BuhleSpeaks Blog

It is a stated fact that the number one reason many people never achieve half of what they are capable of is the fear of failure. Many of the people who write to me wanting to become successful in their careers, business and relationships often state that the reason they don’t get started is fear. Fear of what would happen if they let go of the security of their current situation. We are creatures of comfort; we’re prone to settle for what we have and what we are used to. What we do not realize is that there cannot be any real growth with out stepping into new territory. If you want to be successful in any area, brace yourself, because fear is going to become your close companion.

It is not the lack of fear that makes successful entrepreneurs to leave their jobs for an unknown future of running their own business. It is acting inspite of fear that makes them succeed. 

So how can you overcome this fear and start achieving your goals and attempt what may seem impossible to you now? Well here are a few pointers to help you overcome fear once and for all:

•    Identify Your Fear and Evaluate It

So often we are not even certain what is it that we are afraid of, we just know that we are afraid. So ask yourself what am I afraid of? Am I afraid that if I start my business I won’t succeed? Am afraid that I don’t have the necessary tools/resources to get it done? Am I afraid of what others will say if I attempt this? Ask yourself and be brutally honest with yourself, get to the root of your fear.

By identifying your fear you give yourself clarity of what you are dealing with. Only once you have identified your fears can you start evaluating it. If you are afraid that if you start your business you won’t succeed, look for the reasons that will cause you not to succeed. Once you have identified the reasons that could lead to failure start looking for solutions for them. If one reason is “I don’t know enough about running a business” then the solution would be finding information about starting and running a business from books, websites or even getting a mentor.

When you identify and evaluate your fears you are able to really get solutions that will help you overcome it. Fear is a natural feeling and if used properly it will help you evaluate your actions. If fear is unfounded then be willing to press through it. Often when we confront the wall of fear we soon realize that the seemingly strong metal wall was just a whimsy aluminum foil.

•    Embrace Failure To Succeed

One of the things you need to realize if you are going to succeed in life is that failure is part of the deal. Ask any successful person and soon you will realize all of them have failed, over and over again. The failure rate of successful people is higher than average because they attempt more than the average person. This is precisely why they succeed.

Michael Jordan, the all time best basketball player said “I have missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I have lost almost 300 games. On 26 occasions I have been entrusted to take the game winning shot… and missed. And I have failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why… I succeed.”  Here is a perfect example of why we need to embrace failure more and more instead of being afraid of it. Only embrace fear if you keep on trying every time you fail.

A practical way to embrace failure in order to succeed is by factoring failure into your plans so that you are not caught by surprise when it happens. What I mean is that when writing a business plan don’t be over enthusiastic about your projected success rate. Instead of saying “we project that we will sell to 80% of the available market to make a profit”, say “even if we only capture 10-15% of the market (which will be a failure)we will still make enough to stay ahead”. People who embrace failure, plan with it in mind and so their chances of succeeding even if they fail is higher.

•    Burn the boats

Hernán Cortés was one of the conquerors  who virtually destroyed the Aztec empire.  He was charged by the King of Spain to conquer the Aztec Empire of Montezuma, in modern day Mexico.  With a small, dedicated crew, he set sail. To make sure that his small crew stood firm in the midst of the greatest challenge of their lives he gave an order that put him in history forever. He proclaimed to the army as it landed on the shore “Burn The Boats!” No longer could his crew entertain the thoughts of retreating to their beloved Spain, all they could do was press on to victory or die trying. With no way to make it home besides victory, the resolve of the soldiers was strengthened.

When success and failure are the only options, you have no choice but to follow through. If you have a goal, but are afraid to commit, force yourself into action by burning the boats. Register for an exam in advance if you want to go back to school. Set a deadline to move to a new city without signing a lease. Put in a resignation for your job once you have your clear plan of action. Fear of failure disappears when you realize it can’t save you.