that when someone takes
that first, most difficult step, that step out the door, the
momentum starts to work in theirfavor.
(05:59):
The stars seem to align.
They find that they had moretime than they thought because
other things that were wastingtheir time fade away.
They found they had more energybecause they have a renewed
passion and excitement thatcomes from exuberance, of
actually taking action, ofmaking progress, of starting to
believe again that that dreamreally can come true.
(06:22):
Or maybe what's holding you backis that you're afraid, if
you'll screw up, that you won'tget it perfect.
Well, guess what?
It doesn't have to be perfect,it just has to be done.
Something is better thannothing, and if you wait until
you're going to make it perfect,you'll never get started.
We call that analysis,paralysis, analysis, paralysis
(06:45):
being paralyzed by analyzingeverything to death, the feeling
of not being able to doanything until everything is
figured out.
Analysis, paralysis killsdreams and goals before the
first step is even taken.
You don't give yourself achance to fail or succeed.
You don't give yourself achance to do anything.
(07:05):
Ready fire aim is one of myfavorite phrases.
That's right.
Not ready aim fire, but readyfire aim.
What does that mean?
That means that too many peoplewait until they have the
perfect plan in place to moveforward, one that ensures them
success.
I'm here to tell you that theplan doesn't exist.
(07:26):
Ready fire aim is one of myfavorite phrases, that's right.
Not ready aim fire, but readyfire aim.
And what does that mean?
It means that too many peoplewait until they have the perfect
plan in place to move forwardwhen that ensures them success.
But I'm here to tell you thatthe perfect plan doesn't exist,
(07:47):
no matter how good your planningis.
Once things start movingforward, plans change.
Pull the trigger, man.
Take that first step.
It's that first step that turnsyour dream into a reality.
I mentioned in an earlierrecording that I went on a solo
journey deep into the ArcticCircle.
Now here's how that came to be.
I was sitting at my desk oneday and I decided it was time
(08:11):
for an adventure.
So I pulled out my maps and Isaw a town up in the Arctic
Circle that looked like it wasInuvik.
Huh, that looks cool.
Even further north, I saw atown that I later learned was
pronounced Tuktuk Interesting, Idon't see any road.
I wonder how you get there.
Huh, I think I'll find out.
(08:32):
So I called up my wife and Isaid guess what?
I'm going on a solo adventuredeep into the Arctic Circle.
Wait what?
Yeah, yeah, I think I'm goingto go on a little solo trek deep
into the Arctic Circle.
And when are you going to dothis?
Thursday, seriously, thursday.
I had no idea how to get there.
(08:53):
I had no idea what I'd findwhen I did, but if I waited to
figure out all of the details, Iprobably never would have gone.
As a result, I had an amazingadventure have gone.
As a result, I had an amazingadventure.
An Inuit friend I met in Inuvik, named Kailak, dropped me off
to go backpacking, all alone onthe permafrost with no one to
keep me company for miles andmiles and miles and miles,
(09:17):
except for millions ofmosquitoes.
Next, after that, I traveled byboat through the McKenzie Delta
to Tuktoyaktuk, where I metanother Inuit friend who took me
out on his boat to a veryspecial place with the sweetest
water I've ever tasted.
They're very proud of theirwater there, and they should be.
When I got back to Inuvik,kailak took me get this out on a
(09:38):
caribou hunt, a caribou huntwith the Inuits deep in the
Arctic Circle.
Now there's many, many moreadventures and misadventures on
that trip, and none of themprobably would have happened if
I'd waited until I had it allplanned out.
I guarantee you it wouldn'thave been as cool, because if I
had it all planned out first ofall, I would have tried to stick
(09:58):
to the plan, and that'sassuming that I even started it
to begin with.
Now am I saying that youshouldn't have a plan?
No, first of all, understandthat this kind of thing this is
what I do okay, I'm prettyexperienced at it, I've got the
gear, I've got the know-how todo it.
