We Almost Never Met Because of Fear

What if the fear holding you back isn't even your own? In the Season 6 premiere of Leadership Tea, Belinda and Shelby get personal about the voices that tell us we're not ready, and what happens when we choose to walk through the door anyway. They revisit the unlikely story of how they became friends and professional partners, including the surprising reason Belinda almost never got to know Shelby. They talk about the career disappointment that pushed Shelby toward an opportunity she initially resisted, how Belinda encouraged her to take the leap, and the unexpected turns that ultimately shaped both of their careers. They also reflect on building the Leadership Tea Podcast itself and everything they've had to learn along the way, from technology and editing to social media and video. At its heart, this conversation is about leading unscripted: learning to distinguish your own fear from someone else's, letting go of ego, staying agile when the plan changes, and having the courage to take the next step even when you don't know exactly where it will lead. In this episode, Belinda and Shelby talk about: • How fear can keep us from opportunities we're actually ready for • The difference between your own fear and someone else's fear • What happens when someone else believes in you before you believe in yourself • Career disappointment, ego, and learning to recognize an unexpected opportunity • Why the right door isn't always the door you planned to walk through • Faith, uncertainty, discomfort, and taking the first step Timestamps 00:00 — Welcome to Season 6: Leading Unscripted 01:17 — Is fear keeping you in a box? 02:35 — How Vincent introduced Belinda and Shelby 03:44 — The advice that almost kept them apart 05:44 — When someone else's doubts become your own 06:55 — The story of power, water, and momentum 07:47 — Getting past the fear of video 08:17 — Is this fear yours or someone else's? 09:36 — When the dream job doesn't work out 10:06 — Why Shelby hesitated to join the Operations Center 12:19 — “You are built for this moment” 13:30 — Quieting the voices that sabotage your growth 14:00 — Walking through doors you didn't expect 14:43 — How Togo and Peru became the right places 15:29 — Why agility matters more than ego 15:41 — Learning to build a podcast unscripted 16:38 — Getting comfortable with YouTube and video 17:06 — Faith over fear 17:51 — Knowing when to shake off negativity 18:21 — There is no growth in comfort 18:34 — What does leading unscripted mean for you? A few quotes to carry with you: “Fear is blocking you from your blessings.” “I never end up where I wanted to be, but I always end up where I'm supposed to be.” “There’s no growth in comfort.” What fear are you learning to move through right now? Tell us in the comments. We'd love to hear your story. And if you're listening on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or another audio platform, come join us on YouTube for Season 6. We're excited to bring you more conversations about leadership, culture, clarity, uncertainty, and what it really means to lead unscripted. ☕ Subscribe to The Leadership Tea Podcast and join the conversation.    / @leadershipteapodcast   Thank you for watching! 👋🏾 Follow us on Instagram at   / leadership_tea   #LeadershipTea #GroundedandGlobal #LeadingUnscripted #leadership #leadershipcoaching #executivecoaching #leadershipdevelopment #leadershipmindset