Doing It Scared: What We Can Learn From This is Mental

By Tricia Scott.

A few months ago, I stood nervously at the side of a stage, clutching my notes, about to introduce Olympic swimmer Nick Parkes, England Rugby legend Tony Underwood, and high-performance coach Simon Hartley. What I didn’t realise at the time was that the event wasn’t just another event — it was the grand finale of a six-part documentary called This is Mental.

Fast forward to today, and I’ve had the privilege of sitting down with Simon to talk about what went on behind the cameras and why this series might just be the mindset shake-up every founder needs.

Ordinary People, Extraordinary Goals

Simon’s belief is simple but powerful: most of us are capable of far more than we think. World-class people, he told me, often describe themselves as ordinary people who’ve learned how to do extraordinary things.

That’s exactly what This is Mental sets out to prove. Nick and Tony — both world-class athletes — signed up for a challenge that terrified them: delivering a keynote speech, live on stage, with just 90 days to prepare.

Facing Fear Head-On

What struck me most wasn’t the polish of the final speeches, but the honesty along the way. Nick, who literally “died” in the water and was revived, found new purpose in championing heart health. Tony, who has gone from international rugby pitches to piloting planes, built his journey on the belief that relationships and care are the foundations of success.

Both men, despite everything they’ve achieved, confessed to the same fears so many of us feel: imposter syndrome, self-doubt, and the fear of not being good enough.

As Simon put it: “Surely they don’t have a doubt in their mind? Well no, they’re human beings taking on something they’ve never done before. Of course they’re going to have doubts.”

Lessons for Female Founders

The parallels with entrepreneurship are clear. We don’t start off as the person who can run a business. We become that person in the process. Every pitch, every launch, every scary “yes” builds belief.

Simon’s advice? Start small, but keep moving: “Do something, however tiny, every single day that takes you closer to your goal — and remember to look back at how far you’ve come.”

And when the imposter voice pipes up? Use it. Instead of letting doubt stop you, treat it as a question. “You’ve never done this before.” You’re right — so what do I need to learn?

Why You Need to Watch

This is Mental isn’t just about two athletes. It’s about every one of us who’s sat on a dream because it felt too big. Watching Nick and Tony push through their own fears is a reminder that the difference between staying stuck and moving forward is often just the decision to try.

Six short episodes, packed with honesty, setbacks, and breakthroughs. They’ll make you laugh, nod in recognition, and probably scribble down pages upon pages of notes like I did.

View the series at thisismental.tv, I’d urge you to watch. Let it top up your “inspirational fuel tank” and remind you that if they can do it scared, so can you!

I believe in you (always).

Tricia Scott is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of The Female CEO – Create Evolve Overcome, a global magazine, community, and platform championing women in business at every stage. A startup mentor and multi-company director, she has personally mentored more than 100 women and is an unapologetic amplifier of women’s stories, helping purpose-driven entrepreneurs step out of hiding and into their power, building businesses that feel as good as they look.

Through The Female CEO, Tricia curates a worldwide stage for women’s voices, strategies, and successes—because visibility isn’t a luxury, it’s a catalyst. When she’s not deep in conversation with her brilliant team of editors and contributors, you’ll find her with her MacBook in one hand and coffee (or something fizzy) in the other, dreaming up the next big way to make women feel seen, supported, and unstoppable.