Turning Fear Into Fuel & The Power of Listening
Turning Fear Into Fuel & The Power of Listening
In this episode of Be the CEO, Tom Marino and Adam Hurd explore two of the most
overlooked yet powerful drivers of success for self-employed people: fear and listening.
Whether you’re running your own business, trying to scale, or just struggling to get unstuck,
this episode dives into how to transform the very things that scare or hold you back into
tools for growth.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
Fear is not the enemy – staying stuck is.
Tom shares a post from Dan Sullivan on how fear signals growth, not danger, and
why entrepreneurs should view it as a guide instead of a roadblock.
Uncertainty & self-employment.
Why self-employed people often misinterpret fear as a sign to retreat—and how to
use it to push forward into your next level of success.
Adam’s parenting story.
A powerful anecdote about letting his son do “dangerous things carefully” (inspired
by Jordan Peterson) and how that applies to taking risks in business.
The secret weapon: honest listening.
Adam highlights a Simon Sinek post on listening and explains how his Sandler
training transformed his ability to hear clients, not just talk at them.
Why Atomic’s dual-coach model works.
Tom and Adam explain how having two coaches in the room gives clients “four ears”
instead of two, enabling deeper listening, multiple perspectives, and faster
breakthroughs.
Healthy disagreement as a growth tool.
How modeling disagreement and differing perspectives helps clients build
confidence, set boundaries, and communicate effectively.
Key Takeaways:
Fear shows up when something matters—use it as proof you’re on the right path.
Uncertainty is a cue to learn, not a reason to retreat.
True listening requires reflection, patience, and curiosity—skills you can develop.
Multiple perspectives accelerate growth. Don’t fear disagreement; embrace it
Boundaries and honest communication are assets, not liabilities.
Links & Resources:
Register for upcoming free events: bethe.ceo
Connect with Tom & Adam at Atomic Business Coaching
