Fear has a way of making the next step feel bigger than it really is. In this episode of The Scaling Therapist Podcast, James talks with Tammy Gustafson, licensed professional counselor and author of Broken to Brave, about risk, failure, healing, and what it means to keep moving even when you feel scared. Tammy shares how her own story of intimate betrayal became part of her calling, her book, and her work with women who are healing after betrayal. She also talks honestly about the fear behind writing, speaking, launching, and trying things that may not work. Her reminder is simple and strong: “I don’t wanna let fear be the driver and the thing that decides what I do and don’t do.” If you are a therapist, coach, or helper with a message inside you, this episode will encourage you to take the next small step, even before you feel fully ready. Top 3 Reasons to Listen You’ll hear why fear does not have to decide what you do next. You’ll learn how Tammy redefined success as showing up, learning, and continuing forward. You’ll be reminded that failure is not your identity. It is part of the process. You’ll Learn How to move forward when you feel afraid. Why writing a book or building a business often takes more courage than people see. Why safe people matter when you are taking risks. How to separate failure from your self-worth. Why small experiments are better than waiting for the perfect plan. How to redefine success when the outcome is uncertain. Highlights 00:00 — What to do when your business idea does not work 00:31 — Why fear makes the next step feel bigger than it is 01:08 — How to move forward when your story, course, or message is stuck 02:10 — Join the next free Mission Lab on Tuesday, June 16 03:20 — Meet Tammy Gustafson, author of Broken to Brave 04:20 — Why your relationship with risk and failure affects your success 05:05 — Tammy’s healing story after intimate betrayal 06:00 — The hidden fear behind writing a book 07:30 — How Tammy knew she had a book inside her 08:40 — Why small steps matter when building a larger mission 09:05 — What happens when you launch something and nobody buys 10:05 — How to stop letting fear drive your decisions 11:30 — Why courage often starts with one open door 13:00 — The difference between confidence and handling vulnerability 14:05 — Why you need safe people when doing brave work 15:05 — The antidote to risk, fear, and failure 16:00 — How to trust yourself when something fails 17:00 — Why hard things are harder when you do them alone 17:40 — How your relationship with fear shapes your future 18:30 — Why taking big risks means learning how to handle failure 19:20 — How to separate success and failure from self-worth 20:20 — Why small experiments are better than expensive guesses 20:45 — How fear of failure keeps your idea in the desk drawer 21:30 — What to do when you want to delete the whole project 22:00 — The question Tammy asked that helped her keep writing 23:25 — Learning to do things scared 24:35 — How your past shapes your relationship with risk 25:10 — What do you want to be proud of at the end of your life? 26:05 — James shares the eulogy exercise from Hero on a Mission 27:10 — How to rewrite old fear stories 28:10 — Why healing is possible, even when it does not feel possible 29:35 — How safe people help you grow stronger 31:00 — Tammy’s advice if you feel stuck or afraid to move 31:20 — Redefine success as showing up, learning, and taking the next step 33:40 — Where to find Tammy and learn about her Paris retreat 35:00 — Thank you to our Pro Level sponsors 36:00 — Final invitation to join the next Mission Lab so you are not alone Resources and Mentions Tammy Gustafson’s Website: https://tammygustafson.com Broken to Brave: Your Courageous Act of Healing After Intimate Betrayal on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Broken-Brave-Courageous-Intimate-Betrayal/dp/0800746554 Baker Publishing page for Broken to Brave: https://bakerpublishinggroup.com/products/9780800746551_broken-to-brave Course Creation Studio Store: https://www.coursecreationstudio.com/store Scaling Therapist Services: https://scalingtherapistservices.com Free Mission Lab Invitation The next free Mission Lab is Tuesday, June 16. If you have a course idea, a message, or a calling that keeps sitting on the shelf because you are not sure what to do next, come join us. You can ask questions, get encouragement, and see that you are not the only one trying to move forward scared. To join, go to: https://www.coursecreationstudio.com/store Look for the Course Creation Community and use the free community link. Once you sign up, the community will show up in your library. Thank You to Our Pro Level Sponsors Thank you to our Pro Level sponsors for supporting the show and helping us encourage more therapists, coaches, and helpers to put their mission in motion: Humor Speaks RevKey The Practice Co-Lab Arc Integrated TheraSaaS CRM Guest Compliance Consulting Freedom Business Solutions Bossco Profit Comes First You can find these providers at: https://scalingtherapistservices.com Final Encouragement You do not have to wait until fear goes away. You do not have to wait until you have the perfect plan. You do not have to build your mission alone. Come to the next free Mission Lab and see that you are not alone. There are other people taking small steps, asking questions, and moving through fear too. It’s time to put your mission in motion. See you in the Mission Lab.