Face Your Fears

Everyone has fears.  But not everyone learns how to face them. Have you ever let your fears stand in the way of you accomplishing your goals? In SOS Leadership’s Seeds of Success program we teach that there are four keys to living a successful life, and more importantly a significant life: know what you are doing, love what you are doing, believe in what you are doing, and the people you meet and the books you read.

If you know what you are doing, believe in what you are doing, and love what you are doing then you will have the power to face your fears, and accomplish your goals. One of the top reasons we do not accomplish our goals is because we are afraid of failure. But failure is not necessarily always a bad thing. John Keats once said: “I was never afraid of failure, for I would sooner fail than not be among the best.” Henry Ford also said: “One who fears failure limits his activities. Failure is only the opportunity to more intelligently begin again.”

Failure is a natural part of life. If everyone always succeeded at everything they did how different would the world look? Even if you fail, you can still accomplish your goals. You can learn from your mistakes, correct them, and succeed. There is a great saying, “if at first you don’t succeed, dust yourself off and try again.”

I have always had a fear of public speaking. When I even think about it, I start to panic and wonder if people will be interested in what I have to say. Or what if I freeze and am not able to say anything at all. Speaking is a big part of our business, meaning that I had to overcome my fear or find a different industry to be in. I had a choice to make, and the choice I made was to face my fears. I took public speaking classes, started going to more networking events, got a business coach, started reading more about the industry, and after a while speaking to people and in front of groups started to be easy. While the nerves are still sometimes there, I know that I have the ability to do it, and have a passion for what I am speaking about.  

Thomas Edison was fired from his first two jobs for being non-productive. As an inventor, Edison made 1,000 unsuccessful attempts at inventing the light bulb. When a reporter asked: “How did it feel to fail 1,000 times?” Edison replied: “I didn’t fail 1,000 times. The light bulb was an invention with 1,000 steps.” We are in charge of our destiny and can do anything and be anybody that we want to be.

Elbert Hubbard said, “The greatest mistake you can make in life is to continually be afraid you will make one.” Do not let fears stand in the way of you accomplishing your goals. Face your fears and start on the path to answering the call to leadership today!