Fear is natural and good; so are eating and drinking. They are normal parts of our make-up. They are also essential to human life, includ­ing fear. But none of them is always good.

The other day I went with my father to the shooting range. He was heading out on a hunting trip, and before he left I wanted to help him “sight in” the rifle I had bought him as a gift.

In order to fly, an aeroplane needs “lift.” Lift comes from speed, and speed comes from “thrust.” Thrust is the power that pushes the aircraft forward, and without it nothing else matters.

Whenever we speak of advancement or promotion, we tend to think of it as upward motion—climbing the ladder...