It's what I really enjoy.
But what I'm saying is not towait to start on your journey
(10:21):
until you have it all plannedout.
You can develop a partial planand continue to develop that
plan as you move forward.
Learn as you go.
Ready fire aim.
I love what Martin Luther KingJr said if you can't fly, then
run.
If you can't run, then walk.
(10:42):
If you can't walk, then crawl.
But whatever you do, you haveto keep moving forward.
It doesn't matter if you haveto walk slowly, walk.
If you have to crawl, crawl.
But for God's sake and yours,take action.
Too often we think we have torun first.
We look at the enormity of thegoal and get overwhelmed from
(11:05):
the beginning.
I'm sure you've heard how toeat an elephant One bite at a
time.
Don't worry about doingeverything at once.
Take it one step at a time.
The thought of running amarathon is overwhelming to me.
I don't even know where tobegin, but I can walk around the
block, so I'll start there.
(11:25):
You may not know how to becomea millionaire, but you can look
at your spending, cut back onsome areas and talk to a
financial advisor.
Writing a book can be daunting,but going to your computer and
starting throwing the ideasyou've been thinking of down on
the screen.
Well, that's doable.
If you can't fly, then run.
If you can't run, that's doable.
If you can't fly, then run.
If you can't run, then walk.
(11:46):
If you can't walk, then crawl.
But whatever you do, you haveto keep moving forward.
Let me tell you something bynot getting started right now,
you're not only not makingprogress towards your goal, your
dream, but you're actuallymoving away from it.
That's right.
By standing still, you'reactually moving backwards.
(12:11):
Listen, time is both a friendand an enemy of us all.
Every day, circumstances arelining up more and more that
will get in the way of youaccomplishing your dreams.
And, let's face it, you're notgetting any younger.
The time to do it is now Stillscary.
(12:32):
Okay, listen, sometimes youjust have to take that first
step on blind faith, kind oflike Indiana Jones did in the
last crusade.
You remember when he took astep into that deep crevasse,
onto a path he couldn't seeuntil he was actually on it?
You remember that Sometimes youdon't have any clue how the
(12:57):
journey is going to turn out,but you're going to take that
step anyway, and that's whathappened to me.
See, several years ago, Imarried into three teenage and
preteen boys.
Yes, that was a leap of faithin itself, but that's not what
the story is about.
When I did so, I called up mybusiness partners and I said hey
, guess what?
(13:17):
I just retired.
Wait what you know?
They say why would you do that?
You're making crazy money.
I know, I replied, but I canalways figure out how to make
money.
These boys need a positive malerole model and I only have one
chance to help raise them intohonorable men.
I'm not going to screw that up.
So every morning I would walkthem to the bus stop.
(13:40):
When they got home from school,I was there.
Like it or not, I was there.
I became their scout master.
I helped two of them becomeEagle scouts.
I focused completely on raisingthem into honorable men.
Now, after they turned 18 andflew the nest, I was praying to
God.
Okay, god, what is it you wantme to do next?
Whatever it is, you lead andI'll follow.
(14:02):
Be careful what you ask for,because one day I was checking
my email and I got an email froma casting company.
Now, I did not apply to anycasting company, never did
acting anything like that before, no interest at all.
And I get this email that sayswe're casting a brand new
survival reality showcompetition prime time on Fox
(14:25):
Network, pitting 10 of the topsurvival experts in the country
against each other, all thewhile dragging along a complete
novice, someone who's not evencamped out in their backyard
before.
And we think you'd be great.
Now let me ask you a question.
If you get an email like thatout of the blue, what do you
think?
It's a fake, right, it's a scam.
(14:47):
And I'm waiting for.
Send $10,000 to Nigeria, right?
But I called the phone numberon the email and that phone call
was a two-hour interview Likeoh crap, this is real.
Now, again, understand.
I had zero desire to be on a TVsurvival reality show.
Have you seen what they makethem eat?
