Fearlessness: Tips Kids Already Know

How one young Apple customer rocked a store and the internet

Trevor Michael is one of the latest YouTube sensations racking up over 2 million viewers by just being Trevor. He’s a 12-year old Temecula California boy who frequents “as many Apple Stores as he can” to make dance videos. He has his own YouTube channel and thousands of enthusiastic comments from fans who praise him with words like “EPIC.”

In the video above, the pre-teen from So-Cal energetically lip syncs the pop hit “Check it Out” by will.i.am
 — featuring Nicki Minaj. He’s completely oblivious to the world around him, but manages to re-set the camera, stay in the shot, and glide effortlessly through the crowded store aisles.

How does he pull it off? Surrounded by a storefull of strangers and Apple employees—Trevor is nonplussed. He is focused on the music—and his passion for pure expression—no matter what others think.

Professor Jeff Nelsen of Indiana University may not have known Trevor when he wrote ‘Ten Tips On Becoming  Fearless” but he probably could have saved some time on research by watching the young cyber-star at work. The author describes “fearlessness” as “a mental state of complete faith in the moment at hand and any task ahead.”

Why are kids so fearless?

Kids play in the present. They have no fear of consequences. No fear of failure. We can learn from that—and we can consider these tips from Professor Nelsen– whether you perform on stage, on a playing field, or in a corporate boardroom, you can use these methods to replace your nerves:

Tip #1:

“Flawlessness” is not the primary goal. An error-free performance is not the ultimate test of your abilities, Nelsen says, “What makes a performer good is that he or she is human, and brings to the art something more than what is written on the page. Otherwise computers would be doing all the recordings.”

Tip #2:

Believe the audience is rooting for you. When it comes time to perform, “Don’t choose the mental trap of thinking they’re waiting for you to mess up,” Nelsen said. “Instead, choose to believe the audience wants you to do well. Whether they really do or not, thinking they are a supportive group of listeners can constructively affect your performance.”

Tip #3:

Sell the story, not yourself. Rather than aiming to showcase your talents, allow your enthusiasm to infect the audience. Nelsen warns that you may want the audience to love you, but instead –“make them an audience that loves what you love.” This requires a constant effort to stay focused on what you are doing, not how you are being perceived. “It’s about now. Now. Now.”