You can be on Entrepreneur’s cover!

How to Face Your Fears and Bounce Back This professional surfer shares how he's used fear to push himself.

By Lewis Howes

entrepreneur daily

This story originally appeared on Lewis Howes

Mark Kolbe | Getty Images

Not everyone would choose this path. But when Mark Mathews was a kid, he was terrified of the ocean. However, professional surfing was the lifestyle and career that was calling to him.

So he faced his fear, dove in and became one of the best big wave surfers in the world. And he didn't stop there. As an introvert, he was also extremely scared of public speaking.

But as his surfing career took off, he realized he could create a second career on stage, speaking about facing fear.

So he once again faced one of his greatest fears and learned the skill of public speaking.

Today Mark is not only a sought-after surfer and speaker, he is one of the most grateful men I've met.

Especially considering how many injuries he's sustained (including an intense leg injury he's still recovering from).

As we talked about what pain and fear have taught us, Mark explained in simple terms how valuable it is to face our fears, push ourselves through them and practice that over and over again. It's how we become comfortable being uncomfortable.

That's just one inspiring lesson you'll hear in Episode 515.

Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Google Play or TuneIn.

Lewis Howes

New York Times Bestselling Author, Entrepreneur, Coach

Lewis Howes is a New York Times bestselling author of The School of Greatness and The Mask of Masculinity. He is a lifestyle entrepreneur, high performance business coach and keynote speaker. A former professional football player and two-sport All-American, he is a current USA Men’s National Handball Team athlete. He hosts a top 100 iTunes ranked Apple podcast, The School of Greatness. Howes was recognized by the White House and President Obama as one of the top 100 entrepreneurs in the country under 30. Details magazine called him one of “5 Internet Guru’s that can Make You Rich.”  Howes has been featured on Ellen, Good Morning America, The Today Show, The New York Times, People, ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Men’s Health and other major media outlets.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Data & Recovery

This File Backup Tool Subscription Is $25 for Life for One Week Only

AOEMI Backupper Professional is designed to protect, store, and transfer user's files for them.

Side Hustle

He Took His Side Hustle Full-Time After Being Laid Off From Meta in 2023 — Now He Earns About $200,000 a Year: 'Sweet, Sweet Irony'

When Scott Goodfriend moved from Los Angeles to New York City, he became "obsessed" with the city's culinary offerings — and saw a business opportunity.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Business News

James Clear Explains Why the 'Two Minute Rule' Is the Key to Long-Term Habit Building

The hardest step is usually the first one, he says. So make it short.

Business News

Microsoft's New AI Can Make Photographs Sing and Talk — and It Already Has the Mona Lisa Lip-Syncing

The VASA-1 AI model was not trained on the Mona Lisa but could animate it anyway.