Afraid of Failure? Learn to Use that Fear to Propel You to Success!

Are You Afraid of Failure?

Are you afraid of failure?

People can be so afraid of failure that they do everything imaginable to avoid it! Some people avoid taking any chances at all because if they try something and it doesn’t work for them, they are terrified they will be looked upon as a failure. To make matters worse, we often see successful people profiled in the media and think they must either be geniuses or were naturals at what they did. Yet, if you look closely at the lives of these people, you are likely to discover a much different picture. What we don’t see is all the hundreds of times these people have failed before they were successful.

Failure is a great tool to move you toward success if you learn to use it to your advantage. You can use it to figure out what not to do the next time around. If something you tried didn’t work, that may not be a reason to give up entirely on your project. It should be used as a road map to reevaluate what went wrong, evaluate and adjust…then to try again.

It’s not unusual to realize you may need some help to determine why what you tried wasn’t successful. If this is the case, you may want to find a mentor who can evaluate what you’re doing and help you get back on track. A mentor worth listening to may cost you some money, but good mentors are worth it if they can guide you and help you succeed.

Finding a mentor can be a valuable experience in your personal and professional growth, but how do you go about finding an appropriate mentor? The first step in finding a mentor is to identify what type of mentorship you’re looking for. Determine your goals and what you hope to gain from the mentorship. Consider your industry or field and look for someone who has experience and success in that area. It’s also important to consider someone who shares your values and can provide guidance in areas that you need help in.

Once you’ve identified the type of mentorship you’re seeking, the next step is to begin networking and reaching out to people who might be a good fit for you. Attend industry events, both in person and online, connect with people on professional networking platforms such as LinkedIn, and seek out personal recommendations from colleagues or friends. When you reach out to potential mentors, make sure to be clear about your goals and about why you believe they may be a good fit for your mentorship goals. Remember, the relationship should be mutually beneficial and built upon trust and respect.

If you decide to continue to go it alone, read everything you can about influential people, about what they did and how they handled their own failures. There are many biographies of famous people that shed light on their struggles and what it took for them to get to the success column.

There is a side benefit to failure and that is demonstrating to others your tenacity. By continuing to evaluate what went wrong and never letting it stop you, it’s difficult to imagine you won’t ultimately succeed. Expect there will be setbacks and challenges along the way, but by staying focused on what you are trying to accomplish and continuing to implement what works and discarding what doesn’t, you will be well on your way to success.

It’s important to remember failure is a natural and inevitable part of life. While it may be discouraging and demotivating at first, it can also be a powerful learning tool. When used in a positive sense, it can be a tremendous source of motivation. In fact, many of the greatest achievements in history have come as a result of multiple failures. The key is to view failure not as a setback but as an opportunity for growth and improvement. When we fail, we are forced to reevaluate our approach and identify what went wrong. Doing this can lead us to realize valuable insights and knowledge that we can use to inform future decisions and actions. By embracing failure as a learning tool, we can develop the important personal qualities of resilience, perseverance, and a growth mindset, all of which are essential for success in any area of life.

To use failure as a learning tool, it is first important to adopt a growth mindset. This means viewing challenges and setbacks as opportunities for growth and learning, rather than fixed limitations and abject failures. It also involves embracing the process of learning and improvement, rather than focusing solely on outcomes. When we fail, we should reflect on what happened, identify the root causes, and think about what we can do differently the next time. It’s important to approach failure with a curious and open-minded attitude, rather than one of defeat or resignation. By doing so, we can turn our failures into valuable learning experiences and continue to grow and develop as individuals. It’s imperative we view a failure as an event, not as how we define ourselves.

Read, study, learn! One common trait you will find among people who have used being afraid of failure as a learning tool is that they never stop learning. They are constantly striving to improve and to learn. They read and follow other successful people and try to emulate what those people have done.

And speaking of reading, I want to share with you one of my favorite books ever. It’s titled “Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway” by Dr. Susan Jeffers. I am not making it up when I tell you, more than several times I have sat in my car reading that book, terrified to go on to my next challenge…to step way outside my comfort zone. It has never failed to give me courage and confidence, and I want you to have that tool at your side as well.

Afraid of failure?? Never stop learning, and never give up!

Be Your Best You!

Cheryl A Major, CNWC