Facing Fear at 1,000 Feet

In Guayaquil, I once asked for a helicopter to capture aerial photos of the port. It sounded glamorous… until I remembered one tiny detail: I have vertigo.

As if that weren’t enough, I also asked them to remove the doors — because let’s be honest, shooting through glass just doesn’t cut it. So there I was, strapped in, feet dangling over the city, white-knuckling my camera while silently negotiating with the universe. My inner dialogue went something like: “This is fine. Totally fine. Okay, maybe not fine. Please let me live.”

The truth? It was terrifying. But the photos that came out of that flight were some of the most powerful of my career. And they never would have happened if I had let fear take the lead.

That day reminded me of something essential:

• Growth doesn’t happen in your comfort zone.

• Fear isn’t the enemy — it’s an invitation.

• And sometimes, the best views come when you’re dangling out of a door you insisted on removing.

As professionals and as people, we all face moments where fear shows up. The choice is whether we let it shrink us… or let it stretch us. For me, hanging out of that helicopter wasn’t just about getting the shot — it was about proving to myself that I can do scary things and still deliver.

And if I can transcend my vertigo with a camera in hand, imagine what you can transcend in pursuit of your vision.