(15:08):
But the problem is, if you'repraying to God, going, okay,
whatever you want me to do, I'lldo it.
You lead and I'll follow.
You can't say no.
Now understand two things.
It turned out that I was goingto be the oldest survivalist on
the entire show.
My wife was laughing at me.
You're the tog.
(15:29):
The tog, what's that You're?
Speaker 1 (15:31):
the token old guy.
Speaker 2 (15:33):
Great thanks, man.
You know I was going to be thatguy you see on these shows.
And you go, wow, that's reallycute.
They've got the old guy onthere.
You know that's awesome, but hegonna die.
Now let's add into that theywanted me to wear my Scoutmaster
uniform the entire show.
I was going to represent all ofBoy Scouts of America.
(15:54):
Now they're going, oh, that'sreally cute.
They got the old guy in hisScoutmaster uniform with his
little neckerchief and all ofthat.
It's so cute, but he gonna die.
And it got worse.
It got worse.
When we got there, I met two ofmy competitors.
One of them was Ben, a US AirForce survival instructor this
(16:15):
guy does this stuff for a livingand Brady, a Marine scout
sniper.
This guy is one of the baddestdudes you will ever meet.
He survives beyond enemy linesall the time.
It's what he does.
I was still able to call mywife at the time and I told her
you're right, you were right allalong, I'm going to die.
(16:36):
I didn't have a chance and Iknew it.
Okay, I knew it.
My greatest fear would be makingBoy Scouts across the country
look bad on national TV.
I've been a scout or a scouterpretty much all of my life.
This organization means theworld to me.
I'm going to be representingall of them.
(16:57):
My biggest fear would be I'dlet them all down on national TV
.
See, I told you, we all haveour fears, we all have
self-doubts.
And I told my wife before Ileft I'm doing this on blind
faith.
I even told the rest of thesurvivalists and their partners
(17:19):
in the jungle.
I believe I have a reason thatI'm doing this on blind faith.
I even told the rest of thesurvivalists and their partners
in the jungle.
I believe I have a reason thatI'm supposed to be doing this.
I doubt it's to win.
I seriously doubt it's to win.
In fact, I may be here to helpsomeone else win and I'm okay
with that.
I'm here on blind faith, god'splan, not mine, and I just have
to take those steps and trust.
(17:40):
Now I'll say this again.
I've said it before that's okay.
You may not believe in God, andthat's okay.
I don't care what you believein, whether it's the universe or
karma, father Time, motherEarth, I don't care but I
believe that there is a powerstronger than us, and sometimes,
what it takes to overcome thefear or the complacency or the
(18:01):
excuses or whatever's holding usback is we just have to have
blind faith.
Just take that first step,having no idea where it may lead
you.
Something similar happened to mewith acting.
I've always watched TV showsand movies and I've admired the
actors for how much they makeyou believe what's happening on
(18:22):
the screen is really happeningin real life.
It just always blown me away.
So I was about 55 years old atthe time, not exactly a spring
chicken to get into acting oranything else for that matter.
But I knew if I didn't try I'dalways wonder anything else for
that matter.
But I knew, if I didn't try I'dalways wonder.
And again, I'm not getting anyyounger either.
(18:46):
I'd rather know I can't dosomething than always wonder if
I could have.
At least then I can say well,you know what.
I gave it a go, at least I know.
So get this.
I had the audacity to lookonline for a local acting coach.
Slash agent, call her up and Isaid I'd like to pay you for an
hour of your time to evacuate meto see if I have any chance of
acting.
But know this I have nodelusions of grandeur whatsoever
(19:07):
.
Be honest, be frank.
Tell me not to quit my day job.
That's all I want to know.
So she agreed and I went overto meet her Shortly after I
arrived.
She asked me so are you good atmemorizing?
Ah, I'm terrible, I replied.
She handed me a script and saidyou have five minutes and she
(19:28):
walked out of the room.
