Fear of Failure Part Three
Clayton Menyweather • December 1, 2020
Remember… Failure is completely normal. Ask anyone and they’ll be quick to tell you of a time or times when they have failed.
Let us help you with some tips in this three part series blog. Here is part THREE.
4 | A problem shared, is a problem halved
We all tend to treat failure like a dirty little secret—again, it’s the thing whose potential we simply don’t want to acknowledge. Here’s something you absolutely need to know: You aren’t the only one who is worried about failing. Nearly everybody feels that way at one point or another. Sit down and chat about your concerns with a close friend, confidante, or even mentor rather than biting your tongue and playing it cool.
By putting your fears out in the open, you’ll relieve some of the stigma or shame related to coming up short. When you openly acknowledge that failure is a real possibility, it eases some of the burden you’re placing on yourself to achieve success immediately.
Your friend will probably jump right in and sympathise with you, which helps to normalise the experience. After just that one chat, failure will suddenly seem a whole lot less scary.
5 | Don’t let perfection consume you
If you set the bar insanely high, you’re leaving yourself a ton of room to experience failure. Even if just one slight thing goes wrong, you’ll be tempted to write the whole thing off as an embarrassingly massive flop. You’re making things way more difficult and anxiety-inducing than they need to be. High expectations can serve to motivate you in some cases. If your desire for absolute perfection has you tearing your hair out, it might be time to lower the bar and give yourself some much-needed breathing room. Make sure that you’re being as realistic with your goals. Break down your goals into smaller, more manageable chunks will help you stay on track with your end game, without piling too much responsibility and stress on your plate.
6 | Worst-case scenarios – think about them
Thinking about the worst result that could possibly happen when you put yourself out there can actually help you step back and get some perspective. Ask yourself these questions:
- What happened the last time you failed at something?
- Did your career come crashing down?
- Did your whole life go up in flames?
Probably not. In fact, you were probably embarrassed for a bit and then bounced back fairly unharmed. Go ahead and think about the worst thing that can happen. It might just be what you need to take that next step forward.
7 | Inaction IS scarier than failure
Staying stuck exactly where you are because you’re too afraid to do anything else. In those moments when you’re convinced you can’t do something because you’re too afraid of failure, think about whether or not the threat of failure is actually scarier than inaction. Starting your dream business can be terrifying. But nowhere near as terrifying as staying in a job you hate for the rest of your life. Don’t look back at the end of your life and regret what you didn’t do because of fear.
Don't stop here, check out our other consulting blogs or check out our marketing blogs if you'd like to learn more! If you've found this helpful for your business, you may find a business coach & consultant like Clayton a match for you business. Find out today by booking a FREE 45min consultation.
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