Answer extracted from the WIRED: Stories of Impactful Women podcast — listen to the full episode below.
What role does fear play in identifying proximity to meaningful goals?
Fear should be treated as a north star guiding you toward your real goals — the moment fear starts to intensify, you're actually getting closer to what you're trying to accomplish. When the negative voice tells you that you don't belong or that you're not capable enough, that's a signal something meaningful is just ahead, not a reason to turn back.
The body's natural protective mechanism generates fear signals to keep us safe, but this same mechanism can become a trap if we misinterpret it. When you're stepping into unfamiliar territory—launching a business, changing careers, or pursuing something you've never done before—fear is inevitable. This discomfort is the evidence you're moving toward growth, not away from it.
As explored in the WIRED episode with Kesi Milligan, the breakthrough moment often arrives at the exact point when you feel you cannot continue. You're broke. You're scared. You don't know what you're doing. That's precisely when transformation happens. The key is recognizing that courage isn't the absence of fear—it's doing what scares you anyway.
"When it gets right at the difficult moments when you think you just can't take it anymore, that's when the breakthrough comes."
Kesi Milligan — Commercial Real Estate Broker at Select Sites LLC. After beginning her career in radio in 1999 at Carter Broadcast Group, Milligan transitioned to residential real estate in 2004, worked for eleven years at Aflac, and earned her urban studies degree with a focus on community development in December 2019. At AltCap, a Community Development Financial Institution, she recognized the gap in representation for minorities and small business owners seeking commercial real estate guidance, which prompted her move to commercial brokerage.
Never be afraid of success itself. Instead, let fear become your internal compass. When you hear doubt creeping in—whether it's imposter syndrome, financial anxiety, or the voice saying you don't fit the mold—treat it as confirmation that you're on the right path. The fear is proof that something important is happening. Listen to the full conversation to hear how Milligan's own journey through career transitions and industry pivots reveals the power of interpreting fear not as a stop sign, but as a direction marker.
See also
How does motivation beyond financial gain drive entrepreneurial success in real estate?
Understanding the challenges of being a small business owner, a person of color, and a woman, Kesi Milligan emphasizes that somebody has to be an advocate for community development and representation in commercial real estate.
What is the most significant challenge when pivoting careers across different industries?
Relationship management was identified as one of the main challenges when transitioning between roles. When you transition multiple times, you have to reach back into your network and rebuild trust across new industries.
How does cultural competency and representation influence broker selection for minority entrepreneurs?
When Kesi Milligan worked at AltCap and saw minorities and Black and brown business owners coming through seeking capital, she realized there were not a lot of commercial real estate brokers who understood their unique challenges.