It has a new meaning to me. Several years ago when I was a teacher education professor at a small university, ‘publish or perish’ referred to my responsibility to engage in research and development in my field and publish my results in scholarly journals or I would never become full professor. What the phrase now means to me is that I need to get past my fear of being seen as imperfect, and begin to put what I know out there in the universe in a venue outside of the seminar room. From what I have gathered, some form of publishing is my best next step in being able to continue to do what I love: teaching and coaching folks to create for themselves and their colleagues a “Great Day at Work” – everyday. I have done, and continue to do, the research, reading, and application of the principles and concepts I share with my participants. I have worked many years learning the concepts that work.  So why is it that I allow strange fears to restrain me from using some form of product for sharing my knowledge and unique perspectives?
Aaaahhh, the crazy little thing called fear. The way I understand it, fear plays a significant role in most, if not all of the lousy behaviors of humans. UCLA professor Dr. Daniel J. Siegel, in his book The Developing Mind, talks about how infants and children who are overexposed to fear miss out on proper development of their pre-frontal cortex, the area of the brain responsible for regulating emotions and thinking rationally. This executive center of the brain is also associated with the human ability to control impulse. When parents are not present to alleviate fear and provide comfort, children grow up with no viable format for handling threatening situations and managing overwhelming emotions. Fear rules the reactions and actions these folks choose. Is that the best way to choose behaviors? Simply out of the primal need for survival? Are we indeed past that as a civilization? Or does the stoic attitude of a seasoned employee resisting change an example that provides proof of the fact that fear is too often our key driver?
When I examine my professional and personal life, I am sure fear has played a grimacing part in many of my choices and actions along the way. But the one holding me back right now is the fear of being seen as incorrect, misguided, know-it-all, boring, or clueless. The fear that people will be bored by, not like, take exception to, or be indifferent to what I have to offer. The fear that I am indeed not perfect in my way of interpreting and understanding my content and the world. Yada Yada Yada Ok. I know. I’m a big baby. Yep! And this baby is going to get-on-over-it and start ‘publishing.’ With any luck at all I will be your blogging bae real soon!
Dr. Siegel’s research also shows that the human brain can recover from traumatic events and fear-filled upbringing through concentrated human interaction and mentoring. New connections in the brain can be established and new patterns of managing emotions and reactions can grow at any age! It’s not too late! I can conquer this!

“Drive” by Incubus
Sometimes, I feel the fear of uncertainty stinging clear
And I can’t help but ask myself how much I’ll let the fear
Take the wheel and steer
It’s driven me before and seems to have a vague
Haunting mass appeal
But lately I’m beginning to find that I
Should be the one behind the wheel
Whatever tomorrow brings
I’ll be there with open arms and open eyes yeah
Whatever tomorrow brings
I’ll be there I’ll be there
So, if I decide to waiver my chance
To be one of the hive
Will I choose water over wine
And hold my own and drive?
Aah ah ooo
It’s driven me before and it seems to be the way
That everyone else gets around
But lately I’m beginning to find that when
I drive myself my light is found
Whatever tomorrow brings
I’ll be there with open arms and open eyes yea
Whatever tomorrow brings
I’ll be there I’ll be there
Would you choose water over wine?
Hold the wheel and drive
Whatever tomorrow brings
I’ll be there with open arms and open eyes yea
Whatever tomorrow brings
I’ll be there I’ll be there
Songwriters
Boyd, Brandon Charles / Einziger, Michael Aaron / Katunich, Alex / Pasillas Ii, Jose Anthony / Kilmore, Christopher E
Published by
Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing