“Everything You Want Is on the Other Side of Fear”: A Conversation with Scott Ballard
May 09, 2025
In the first episode of Writing & Influence under our new name, I sat down with Scott Ballard—a leadership coach, entrepreneur, and as many know him, “The Confidence Coach.” Scott’s story is one of resilience, transformation, and purpose, and he’s helped everyone from CEOs to NFL players rediscover their courage and clarity.\
We talked about overcoming fear, building confidence from past wins, and what it really means to find joy in your work. Oh—and yes, we talked about books.
Here are some highlights from our conversation.
You’ve worked with so many high performers. What’s the one thing they all seem to have in common?
Scott: Everyone I work with is dealing with fear, whether they recognize it or not. Fear of failing, of being visible, of not being enough. That fear holds them back from what they most want to do. Once we name the fear, we can ask: “What’s the truth about that fear?” From there, we look at their past—where they’ve already shown courage—and bring that confidence into the present.
You helped me personally unlock something I hadn’t seen in myself in a long time: my love of live teaching. How do you help clients make those kinds of shifts?
Scott: First, we get honest about the fear. Then we borrow courage from their past. I’ll ask, “When were you confident before?” And we bring that experience forward. I’ll even have people stand up and say it out loud: I’m courageous. I’m confident. This is who I am. That physical act helps lock it in and they start taking action.
You built your business from your kitchen table. How did you move from uncertainty into impact?
Scott: I went back to what I did know. I pulled from past experiences—sports, leadership, convincing my wife to follow my crazy dreams! I brought all that forward. I focused on what I could control today instead of worrying about an uncertain future. That mindset helped me move step by step.
You’ve been open about your experience with dyslexia. What did writing your book mean to you?
Scott: I never thought I’d write a book. Reading and writing were incredibly difficult growing up. I was suicidal at age seven. But someone believed in me, and eventually my wife said, “Do it for the people who need to hear it.” Writing that book became one of the most transformational experiences of my life. I still don’t lead with it, but it’s helped people I’ll never meet. Sometimes, you need to write the book for yourself first.
What role has joy played in your journey as a coach and entrepreneur?
Scott: Joy is a choice—not something that happens to you. Every time I go into a coaching session, I remind myself to choose joy so I can fully show up for that person. Joy fuels presence, energy, and deep connection. And it’s contagious. When you operate from joy, people feel it and they open up in powerful ways.
What advice do you have for those who are stuck, afraid to start, or worried their voice doesn’t matter?
Scott: Everything you want is on the other side of fear. That’s it. You’ve already been brave in other areas of your life. Borrow that courage, bring it into today, and take one step. Then another. You don’t need to have it all figured out. Just start.
Where can people learn more about your work?
Scott: The best way to connect is through our website. My wife, who is the CEO of our business, coordinates everything. We always begin by serving people deeply through a few complimentary sessions. It’s not about selling. It’s about seeing if we’re a good fit to work together in the long term.
Final Thought
Whether you're writing a book, starting a new chapter in life, or stepping into leadership, Scott’s message is a timely reminder: You don’t need to wait until you feel confident. You can borrow confidence from your past, bring it into the present, and move forward one step at a time.
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