What are you afraid of? Most of us can rattle off things we dream about doing or would simply like to do if only we were not afraid of failure, embarrassment, etc. I am not talking about Fear Factor stuff like eating cockroaches. I am talking about fun things that we know in our gut we would enjoy but the risk of trying versus the risk of perceived consequences if we don’t succeed acts like a brick wall. Things that require us to step outside our “comfort zone”. I am afraid of speaking in public, talking to girls in bars, high places, open water, roller coasters etc. The list is long and distinguished. In any event I attended you could pretty much find me standing with a coke in the corner of the room if I could even muscle up the basic courage just to go. I didn’t even go to my high school prom because I was to shy to ask anyone.
How do we get over these fears? There are really only a few choices. You can spend thousands of dollars on therapy, self help books and seminars. You can also simply get drunk enough before you do it so that “beer bravery” takes over. I know a lot of people who do it that way. They never confront the real life fear but they live on with the comfort that they can manage somehow. They will do it “one day”. The other option is to get off the pot. Take deep breath. Step forward and jump into it. That is exactly what I decided to do when I was approached several months ago to take part in a local charity event that would benefit the cause nearest and dearest to my heart, animal abuse. 
Paws In The City an all volunteer 501(c)3 non-profit organization, is committed to ending the abuse, neglect, homelessness and overpopulation of dogs and cats through rescue, adoption, awareness, and spay/neuter. Because over 28,000 animals in Dallas were euthanized in 2007, rescue and adoption are only a part of the solution to overpopulation. Educating people of the importance of spaying/neutering their pets is critical to their mission.
What did they ask me to do? They asked me to learn how to dance and perform a dance routine with an instructor from Aurther Murray Dance Studios. They asked me to choose and perform that dance routine in front of 700-1000 people competing against 7 other local celebrity couples in a “Dancing With The Stars” format. YIKES!
I never think of myself as a local celebrity. If “fame by name” qualifies me so be it. When I was initially asked, I wondered how many people they asked before they got to me. I am not even on the “z” list. I am on the waiting list to get on the list to get on the list.
Everyone worked hard to learn their routines. It helped me that I had a great partner in Arthur Murray instructor Nikki Holland. Nikki and I chose the “Lindy Hop” for our routine. We decided to perform to the music of the Brian Setzer Orchestra doing “Put Your Cat Clothes On”. When the time came to actually perform I was terrified. It is one thing to work hard in a studio in front of a few people. When I entered the empty ball room for my pre-contest walk through, it hit me right there that my comfort zone was breached.
I didn’t win but had a great time as did the other contestants. I received scores of 8, 7.5 and a 6 from the celebrity judges. The 6 having come from Hall of Fame running back turned celebrity dancing judge Tony Dorsett. I must have offended him in some past life. I refuse to accept that it might have been my dancing that was offensive.
I received the expected loaded question from emcee Scott Murray. Did I think I was a better dance than my brother Mark Cuban? I will only say that I was the best “Cuban” on the floor that night!
In the end the end a great time was had by all. Would I do it or something like it again? In a heartbeat! I didn’t win the contest but won the battle with myself in facing on of my greatest fears. We can all “dance with the stars” in so many different areas of life if we are willing to step outside of our comfort zone and know the fear of failure is transient and actually a positive in personal growth if faced head on.
