Fear of Failure: Greatest Barrier to Success
One reader sent me an e-mail a few days ago and she wanted to tell me about some ideas for new joint venture idea that she had come up with. It only took a few lines for me to realize the problem however. You see, she wrote that her ideas would most likely be turned down and this is where she set herself up for failure. She was so terrified and so certain that failure was inevitable she had guaranteed that she would, indeed, fail.
 Of course this type of scenario happens to many people. It’s quite common to hear people who refuse to take a chance at success because they believe that they are going to fail. And if they believe it, then this is one time that they will prove that they are right.
When someone is able to convince themselves that they cannot have success then failure is their only option. There is a saying that has been around for a long time, “Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you are right.” This is a statement that proves to be true time and again. It is unfortunate to realize that many people in our industry are enjoying success based on someone else’s ideas. For the person who came up with the original idea, the loss and pain they experience because of their failure is twice as hard to bear.
Is there
hope and is there a way to conquer your fear of failure? Sure there is, but you have to take the first step all by yourself and this is almost impossible for many people to do. Tony Robbins once said, “How am I going to live today in order to create the tomorrow I wantâ€. The very first step is difficult and can take every ounce of personal strength and determination you possess, but you will find that by taking the first step you will rise above your fear of failure. Conquering your personal fear of failure can be realized with just one step, and suddenly you will discover that there is an undeniable momentum that is helping you to move forward and you taking another step, and then another. There might be a time when you feel as though you are stuck in one place and all you have to do is pull it together and summon the effort to keep moving forward.
That first step will not come easily, especially to someone who has fully embraced the fear of failure or is intimidated by the success of his fellow peers. It would be much easier for many of these individuals to agree to jump blindfolded out of an airplane. Think about it rationally for a moment, the risks and worries that you are imagining and internalizing are only in your mind. You can do this, and you know it. So go ahead, take a deep breath and make the first move now. You have no idea of the enormity of the capacity we can immediately command when we focus all our attention and resources on conquering a single aspect of our lives.
Imagine where you will be in a month or a year if you did actually fail in your attempt and contrast that to where you will be and how you will feel if you knew that you were “this close” and did not muster up the courage and determination to “Just Do Itâ€. Sure you might find yourself in exactly the same place, but if you had at least tried you would have a little more self confidence and be a little wiser, and you would not be beating yourself over the head wondering why you did not take the chance when it was right there for you to grab.
Just for a moment try to imagine that you took the chance and found success. What if you asked that special someone for a date and they accepted? What if you sent in that story idea and the editor liked it? What if you went on that job interview and you landed the job of your dreams? Now, think about how wonderful your life would become. Rewards don’t come without risks, do they? The idea of success and reward is what motivates successful people and it is what should motivate you as well.
Instead of fearing failure you should embrace the opportunity to do your best and take a chance. It is in these moments of decision that your destiny is shaped. Make it happen!
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3 Responses to “Fear of Failure: Greatest Barrier to Success”
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Excellent posting, Rick ! Thanks for sharing.
BTW: If I have n’t mentioned this before, I’ve been regularly reading your blogs and find them very engaging and insightful.
-Darshan
Once again you hit the nail on the head, Rick. Totally true.
Thank you sir, always appreciated!