Overcoming Fear in an Entrepreneurship Journey

(gentle music) Headspace Studio. Hi, friends, Rosie here. Welcome to Radio Headspace and to Thursday. So when I started my career as an entrepreneur, my first venture was launching Organic Mexican Girl, my very humble food blog. I remember it like it was yesterday. I'd had this idea for many years and when I hit publish on the website, which I stayed up all night working on, it was like giving birth to a dream. Who would've thought that a simple wish to transform my abuelita's cherished recipes into vegan delights would capture so much attention? And six months later, when a call from TV execs came, my excitement was palpable, but so was a looming shadow, fear. So today, I'm going to share what I learned from that experience, and how we all can come to terms with that old and familiar friend called, "fear". As I was saying, some TV execs wanted me to fly from where I was living in Portland, down to LA and audition for a cooking show. The show was supposed to be a contest between ordinary cooks and professional chefs. The news was exciting, but it came with a rush of fear. Would I be good enough? Could I stand the heat literally and metaphorically? Touching down in LA, the place where dreams are made, and often broken was surreal. Over the next three days, my culinary skills were put to the test. From early mornings to late nights, amidst the buzz of the kitchen, I was constantly under the spotlight. Cameras hovered capturing my every move, every expression. Each day felt like an emotional roller coaster, oscillating between hope and anxiety, but mostly anxiety. Luckily, I was able to recognize my fears and it was helpful to remember that my success did not depend solely on this audition, though I did have to keep reminding myself of that as the process continued. I remember the first dish I had to present, taking a deep breath as I plated my vegan enchiladas with meticulous care. As the judges tasted them, I recalled the warm moments in my abuelita's kitchen, the laughter, the stories, her hands as she put the love that went into every meal. Regardless of this taste test, I knew I was sharing a piece of my heart, and whether or not the dish was liked, I wasn't going to be shaken, because I knew my enchiladas were worth much more than one moment of judgment. In the end, the judges showed no emotion, keeping their thoughts close to the vest, and that was fine with me. When I returned to Portland, the way to hear if I got the job was agonizing. Days felt like weeks, then the call came. The voice on the other end was kind, appreciative, but also bearing the news that out of the 10 passionate cooks, I wasn't among the chosen three. It would be easy to say that I was devastated, and yes, I,...