The fear of failure… It’s a weird thing that, when you’re faced with an opportunity that enables you to follow your dreams, creates a few common things to pop up for most people.
The question of, “How can I follow my dreams?” can create a paralyzing fear of failure in some people so how can you do it in spite of that fear?
The answer is really simple, it may not always be easy but it’s simple.
And believe me, I know the feeling of the fear of failure VERY well. I had a dream of being a speaker but I was scared to death of actually taking action and doing it. But I knew if I wanted to follow my dreams it was an absolute must.
Today I’ve been on stage and had a blast speaking to 10’s of thousands of people all around the world, but that’s not where I started.
My first speaking “gig” was for a business presentation and we almost blew the roof with the 6 people that were there. In fact, I think had the 3 people who got up and left not gotten up and left in the middle of my presentation, we may have had the fire marshall called on us! 🙂
Obviously I’m poking fun at my first experience as a speaker but I’m doing it for a reason.
Many people build their perception of “successful” people AFTER they have achieved some success in their lives and they get this idea in their minds that it’s always been like that for them. They don’t get the added benefit of seeing the successful people BEFORE they created the success go through their own fear of failure or taking action (even though it’s awkward and they suck at it at first) when you follow your dreams.
Richard Branson summed it up in a tweet that really stuck with me that said, “If someone offers you a great opportunity and you’re not sure you can do it, say YES and then figure out how to do it”.
Sure you might have a fear of failure when you follow your dreams, but the ONLY way to active your dreams is by taking action!
So how do you follow your dreams in spite of the fear of failure? By taking action my friends!
And I’ll leave you with this great quote from Les Brown, “Sometimes you have to jump and grow your wings on the way down…”
Make Life An Adventure!
