The Business of Overcoming Fear

In work and daily life, fear can halt business and personal progress. Derek DeGeest, President of DeGeest Steel Works & LestaUSA, and Jim Rieffenberger, Business Leader Coach, speaker, and author from Renue, talked about ways to address the fears that can hold businesses back.

Rieffenberger, a lifelong friend and mentor to DeGeest, recently became a consultant for DeGeest Steel Works & LestaUSA to transition the leadership team and the rest of the shop as the company grows.

“Jim came to me about this topic of fear,” DeGeest said. “With everything going on right now with the global pandemic, Rieffenberger developed a program and asked if he could talk with our shop. Whether we like to admit it or not, we all deal with fear. We all have adversity and struggles in our lives. To bring it all together and find a way to cope with them, we thought it was a valuable insight for our company.”

“The funny thing about fear,” Rieffenberger said, “(Is) you can’t work on it unless you’re in it.”

And that recognition of present fear is critical.

“We want to make sure we’re talking about how we can cope and deal with fear and understand what’s happening and how we’re reacting, so we can get on the same page and work together to deal with the fear positively,” DeGeest said.

One of Rieffenberger’s tips for overcoming fear is exercise. But it is not just physical exercise Rieffenberger suggests for dealing with the stressful situations in life.

He recommends that people exercise their minds, both mentally and spiritually. Listening to podcasts, reading books and opening the mind to other ways of seeing a problem are things Rieffenberger suggests can provide fear-reducing benefits. Prayer is also a method Rieffenberger uses to calm himself.

Be sure to subscribe to Manufacturing a Stronger Standard for the latest podcasts on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Twitter – @MarketScale
Facebook – facebook.com/marketscale
LinkedIn – linkedin.com/company/marketscale

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

Coupa Inspire 2025
A Global Conversation: Coupa Inspire 2025 Brings Innovation to Your Doorstep
September 12, 2025

Coupa Inspire 2025 is taking its flagship experience on the road with the Inspire World Tour, bringing the spirit of its celebrated event to five cities across four continents. By condensing the energy of its global gathering into free, one-day sessions, Coupa is expanding access to knowledge, innovation, and community-building opportunities for finance, procurement, and…

Read More
Royal Dublin
Mastering the Game: Akshay Bhatia and Coupa Inspire at the Royal Dublin
September 12, 2025

At the Royal Dublin, Coupa brought together community and competition with PGA pro and brand ambassador Akshay Bhatia, who shared lessons from the course that extend far beyond golf. His message, “Master your swing. Master your spend,” underscored the power of precision, discipline, and strategy in both sport and business. The event was not just…

Read More
Coupa Customer Appreciation Day with Akshay Bhatia at The Royal Dublin
September 11, 2025

Coupa’s Customer Appreciation Day at The Royal Dublin on July, 2025, brought together PGA Tour talent Akshay Bhatia and the community for a celebration of both sport and connection. Beyond the excitement of world-class golf, Bhatia shared practical “tour-level tips” in a relaxed clinic format, offering guidance on everything from escaping rough lies to mastering…

Read More
The Royal Dublin
Coupa Spotlight: Akshay Bhatia Tees Up Teaching at The Royal Dublin
September 11, 2025

American golfer Akshay Bhatia’s teaching session at The Royal Dublin this July marks more than a summer stop—it’s a sign of how golf’s rising stars are shaping the global game. For Coupa, the event highlights the intersection of tradition and modern growth, bringing fresh attention to one of Ireland’s most historic courses. Bhatia’s presence underscores…

Read More