Mastering Fear
A Navy SEAL’s Guide
My buddy Brandon has run life-threatening missions in the world’s worst trouble spots, whether that meant jumping out of airplanes, taking down hostile ships on the open sea, or rolling prisoners in the dead of night in the mountains of Afghanistan. As a Navy SEAL, he learned how to manage the natural impulse to panic in the face of terrifying situations. As media CEO, national television commentator, and family man, he has learned how to apply those same skills in civilian life.
Drawing on Brandon’s experiences in combat and business, plus some colorful experiences from his vast network of super-achiever friends, Mastering Fear will show you — in simple, practical terms — how you can stretch and transcend whatever boundaries and limitations you have and learn to use your fears as fuel to achieve more than you ever thought possible.
Fear can be a set of manacles, holding you prisoner — or a slingshot catapulting you on to greatness.
We want you to go for doorway #2.
The key is to master fear, not conquer it: not to fight fear or try to beat it back, but to embrace and harness its power. In the process, rather than being your adversary, your fear becomes a secret weapon that allows you to triumph in even the most adverse situations. In the pages of Mastering Fear, Brandon and I break this transformation down into five practical steps, creating a pragmatic manual for anyone looking for greater courage and mastery in their lives.
Foreign Language Editions
Now also available in German, Hungarian, Italian, Russian, Slovak, and Ukrainian. (Chinese simplified edition coming soon!)
Mastering Fear Reviews
“In this inspiring self-help book, entrepreneur and former Navy SEAL Webb (The Red Circle) and Mann (coauthor of The Go-Giver School) skillfully direct readers on how to harness their fears and accomplish personal goals. Webb’s encouraging central message about overcoming and making use of fear should improve the lives of those who take it to heart.”
— Publishers Weekly
“I came across this book during a time when a new fear of heights had started to grip me in the middle of sessions at the climbing gym. Brandon Webb’s advice comes from his years as a Navy SEAL and as a CEO (two extremely high-pressure jobs), but it boils down to an accessible “trust yourself and go for it” philosophy that applies to almost any nerve-wracking situation. His techniques for turning anxiety into excitement and energy are ones that I have incorporated into training new show directors, and while I’m not exactly ready to free solo El Cap, this book has helped me push through and keep climbing.”
— Elizabeth Baker, producer, NPR’s Weekend All Things Considered
“Webb manages something truly extraordinary. Page by page, the former Navy SEAL actually teaches you about fear. If you sit down to read just one chapter, you’ll be sucked into the next, and then the next, until you’ve finished every page. I guarantee you’ll see your fears differently, and maybe, just maybe, you’ll have been inspired enough to attack them with everything you’ve got.”
— The Real Book Spy
“Embracing fear is the key to getting ahead at work. Give fear a chance — because believe it or not, if you take time to embrace this widespread, albeit unpleasant emotion, rewards await. So says Brandon Webb, CEO of media and e-commerce business Hurricane Group and a best-selling author.”
— New York Post
“Brandon’s book will help you conquer anything holding you back from being your best and most unafraid self. A life-changer!”
— Betsy Morgan, former CEO, Huffington Post
“A useful weapon for those fighting creative battles in the ‘War of Art.’”
— Stephen Pressfield, author of The War of Art and The Legend of Bagger Vance
“A great read — countless times as I read I found myself saying ‘YES. THIS.’ Whether you are an entrepreneur just starting out, a successful CEO or Fortune 500 executive, an athlete, or a student, Mastering Fear will help you overcome life’s challenges and discover what’s possible when you master your fear.”
— Carey Lohrenz, first female F-14 Tomcat fighter pilot and author of Fearless Leadership
“My favorite part of this book is that Brandon doesn’t teach you to conquer fear as if it will go away completely and forever. No, as a Navy Seal, he knows there’s always an element of fear in the things we do. Instead, we master it, fully aware that it is coming and ready when it does. I wish someone gave me this book when I graduated from college.”
— Jon Acuff, author of Finish and Do Over
“The big wins and most incredible experiences come when we feel afraid but do it anyway. Read Mastering Fear, get out of your comfort zone, and dance with your fear, knowing it will lead you to new levels of performance!”
— Siri Lindley, former triathlon world champion, coach, and author of Surfacing: From the Depths of Self-Doubt to Winning Big and Living Fearlessly
“When you’ve got a hockey puck flying at you at 105 miles per hour, you don’t have time for theory. It’s the same when lifeis flying at you. You need to know what to do with the gut-ripping terror that grabs at you—and you need to know it from a guy who’s been there. Brandon is that dude: he’s the real deal. Read, learn, and excel.”
— Brent Burns, All-Star ice hockey defenseman (No. 88) for the San Jose Sharks
“Understanding fear is a crucial part of success, and I cannot imagine a more qualified person to tackle it. Brandon’s inspirational style of writing leaps me into action chapter by chapter. Thank you for such a practical breakdown of this important human condition.”
— Sally Lyndley, editor, Love magazine
“This book will not only provide you with a brilliantly simple plan for conquering your deepest fears, but also leave you with a burning desire to do it. What previously seemed impossible will suddenly appear entirely tangible.”
— Marina Khorosh, contributor to Vogue.com
“Mastering Fear will show you how to turn your fear into fuel that will help you become more resilient in all you do. By learning to master your fear, you will experience a freedom that very few people on earth ever taste. I highly recommend it!”
— Jairek Robbins, performance coach, author of Live It!, recipient of the Congressional Award Gold Medal
