Friday, July 12, 2013

Overcoming the Fear of Failure


Whether you are a product manager, an artist, or even a business owner, “Fear of failure” can stimulate one’s doubts and also limit one’s creativity in a workplace environment. Below, I will address 3 subcategories of “fear of failure” and provide my insight on how to overcome these subcategories to create progression in a professional career.

The fear of being judged is very common in a workplace environment. This particular emotion is based on earning the respect of others and has little relevance to the progression of one’s career. Often, we find ourselves wanting to belong to a group of like-minded individuals who all wish to accomplish a common task. Of course, maintaining a working relationship is essential in the professional world, but why limit yourself due to the fear of the judgments of others? Remember, business is business. Those who work to prevent you from accomplishing your goals are working for the wrong reasons and deserve little attention. Do the right thing and focus on how to better your career.

Many are unaware that their fear of learning plays a big role in limiting their career opportunities. We trick ourselves into believing that our education is best acquired through the experiences that we gain through our work. In an age where modern technology gives everyone access to valuable resources at the click of a button, learning on the go has never been easier! Invest a couple minutes of your time to learn something new everyday. You would be surprised on the amount of intellectual growth you could attain in such a short time. Try staying ahead of the curve, as it will prepare you for greater opportunities when you least expect it!

Whether it is incorporating new technology into a workplace project or doing something out of the norm, taking risks can make or break one’s career in an instant. However, if you never overcome this emotion, the fear of taking risks would only prevent you from grasping greater opportunities that may come across your path. Ask yourself, is accomplishing my dreams really THAT important to me? If so, build self-confidence and act with boldness. Taking a risk should only be viewed as an opportunity to grow rather than a threat to your career. Why sell yourself short when you could accomplish much more with the heart of a lion king? Once you have learned to overcome this emotion, you will find that taking risks will provide you with the greatest rewards!


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