Oh crap, I was petrified.
With zero, zero experience inanything like this at all, and
knowing I suck at memorizing,I'm alone in a room with a
script and a camera staring atme.
Talk about out of my comfortzone.
You could even you could evensee my comfort zone from there.
(19:48):
Okay, blind faith.
Okay, well, I'm here, I mightas well try.
Five minutes later, as promised, she walked back into the room,
turned on the camera and saidGo, just like that,
no-transcript.
So how did I do?
Well, probably pretty bad, totell you the truth.
(20:08):
Probably pretty bad, but it wasgood enough for her to sign me
shortly thereafter and,admittedly, with a lot of hard
work and coaching from somereally great people.
I've been in several smallmovies, some gigs on TV and
online.
I've even won Best SupportingActor and Fan Favorite at the
2021 Christian Film Festival.
(20:29):
I've even won best supportingactor and fan favorite at the
2021 Christian Film Festival.
I've even been a producer, nowan award-winning producer.
Isn't that crazy?
Blind faith?
Oh, and the survival realityshow.
My partner and I won the entireshow, each of us taking home a
quarter million dollars.
The entire show, each of ustaking home a quarter million
(20:50):
dollars.
Listen, you may never becompletely confident that you're
ready to take that first step.
Take it anyway, and it mightnot be a good time to do it.
Take it anyway.
You may not feel that you havethe support from people around
you.
Take it anyway.
You may not feel like you'reready.
Take it anyway.
(21:10):
There may be a million reasonswhy you shouldn't start.
Take it anyway.
If you can't fly, then run.
If you can't run, then walk.
If you can't walk, then crawl.
But whatever you do, you haveto keep moving forward.
Again, you'll never have moretime in your life than you have
(21:32):
right now, because right now youhave the rest of your life and
each day you wait is one dayless than you have.
Take a second and internalizethat Every day you wait is one
less day that you have toaccomplish your goals, to
realize your dreams, to liveyour life.
Now, if you think I'm trying topush you to get up off your
(21:54):
butt and get started.
You are absolutely right, 100%correct.
You know why?
Because it's time.
It's time it's time to takethat first step.
I know you can do it because Ihad a lot of the same challenges
you do.
I had a lot of the same fearsyou do, but I blew that bolt and
(22:16):
did it anyway.
I had a lot of the same excuses, but I blew that bolt and did
it anyway.
I had to embrace failure andwork on my attitude and stop
wasting so much time and conquera lot of the same self-doubts,
but I blew those bolts and didit anyway.
And finally, when all of thoseother bolts blew off, that last
(22:42):
one couldn't hold me back anylonger.
It wasn't strong enough on itsown and I stopped waiting for
the right time.
And now it's your turn.
You can do it, you will do it.
I have faith in you.
There is no reason in the worldto hold back anymore because
(23:07):
you've blown those bolts.
Now, before I close, I'm goingto ask you for a favor.
If this has been helpful foryou, let me know.
Come back home toultimatedrivingforcecom and drop
me a note.
Seriously, please do drop me anote.
(23:27):
It'd be great to hear from you.
I'd love to hear how this hashelped you, what it's helped you
do.
I'd love to hear your story.
I really would.
But for now, it's time to takethat first step.
Write down which goal you'regoing to conquer.
First, set up your ox carttechnique.
Put on your brown pants, focuson your big rocks, look past
(23:51):
your fears and go for it.
Damn the torpedoes, full speedahead.
Godspeed on your journey.
Speaker 1 (24:04):
So that's it for today's episode of the Comeback
Chronicles.
Head on over to Apple Podcastsor wherever you listen, and
subscribe to the show.
If you're ready to get overyour fears, self-doubts and past
failures and break through yourcomfort zone to reach the
pinnacle of success in everyarea of your life, head over to
terrielfawesomecom to pick upyour free gifts and so much more
(24:28):
.
We'll see you next week on thecomeback Chronicles podcast.
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