[anthonycerra]

Be confident. There are plenty of people ready to tell you why you're wrong/crazy/stupid/naive and that will eat away at your confidence. At the end of the day you have to make your own decisions. Don't give up because someone else doesn't have the balls to start.

Surround yourself with people you admire and drop those who hold you back. This is tough because many of the friends we make over the years can be toxic for our growth. Many people hate change. They'll see you start to improve and things will get weird between you. Don't let them pull you back down. If they don't want to grow with you, say goodbye.

Identify what makes you uncomfortable and do more of it. Not much of a talker? Start going to every meetup you can. Afraid of crowds? Start giving talks and presentations.

There is a great blog by Mixergy guest Todd Smith called Little Things Matter. Google it, it's great.