Your New Spirit Animal - Chicken Sh*t

Have you ever found yourself paralyzed by nerves before a big meeting, new venture, or bold conversation, wishing you could just overcome the fear? In today’s episode, I share the story of my spirit animal: a tiny rubber chicken named Chicken Shit. Inspired by a lesson from the first shaman I ever met, this episode is all about embracing fear, owning our “chicken shit,” and charging ahead anyway. I break down why being afraid isn’t a flaw; it’s a part of leadership and human experience, and why anything worth doing is worth doing scared.

This episode is inspired by Rafael Bejarano, the first shaman I ever met. An unforgettable figure with his South American accent, dazzling beads, and long flowing hair, Raphael led circles of coaches and leaders and proudly proclaimed that his spirit animal was not the mighty eagle or buffalo, but a squeaky rubber chicken. His courage and authenticity deeply impacted me, and his legacy lives on in the lessons—and the chicken—he passed to me.

“Chicken Shit is my spirit animal because whatever I do in the world, I do scared.” ~Mark

Today on The Rising Leader:

·     Your fear is not a flaw—it’s proof that you care about doing big, important things.

·     Every leader, even the most accomplished and confident, experiences fear before stepping into a new challenge.

·     “Chicken Shit” can be a powerful symbol for embracing, not fighting, your nerves.

·     From promotions and new jobs to hard conversations and creative risks, bold moves almost always come with butterflies.

·     The nervous system gets used to the familiar feeling of fear; you can learn to move forward even when afraid.

·     Icons like Bono and Bruce Springsteen still get nervous before performances, proving that fear never truly disappears.

·     The exhilaration of facing your fear—and jumping off that metaphorical cliff—can be transformative.

·     Remember, it’s not about eliminating fear; it’s about doing it anyway, step by step.

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Leader, It’s Time to Rise!

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