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The Universal Challenge of Approach Anxiety:  More Than Just Dating

November 08, 20243 min read

Editor's Note: This blog post was generated using AI assistance, based on Parker Dean's video transcript above. While expanding on the original content, we've aimed to maintain Parker's conversational style and practical insights.

Let's Talk About That Gut-Wrenching Feeling: Approach Anxiety

Hey everyone! You know that weird, twisty feeling you get in your stomach right before you're about to talk to someone? Maybe it's that attractive person at the coffee shop, or maybe it's something completely different – like when you're about to knock on a door for your sales job. Yeah, that feeling. Let's talk about it.

The Thing About Approach Anxiety...

Here's what's funny – we typically think of approach anxiety as this "dating thing," right? Especially for us guys when we're thinking about talking to someone we're interested in. But man, let me tell you something I realized recently while I was out doing some door-to-door sales for comedy show tickets...

That exact same feeling hit me while I was sitting in my car, staring at the first fraternity house I needed to approach. There I was, someone who actually coaches people on this stuff, feeling that familiar twist in my gut. And it hit me – this stuff shows up everywhere in life!

When That Feeling Hits...

You might feel it when:

  • You're about to walk up to someone cute at a bar

  • You're knocking on doors for sales

  • You're heading into a networking event

  • You're about to give a presentation

  • Heck, even just calling to order a pizza (thanks, social anxiety!)

Real Talk

This reminds me of a student I worked with recently. He came to me wanting to be a better storyteller, but as we dug deeper, we discovered his real challenge was this approach anxiety thing. And let me tell you – it wasn't a quick fix. We spent about two months really working through it.

That's the thing about approach anxiety – sometimes it's not even about what you think it's about. You might think you need help with one thing (like storytelling), but the real obstacle is this underlying fear of putting yourself out there.

Here's What I've Learned...

After working with countless students and dealing with this myself (yep, still happens to me!), here's the real deal:

  1. It's completely normal. Seriously, everyone feels this.

  2. It doesn't go away entirely – and that's okay!

  3. The goal isn't to never feel nervous; it's to do it anyway

  4. Each time you push through, it gets a tiny bit easier

The Bottom Line

Look, whether you're trying to talk to that cute person at the gym or you're about to walk into a business meeting, that anxiety might show up. And you know what? That's fine. It's not about being fearless – it's about being courageous enough to take action despite that feeling.

Remember, even the people who seem super confident (like your boy here) still feel it sometimes. The difference is just in how we handle it when it shows up.

Keep pushing forward, friends. That butterfly feeling in your stomach? Maybe it's just telling you you're about to do something worth doing.

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