How do you confront a fear?

How do you confront a fear that’s held you back?

As a child, a horse once bit the button off my trousers. I’ve long avoided horses.

But facing that fear made one of my most memorable moments of 2024. The experience turned out to be as much about creativity and openness to uncertainty as it was about riding.

That day was my birthday. Within ten minutes of taking the reins, I didn't expect to be riding across one of London’s busiest roads. The mizzle of a grey London day softened everything. I was cantering by the time I arrived in Hyde Park. The connection with Smartie, the rhythm of his gait, the cool winter air brushing my face. Exhilarating, grounding, and so, so memorable.

Riding required lots of things: focus, trust, presence. But that day was really about being open.

Gripping the reins for the first time. Hyde Park, 2024

Openness is the only way to breakthroughs

I realised openness leads to the most rewarding outcomes because it challenges us to embrace the unexpected. To shift set perspectives.

For brands, teams and individuals, it's the only way for breakthrough to happen: force yourself to look at the world in a new way.

It's how Google experiment so unconventionally. How Nike develop surprising narratives.

In writing about my five transformational moments, I realised there was a bigger idea.

Memorable experiences engage us in a deep way.

They tell stories and invite reciprocity.

In business, it's a valuable lesson: the most enduring connections are built by digging for the deeper meanings that resonate with, and change, people.

🐎 What’s a challenge you’ve recently faced? How did it make you look at things differently?

This is the final post in my 5-part series about transformative moments that shaped my 2024.

Fiona and Smartie, Hyde Park 2024