Issue #3: Fear kills dreams

Hey there. In today's world, we often come across challenges and uncertainties. A powerful tool for building resilience is learning to manage your fears. In relationships, failing to adapt can harm personal connections and inhibit growth. When creating a product, the second step is to define its purpose. And if you ever need motivation to step out of your comfort zone and push boundaries, visit the Belem Tower in Lisbon.

Let’s dive in.

Today in a nutshell:

• How you can use your fears to build resilience

• How to design and build a web app — Lesson #2: Ideation

• Unwillingness to adapt can lead to difficulties in relationships and social interactions

• Belém Tower in Lisbon, Portugal, will remind you of the importance of exploration

— Sofia

TODAY’S INSIGHT

How you can use fear as a tool for building resilience

If you are like me, fear is your constant companion. I try not to live a life of fear, but it is my go-to feeling.

Many times in my life, I was paralysed by fear, whether it was making a decision for work or in my personal life. I used to think that fear was something that I shouldn't have, that it indicated a weak person. So, I used never to admit that I was afraid.

This fact took a toll on me, though, because bottled-up fear led to anxiety. Anxiety was stopping me from taking risks, even calculated ones, and making important decisions. 

Until I realised, I had options: either give in to my fears and live a limited life or embrace them and allow myself to grow.

I still have fears, but I am trying to manage them somehow. 

This is how:

Step 1: Recognise that fear is just an emotion.
Understand that feeling fear is a natural part of being human. Rather than ignoring or suppressing it, acknowledge and accept it without judgment.

Step 2: Reframe fear as an opportunity.
The next step is to shift the perspective on fear from being an opposing force to seeing it as an opportunity to grow. Fear is a chance to challenge myself, learn new things, and become more resilient.

Step 3: Identify specific fears.
Take time to identify those fears holding me back or causing me anxiety. Write them down or make a list to gain clarity.

Step 4: Break down my fears into smaller steps I can manage.
By breaking down my fears into smaller, more achievable chunks, I can make them feel less overwhelming.

Step 5: Challenge negative thought patterns.
Pay attention to negative thoughts that fuel my fears and question their validity. Look for evidence in my past that what I am afraid of is valid or just negative self-talk. Consider more realistic or positive alternatives. 

Step 6: Take action despite fear.
Instead of waiting for fear to subside before taking action, I practice taking small steps towards my goals even when I feel afraid. It can help build confidence and resilience over time.

Step 7: Look for support and guidance.
Sometimes, it feels good to talk to a friend, family, or someone in my network for support and guidance in facing my fears. Talking about my worries with others can help me gain perspective and find solutions.

Step 8: Celebrate how far I've come.
When I've made some progress, I try to celebrate my achievements, no matter how small (I need more practice doing that, but it helps). Recognise the courage to confront my fears and compliment myself for my efforts.

Step 9: Reflect on my experiences.
Regularly reflect on my experiences facing fear and the lessons I learned. These insights help me to adjust my approach, set new goals, and continue growing.

Takeaway

Taking proactive steps to confront fear builds resilience and unlocks new opportunities for personal growth and fulfilment. 

Remember, confronting fear can be daunting, but breaking it down into smaller, manageable steps can help. 

Visualising success can also provide an extra boost, allowing you to see yourself overcoming your fears and achieving positive results.

NO-CODE, NO PROBLEM

Last week, we defined the problem that we were going to solve. To kick off the ideation process, first, we need to:

• Define the app's purpose. Is it to simplify the generation of ideas? To allow them to be more creative? To boost their productivity?

• Define how we'll measure success. Is it improved user engagement? Is it retention rates? Is it something else?

We know that our target audience is content creators. Next, we need to identify how they will use the app. To do that, we need to define some typical use scenarios. These scenarios will dictate the purpose of the app.

Let's assume for the sake of this tutorial (in real life, you would interview your users to find this out) that their most common use scenarios are:

• As a creator, I want to be able to create notes so that I can capture ideas

• As a creator, I want to search my notes so that I can find the one I want easily

• As a creator, I want to tag my notes so that I can see them in categories

• As a creator, I want to add related notes so that I can organise my notes better

• As a creator, I want to cross-reference related notes when I open a note so that I can get more creative

These scenarios are called user journeys. They are a series of steps or interactions that the user goes through when using a product. In our case, we will focus on the note-creation journeys. 

Because we will create this app as part of the tutorial, we will not have any means of determining how successful it will be. Some success metrics typically include the following:

• How many people use the app—are they using it every day or just occasionally?

• Look at how long they spend on the app and how many notes they make and link.

• Then, ask the users what they think through surveys or reviews to determine their level of happiness using the app.

• Next, evaluate whether they're using the features that connect thoughts.

• Also, check if they stick around and keep using the app over time and if more people are starting to use it.

By looking at all this, you can determine if the app delivers on its promise to help creators be more creative and productive.

Now that we have a clear understanding of the app's purpose and have defined the user journeys, it's time to move on to the next step of ideation: thinking about the specific features, functionality, and UX design.

This is next week's topic, so stay tuned!

BITS AND BOBS

I came across a tweet the other day which resonated with me a lot. I completely agree with the viewpoint expressed in it.

On the one hand, we have the sensible behaviour of the author's tailor, who adapts by taking new measurements each time. On the other hand, it's the rigidity of others in the author's life who cling to their old measurements. These people expect the author to conform to their established norms rather than adapt to his evolving needs.

We all have people who hold onto outdated perceptions of us and expect us to conform to their standards without considering our growth. However, the opposite may also be true; we may have outdated perceptions of people around us.

The author admires the tailor's ability to adapt and stresses the importance of being adaptable and considerate towards others in social situations. He talks about broader aspects of human behaviour, highlighting the value of being open to change and willing to adapt to diverse personalities instead of forcing strict demands on them.

Adaptability and flexibility are essential in our social interactions. We should be more open and willing to accept people for who they are and how far they have come.

CORNER OF THE WORLD

Belém Tower in Lisbon, Portugal, is a special place. I saw it when I visited Lisbon a couple of years ago, along with Nick, our son and my parents.

Built in the early 16th century during the Age of Discovery, it stands on the banks of the Tagus River. It is a stunning example of both Portuguese architecture and history.

The first thing you notice as you walk towards it is that it looks like a gateway to the world. The tower's location at the mouth of the Tagus River, with its turrets and battlements rising against the skyline, creates an image of a grand entrance to the world beyond. It was a departure point for Portuguese explorers to discover new trade routes and lands during their voyages. 

Despite its primary purpose as a defensive fortress guarding the entrance to the port of Lisbon against potential invaders, the tower is also a work of art. It was built in a style called Manueline, popular at the time of construction and known for being very ornate and decorative. 

If you look closely at the tower, you'll see many intricate carvings outside that look like ropes, anchors, and sea creatures. These carvings are a reminder of Portugal's control over the seas. Portugal was a powerful maritime nation. So, the tower isn't just a building for defence - it is also a symbol of Portugal's dreams and achievements back then.

Belem Tower will remind you of how important it is to embark on a journey of discovery. To push beyond known boundaries and step out of your comfort zone. 

Follow your curiosity with courage and ambition as your guide.

That’s all for today and thank you for reading!

If you’ve got a spare minute, we’d love to hear what you thought of this email.

Until next week,

Sofia & Nick