Some of you may know that I trained as a highly-competitive figure skater for almost 20 years.

I could do all my triple jumps, competed all the way up to the senior level, was the #1 ranked men's skater in New England 3 times, and even competed nationally.

Along the way, I ripped ligaments, tore muscles, and skated through ridiculous pain.

Yea. Fun times.

A figure skater trains for an entire year to perform a program that lasts -- at most -- for 4.5 minutes.

And if a skater messes up that <4.5 minute segment, their entire year is done.

So one time, being the rockstar that I am, I skated out to take my place for my program.

The music started. I started.

And then...

I forgot.

The entire routine. No idea what to do next.

Of course, I panicked. A million things ran through my mind at once, not the least of which was, "Peter...are you FUCKING KIDDING ME???"

So what did I do?

Cry?

No.

Run off the ice?

No.

Instead?

I made shit up.

I faked it.

I had a rough idea of what jumps and spins I needed to do, so I just sort of puttered around lookin' pretty and popped a triple loop in here, and a triple lutz in there.

And by the end? I was pissed. Depressed.

For sure I had spectacularly failed.

Thousands of hours, early mornings, countless practice sessions and off-ice trainings...all. down. the. tubes.

Until...the results came out.

And much to everyone's surprise?

I won.

That's right -- I came in first place.

Even though I had no fucking idea what I was doing.

The lesson is simple.

You're the only person who knows that you're afraid.

Those judges out there? They have no idea what it "should" have looked like...only what you showed them.

In other words, they have no idea what's going on in your head.

So as long as you keep skating...keep going...having a rough idea of where you want to go, and continuing to throw your skills down...

Then you can still win.

In fact, I'd go so far as to say, that's how A LOT of people win.

Not because they're perfect, or the best-trained, or the most prepared...

But because they kept cool and moved forward when they could have stopped and run away.

So when fear and uncertainty in your life and business crop up to steal your goals away from you...

Why not keep it cool, and keep skating?

You never know...you might just end up winning it all.